Work on the high-speed rail tunnel beneath Łódź has moved into a new phase, with the first components of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) successfully lowered into the launch chamber in Retkinia.
The tunnel forms a critical part of the Port Polska investment programme and will eventually become a key section of railway line No. 85, the high-speed “Y” corridor connecting Warsaw, the new national airport, Łódź, Wrocław and Poznań.
The massive TBM will be assembled underground before excavation begins in the first quarter of 2027. The first machine sections delivered to the site are each approximately 19 metres long and weigh around 215 tonnes.
Engineers are using a 450-tonne gantry crane to lower the components around 45 metres below ground level into the launch chamber. Once assembled, the machine's support systems, including power supply, control, hydraulic and transport equipment, will operate directly behind the cutting head as the TBM advances through the ground.
Poland’s Longest Single-Section Railway Tunnel
When complete, the tunnel will measure approximately 4.6km in length and around 14 metres in diameter, making it the longest and widest railway tunnel excavated in a single section anywhere in Poland.
Designed to carry two tracks, the structure will allow trains to operate in both directions at speeds of up to 160km/h through the underground section.
The project programme indicates that excavation will begin in early 2027 and conclude during 2028, when the TBM reaches the reception chamber already constructed at Łódź Fabryczna station.
Following breakthrough, extensive fit-out, systems integration and safety testing will continue through 2029 ahead of final project acceptance.
High-Speed ‘Y’ Corridor to Transform Journey Times
The Łódź tunnel is one of the most significant engineering elements of Poland's planned high-speed rail network.
Once operational, railway line No. 85 will form part of the high-speed “Y” corridor, enabling trains to run at speeds of up to 350km/h between the country's largest cities and the new airport hub.
The infrastructure is expected to deliver substantial reductions in journey times, including:
- Warsaw to the new airport in approximately 15 minutes
- Warsaw to Łódź in around 40 minutes
- Warsaw to Wrocław in approximately 1 hour 36 minutes
- Warsaw to Poznań in around 1 hour 38 minutes
Current plans indicate that the Warsaw–Łódź section of the route will open alongside the new airport in 2032. The remaining stretches from Łódź to Wrocław and Sieradz to Poznań are scheduled to enter service by the end of 2035.
Strategic National Infrastructure Programme
Port Polska represents one of Europe's largest integrated transport infrastructure programmes. Alongside the development of the new national airport, the scheme includes a high-speed rail network, new road infrastructure serving the airport, a logistics hub, Airport City developments and a range of regional investment projects delivered by Centralny Port Komunikacyjny.
The start of TBM assembly marks a significant milestone for the project and brings Poland a step closer to delivering one of the continent's most ambitious high-speed rail networks.
Image and video credits: Port Polska
