Significant track improvements in ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście
PKP PLK, the Polish rail infrastructure manager, is running a considerable investment project on behalf of the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority. It is dedicated to enhancing tracks within the port area. When the investment, worth 1.5 billion zloty, will be completed, the two Polish ports will be able to faster handle freight trains and process longer and heavier wagonsets.
The investment project “Improving rail access to seaports in Szczecin and Świnoujście” will be completed by the year’s end. Until this time, PKP PLK, Poland’s rail infrastructure manager, is planning to deploy 96 kilometres of new tracks, install 285 turnouts and 84 kilometres of new overhead wires as well as reconstruct 22 level crossings and implement several other improvements. The works are estimated at around 1.5 billion zloty (over 316 million euros). 500 million zloty of this amount was allocated from the Connecting Europe Facility fund.
“Projects in the ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście are important on a national and international scale. Investments increase the role of railways as efficient, safe and environmentally friendly transport of goods and will bring measurable effects to the economy. PLK’s activities are in line with the idea of the European Green Deal,” said Ireneusz Merchel, CEO of PKP PLK.
According to the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority, the mentioned track improvements at the port areas will allow the capabilities of the maritime terminals in Szczecin and Świnoujście. First, the wagons will be handled faster and more efficiently. Second, the rail infrastructure of the ports will be adapted for processing longer (up to 750-metre-long) and heavier (with an axle load of 221 kilonewtons) trains.