Poland to modernise broad gauge railway towards Kaliningrad
PKP PLK, Poland’s rail infrastructure manager, will upgrade the broad gauge railway between the station of Braniewo and the state border with the Kaliningrad region of Russia. The investment will allow the freight forwarders to redirect more freight volumes, especially those from China to Europe, to the Mamonovo/Braniewo railway border crossing instead of using ports of the Russian exclave.
PKP PLK is continuing the rail infrastructure along the border with the Kaliningrad region of Russia, namely Line 217 Wielkie Wierzno – Braniewo. In 2022-2023 the Polish entity intends to modernise the five-kilometre-long section between the Braniewo station and the state border that has a broad gauge (1,520 millimetres like in Russia). To this end, it will allocate 30 million zloty (around 6.5 million euros), which come from the state budget. The main purpose of the investment is to adapt the line for the passage of longer and heavier freight trains.
New freight station
Within the modernisation project, a new freight station will be developed on the mentioned section. It will improve the longer freight trains on the Polish side. The facility will be adapted to the needs of customs and border control. According to PKP PLK, the construction works are scheduled within the EU perspective for 2021-2027, after financing is provided.
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