First agreement signed. Environmental surveys begin
Centralny Port Komunikacyjny signed the first agreement for environmental surveys: for the area of almost 26 thousand hectares of the area along the planned high-speed line Warsaw-Łódź. By the end of September, similar surveys are to cover a total of 115 thousand hectares along 530 km of future railway routes.
Environmental surveys are surveys which allow identification of protected, rare or endangered elements of the environment in the areas intended for future investments. At the same time, it is one of the elements of the environmental procedure which precedes obtaining the environmental impact assessment, location decision and later the building permit.
We act in accordance with the plan, our aim is to meet the declared schedules. The start of environmental surveys means for CPK Poland the commencement of the investment procedure. This is an important step that will allow CPK company to obtain data for environmental proceedings
Environmental surveys consist in observation and cataloging of important elements of fauna and flora. Of course, these are non-invasive surveys which will not generate nuisance for the residents. It is in their interest that we carry out environmental surveys. Our goal is that new railway lines are as little onerous as possible for both residents and nature
The order for the Warsaw-Łódź section is the first of nine survey agreements that CPK plans to sign within the next few weeks. Hence, by the end of 2021, environmental surveys will be carried out along the first 530 km of the planned railway lines.
Below is a list of investments for which environmental surveys will be carried out:
- Warsaw – Łodź (without the CPK area)
- Sieradz Północny – Kępno
- Kępno – Czernica Wrocławska
- Łódź – Sieradz Północny
- Żarów – State border (PL/CZ)
- Czernica Wrocławska – Wrocław
- Łętownia – Rzeszów
- Trawniki – Krasnystaw Miasto and Wólka Orłowska – Zamość
- Ostrołęka – Łomża
The CPK schedule assumes that these investments will be carried out first in order to be able to start preparatory construction works before the end of 2023.
The above investments are planned to be implemented before the end of 2027 and will enable a significant reduction of travel times, e.g. from Warsaw:
- to Łódź (up to 45 minutes), Sieradz (1 hour 15 minutes) and Wrocław (1 hour 55 minutes); as part of so called spoke No. 9 on the route: Warsaw–CPK–Łódź–Sieradz–Wrocław–Wałbrzych – border with the Czech Republic.
- to Zamość (up to 2 hours 15 minutes); as part of spoke No. 5 on the route: CPK–Warsaw Lublin–Zamość – border with Ukraine.
Moreover, a new connection will be created from Warsawto Łomża (with a travel time of 1 hour 20 minutes); as part of spoke No. 3 on the route: CPK–Warsaw–Ostrołęka–Łomża–Pisz–Giżycko.
The total area of the sites to be surveyed for the need of the construction of railway lines as part of this stage is 114 thousand hectares in the following voivodeships: Mazowieckie, Łódzkie, Wielkopolskie, Dolnośląskie, Podkarpackie, Lubelskie and Podlaskie. The estimated value of these agreements amounts to PLN 7.5 million net.
All survey works should be performed within 16 months. During the first two months, the following works will be carried out: update of data and analysis of documents obtained from archives, scientific studies and from local authorities, concerning the area of the future survey.
Then, it is planned that survey teams will enter the site in order to identify protected, rare and endangered species. The works will take 12 months at each section, as the survey must cover all seasons of the year. The next two months are intended for closing the report and accepting the service.
The above agreements are part of the framework agreement which CPK company signed with six contractors in December last year. The estimated total value of the contract is over PLN 26 million. The tender committee chose the following companies in the course of the procedure: Multiconsult, WYG, Daniel Maranda, Asanga, Idom, FFP Enviro, Mosty Gdańsk and BBF.
The agreement was concluded for five years. Now, the selected companies each time participate in partial contracts organized by CPK. The award of individual orders for the environmental survey as part of the CPK Railway Program depends on the price proposed by the company.
At the turn of September and October this year, CPK company plans to sign an agreement for environmental surveys for CPK, i.e. the areas planned for the construction of a new hub airport with a railway station and new railway lines crossing there.
CPK’s railway investments are in total almost 1800 km of new lines to be constructed by the end of 2034.The CPK Railway Program consists of a total of 12 railway routes, including 10 of the so-called spokes running from various regions of Poland to Warsaw and CPK.
They will connect CPK and Warsaw with most regions of Poland, offering travel time of up to 2.5 hour. A total of 179 districts will be communicated by high-speed railway connections and 24 million people will be within direct reach of a new railway network. As the latest schedule assumes, all works will be carried out in 2023-2034.
