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EU backs CPK’s railway investments with 162 million PLN in funding 

The European Commission has awarded CPK a significant 162 million PLN in financial support through the "Connecting Europe Facility" (CEF). This funding will be allocated for the design of a 155-kilometer railway section between Sieradz, Kalisz, Pleszew, and Poznań. This section is a key part of the future "Y" route, which will serve as the backbone of Poland's High-Speed Rail network.

On October 9th, a press conference was held at the Ministry of Infrastructure regarding the signing of grant agreements from the CEF for railway, road, and port infrastructure development projects. In total, Poland will receive over 500 million euros. 

Today, we have received further support, but we are still halfway towards securing EU funding. We want the final result of the railway investments to be visible to passengers, for example, in the form of a good timetable

said Piotr Malepszak, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure for Railways, during the meeting with journalists

Railway projects constitute the largest segment of the investments being undertaken for the development of the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK). As trains are recognised as the most environmentally friendly mode of public transport, they receive considerable support from European institutions. To date, CPK has secured over 500 million PLN from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for its railway initiatives. 

The latest agreement was signed by CPK with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) regarding railway line No. 85 from Sieradz North to Poznań. The construction of this segment is expected to reduce travel time on the Warsaw-Poznań route to approximately 100 minutes. It also aims to fulfill the European Commission’s goal for member states to complete the TEN-T core network by 2030. This funded section is part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridor connecting the North Sea to the Baltic Sea. 

The planned completion date for the project is February 2027. The total eligible expenditures amount to 191 million PLN, with 85% of that sum being funded by the European Union. In the coming weeks, CPK will sign a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, as well as the Centre for EU Transport Projects, to facilitate the implementation of the funded project. 

The Sieradz – Kalisz – PleszewPoznań section, which is covered by the grant agreement received today, constitutes a key ‘missing link’ in the North Sea – Baltic European Transport Corridor, stretching from Finland and the Baltic countries, through Poland, all the way to the seaports of the Netherlands and Belgium. EU grants are an exceptional stimulus for the country’s development. CPK has advanced railway projects in its portfolio, for which we will seek additional funding,

emphasized Dr. Filip Czernicki, CEO of CPK, at Wednesday’s conference.

The planned section of railway line No. 85 will be part of the largest long-term investment and communication programme in Central and Eastern Europe – the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK). This initiative is particularly important as it aims to create a High-Speed Rail network designed for passenger trains that can reach speeds of up to 320 km/h, as well as regional express trains capable of speeds up to 160 km/h.  

The railway line connecting Sieradz and Poznań is crucial for Poland’s entire transportation system, as it aligns with CPK’s priority investment, the so-called “Y” route, which links Warsaw and Łódź with Poznań and Wrocław. This project will not only integrate the new airport into Poland’s transport network but also significantly reduce travel times from the capital to Poznań and Wrocław. Additionally, it will free up capacity on existing railway lines for new passenger and freight traffic. 

The entire 480-kilometer “Y” route will be constructed in stages. The first section, linking Warsaw to the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) and Łódź, is set to be operational by 2032, coinciding with the opening of the airport in Baranów. The completion of the entire line, including the segments from Łódź to Wrocław and Sieradz to Poznań, is expected in 2035. 

These plans aim to achieve the “Poland in 100 minutes.” goal, which means connecting Warsaw to most major cities with infrastructure that allows for travel times of less than 100 minutes. 

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