In Žilina, Slovakia, the EU is funding the first phase of a project to complete railway infrastructure connecting to the Žilina-Teplička marshalling yard. The upgrades will increase train speed within the Žilina node to 120 km/h, shortening journey times and improving the reliability of rail services.
Railway infrastructure connected to Slovakia’s Žilina-Teplička marshalling yard nears completion
- 17 March 2023
Over the whole project, 7.85 km of core Trans-European Transport Network railway will be rebuilt or upgraded. Annually, this will lead to time savings worth over EUR 1 million and reductions in nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter emissions estimated at 12.38 and 0.9 tonnes respectively until 2026.
New track, platforms and bridges
Earthworks will be undertaken as part of the landscaping of the old marshalling yard and the laying of the substructure on the Strážov-Žilina and Budatín-Žilina railway sections and the superstructure at Žilina station.
Some 66.25 km of track will be dismantled: 48.95 km on the Strážov-Žilina section, 2.7 km on the Budatín-Žilina section and 14.6 km at the former platform 3 and in the freight zone of the marshalling yard at Žilina passenger station. Also to be dismantled is much of the superstructure in the old Žilina freight station marshalling yard.
As regards new substructure and superstructure, new base layer – the supporting structure underneath the railway tracks – and 10.85 km of track will be laid on the Strážov-Žilina section, along with base layer on the Budatín-Žilina section and at Žilina station.
All turnouts – which are used to move trains from one track to another – for the Strážov-Žilina section and the railway connection to a freight carriage repair workshop will be installed, as will seven turnouts on the Budatín-Žilina section and a further 58 at Žilina station. Two platforms with a total length of 578 m and noise barriers 3.37 km in length will be completed.
Five railway bridges will be rebuilt and one will be modified. A railway bridge over the Rajčianka stream will be converted to a road bridge, three road bridges will be modified and a new road bridge will be built at the Žilina Predmestie stop. Five pedestrian and cyclist underpasses will be built, and one pedestrian underpass will be extended.
Faster, safer travel
The new catenary is designed for a 25-kilovolt (kV), 50-Hertz alternating current power supply system. Some 13.75 km of overhead line will be installed on the Strážov-Žilina section, and 15.73 km of track will be electrified at Žilina station.
An electronic interlocking signalling system will be set up for the Žilina railway node, and European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) signalling equipment will be installed. In total, 564 700 m of cabling and optical lines is to be laid.
Network capacity and safety will be improved with better track layout in stations, construction of a double-sided platform at Žilina, higher platforms, easier access to stations for people with reduced mobility and elimination of level crossings on the main line. The railways will thus be able to handle projected future traffic volumes, and timetable design will be simplified.
Introduction of the 25 kV alternating current power supply will ensure interoperability with railways elsewhere in the EU. It will reduce energy costs, traction equipment requirements, the risk of substructure damage and intervals between trains. Interoperability will be reinforced through the installation of ERTMS equipment and compliance with the Technical Specifications for Interoperability.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Completion of the Žilina-Teplička marshalling yard and connecting railway infrastructure in the Žilina junction – 1st phase” is EUR 350 442 228, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 190 151 065 through the “Integrated Infrastructure” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Railway infrastructure (TEN-T core) and rolling stock renewal”.