The project to modernise Poland’s railway line number 7 between the capital, Warsaw and the city of Lublin is underway. The first phase covers the stretch of track between the town of Otwock and Lublin. The upgrade of this section, which is is just under 150 kilometres in length, has received financial backing from the European Union.
Modernisation of the railway line between Warsaw and Lublin
- 28 July 2017
New railway tracks will be laid on the line between Otwock and the town of Pilawa, and modern steering and signalling systems will be introduced. The project also entails the construction or renovation of 15 tunnels and viaducts – the latter to replace dangerous level crossings.
A further aspect of the work concerns the renovation of part of railway line number 30 between the city of Łuków and the town of Parczew. The same line also runs between Lublin and Warsaw, via Łuków and Siedlce, and will serve as a diversion line during the construction works on line number 7.
Preparation of design documentation for the second phase
In addition to modernising the Otwock to Lublin section, the scope of the project includes preparation of the design documentation for upgrading the section between Warsaw Wschodnia (East) and Otwock. This will be carried out in the second phase of the project, together with upgrades to the connecting railway line number 506.
The project will modernise the line which crosses Poland’s Mazowieckie and Lubelskie regions with the aim of having a positive impact on their economic development and growth, particularly in the area around Lublin. It also forms part of the comprehensive Trans-European Transport Network and the strategic rail connection between Warsaw and the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
Better public transport means less-congested roads
The work will help to eliminate bottlenecks and other speed limitations on the line, as well as doubling its capacity and raising safety standards. Once the entire Warsaw to Lublin line has been renovated, journey times between the two cities will be reduced by 45 minutes and connections will be more reliable, which should help to increase the railways’ competitiveness.
The project also aims to relieve congestion on the outskirts of Warsaw by encouraging local residents to leave their cars at home and use a modern and fast public transport system instead. This should also help to improve the quality of life in the city.
With a population of around 350 000, Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland, and the capital and main urban centre of the Lubelskie region. It is recognised as an important centre of learning and is home to a number of prominent higher education institutions.
Lying just 23 kilometres south-east of Warsaw, Otwock is part of the Polish capital’s wider metropolitan area, home to around 45 000 people and the capital of Otwock county, one of 42 in the Mazowieckie region.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Works on the railway line No. 7 Warszawa Wschodnia Osobowa – Dorohusk, section: Warszawa – Otwock – Dęblin – Lublin, Phase I” is EUR 1 085 922 875, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 750 434 507 through the “Infrastructure and Environment” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period.