Investment expenditure for the CPK until 2032: new Multiannual Programme apprioved
The Council of Ministers has adopted the Multiannual Programme for the Central Communication Port (CPK) for 2024–2032. The plan allocates a total of PLN 131.7 billion for preparatory and design work, as well as core construction activities. The updated schedule anticipates the launch of the first phase of the CPK Airport and High-Speed Rail (HSR) connections between Warsaw, CPK, and Łódź by the end of 2032, alongside advanced construction progress on HSR segments leading to Wrocław and Poznań.
The newly approved Multiannual Programme for the Central Communication Port for 2024–2032 establishes the financial framework and implementation conditions for the CPK project. The financing outlined in the Programme will support the continuation of advanced design work (including ongoing fieldwork in Łódź), land acquisition, and core construction activities.
The previous version of the Programme, adopted in October 2023, covered the period 2024–2030, which was two years shorter. The necessary updates approved by the current government are based on detailed internal analyses and a report on CPK’s performance to date, prepared in 2024.
“In the updated Multiannual Programme for 2024–2032, we have adopted realistic schedules for the CPK project. Financial assumptions have also been revised to ensure step-by-step implementation of the CPK,” said Dariusz Klimczak, Minister of Infrastructure.
Real Progress on airport construction
As part of a review of the CPK Programme’s progress, planned expenditures through bond issuance in subsequent years have been reduced. In the updated Programme, the maximum annual State Treasury engagement via bond issuance is approximately PLN 11.5 billion, compared to over PLN 13 billion previously.
According to the adopted Multiannual Programme, the planned investment in the CPK Airport by 2032 is valued at PLN 42.7 billion. The revised schedule envisions the launch of the CPK Airport – integrated with an underground railway station – in 2032.
The updated Programme outlines that airport system testing and certification processes will conclude by 2032, with the facility becoming administratively and operationally ready for opening shortly thereafter. This implies that construction must be completed several months earlier.
The Programme allocates funding for the construction of a passenger terminal capable of handling up to 34 million passengers annually in its initial phase. Forecasts from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), currently being updated, indicate that this capacity will suffice until at least 2035. Future investment stages will increase capacity by an additional 10 million passengers, reaching a total of 44 million annually. The airport’s design enables expansion without significant disruption to ongoing operations.
The passenger terminal has been sized to meet necessary capacity requirements, covering 400,000 square metres. Airport investments also include two parallel runways, each 3,800 metres long, with associated taxiways and aprons.
A new approach to railway development
The updated Multiannual Programme assigns over PLN 76.8 billion – sourced from bond issuance and EU funding – for CPK’s rail component, including the construction of the “Y” rail line linking Warsaw with the CPK Airport, Łódź, and, further branching at Sieradz, Wrocław and Poznań.
Key specifications for CPK’s new High-Speed Rail (HSR) lines include:
- Design speeds of up to 350 km/h.
- Electrification using the 25 kV AC system, absent on Poland’s current rail network, with short sections integrating the existing 3 kV DC system.
The goal of these HSR lines is to enable travel between Poland’s major population centres within 100 minutes.
The Programme anticipates the launch of the first HSR line between Warsaw and Łódź – including a 4.6-kilometre tunnel in Łódź – and the opening of the CPK Airport rail station integrated with the terminal by 2032. Construction of the Łódź tunnel has already begun, and the design for the railway station under the CPK Airport is complete. Construction documentation for the Warsaw–Łódź segment and other parts of the “Y” line is underway.
Expected travel times:
- Warsaw Central to CPK: 20 minutes.
- Warsaw Central to Łódź: approximately 40 minutes.
“The previous Multiannual Programme drafted by our predecessors did not include the simultaneous opening of a 9-kilometre tunnel under Odolany on Warsaw’s western outskirts. Their plan proposed airport rail access via a connection to the existing rail line near Brwinów, significantly increasing travel time. The updated Programme now allocates funds for the Odolany tunnel,” said Maciej Lasek, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Government Plenipotentiary for CPK.
The earlier Programme also omitted the construction of connectors between the Central Rail Line (CMK) and the CPK Airport. Advanced analyses are now underway to expedite the construction of these rail links, facilitating better access to the CPK from Kraków and Katowice.
Beyond the “Y” line
The newly approved Multiannual Programme also identifies around 880 kilometres of rail segments – outside the “Y” line – for continued preparatory work, including design and pre-design documentation.
Projects in advanced stages include:
- Katowice–Czech border (towards Ostrava) in Silesia.
- Łętownia–Rzeszów in Podkarpacie.
For other segments, pre-design documentation will cover routes such as:
- CMK-North: an extension of the Central Rail Line towards the Tri-City area.
Other connections, including CPK–Warka, Radom–Iłża–Kunów, and Trawniki–Krasnystaw–Zamość to the Ukrainian border
Infrastructure around the airport
The Programme allocates PLN 2.6 billion for approximately 90 kilometres of roads, connecting the CPK with public road networks.
The General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) will implement complementary projects under the Government’s Road Construction Programme by 2030, including:
- Widening the A2 motorway between Warsaw and Łódź.
- Constructing the Warsaw Agglomeration Bypass.
The Multiannual Programme for 2024–2032 will take effect the day after publication in the Polish Monitor. A corresponding Implementation Document, detailing project schedules and budgets, will follow based on this updated framework.
Smaller Cities to Benefit from CPK Rail Investments
The CPK investment programme is designed to include smaller towns and cities, not exclude them. On the contrary, several municipalities near the planned “Y” High-Speed Rail (HSR) line – such as Kalisz, Sieradz, and Pleszew – will benefit directly from new infrastructure. These towns will gain direct connections to the HSR network through rail links connecting to existing lines. This setup allows high-speed trains to serve current stations in these areas.
The approach to designing Poland’s railway network draws on best practices from Western Europe, emphasizing connectivity for even the most remote regions. This model combines high-speed rail for intercity travel with connecting lines that enable stops in smaller towns, similar to systems successfully implemented in France and other countries.
Additionally, the Kolej+ Programme, managed by PKP PLK, complements these efforts by focusing on combatting transport exclusion. Its primary goal is to expand rail connections for towns with populations over 10,000, linking them to provincial capitals.
This programme is tailored to the needs of local governments and metropolitan associations interested in improving rail infrastructure to meet the transportation needs of their communities.
The Kolej+ budget amounts to approximately PLN 13.3 billion, with PLN 11.2 billion coming from government funding and PLN 2 billion contributed by local governments.
Investments in Roads Around the Airport
The Multiannual Programme approved by the government allocates PLN 2.6 billion for the construction of approximately 90 kilometres of roads connecting the CPK Airport to the public road network. These investments will cover land acquisition and the construction of access roads, including interchanges, and will be financed through state treasury bonds.
Simultaneously, the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) will undertake projects as part of the Government Road Construction Programme, which is scheduled to run until 2030, with a perspective extending to 2033. This will ensure efficient road transport connections for the CPK investment. Planned projects include widening the A2 motorway between Warsaw and Łódź, adding an additional lane in each direction, and constructing the Warsaw Agglomeration Bypass.
Complementary Infrastructure for the Airport
To support airport operations, complementary investments have been planned, including systems to supply the airport with electricity and fuel, as well as heating and cooling infrastructure to meet its operational needs.
Airport City and Cargo City
Contrary to certain claims in the public discourse, the latest version of the Multiannual Programme does not freeze investments related to the Airport City urban development project or the Cargo City logistics hub. The Programme allocates PLN 783 million in equity for development initiatives while assuming that external financing will be sought for future commercial ventures.
The current phase for Airport City and Cargo City includes conceptual and preparatory work, land development, and the preparation of design documentation, along with obtaining the necessary permits. Construction of the facilities will follow a special purpose vehicle (SPV) model, with the scale of investment determined in later project stages based on identified market needs and opportunities.
The updated Multiannual Programme 2024–2032 will take effect the day after its publication in the Polish Monitor. Subsequently, an Implementation Document will be prepared to provide detailed schedules and budgets for individual projects based on the updated Programme.
