Seventeen construction companies, grouped into six consortia, have formally applied to take part in a competitive dialogue for the construction of Poland’s first high‑speed rail (HSR) section, marking a major milestone for rail infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe.
The project is being delivered by Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) under the strategic Port Polska investment programme. It covers a 13‑kilometre high‑speed rail section between Kotowice (Mazovia region) and the new airport hub, forming a critical element of the future Warsaw–Łódź high‑speed rail corridor. The contract is scheduled to be signed in Q4 2027.
Contractors Applying for Competitive Dialogue
Applications for the design and construction of railway line no. 85 on the Kotowice–airport section have been submitted by the following bidders:
- Budimex
- Consortium of ZUE, Duna Polska, POLAQUA
- Consortium of TORPOL, MIRBUD, KOBYLARNIA
- Consortium of Trakcja, PORR
- Consortium of Mostostal Warszawa, NDI, NDI SOPOT, INTERCOR
- Consortium of Gülermak, Track Tec Construction, UNIBEP, Pomorskie Przedsiębiorstwo Mechaniczno‑Torowe
“This is the first procedure for the construction of a High-Speed Rail line not only in Poland, but in the whole of Central and Eastern Europe. The course of this procedure so far aligns with the objective of supporting the development of Polish companies and local jobs. In future railway tenders, we also expect a strong participation of domestic firms, which will provide a significant boost to the Polish economy,”
— Maciej Lasek, Government Plenipotentiary for Centralny Port Komunikacyjny
Next Steps in the Procurement Process
CPK will now proceed with the evaluation and analysis of submitted applications. Under the current assumptions, all six bidders may be admitted to the next phase, which involves structured discussions with contractors under the competitive dialogue procedure.
The primary selection criterion is experience in completed construction projects, including works delivered in Poland. Additional requirements include Polish language proficiency for key personnel. Final bid evaluation will be based on price and the length of the warranty period.
The competitive dialogue is expected to conclude, with contractor selection and contract award, in Q4 2027.
Expansion of the Warsaw–Łódź High‑Speed Rail Programme
“In the coming months, as part of the Port Polska investment, we intend to launch further procedures for the construction of the high-speed rail section between Warsaw and Łódź. In total, we are planning five more sections which, together with the Kotowice – airport hub segment, will amount to approximately 120 km of new track designed for speeds of up to 350 km/h,”
— Piotr Rachwalski, Member of the Management Board of Centralny Port Komunikacyjny
Planned construction sections include:
- 18 km from Warszawa West to Kotowice
- 15 km from the airport hub to the Bolimowski junction
- 12 km within the Bolimowski junction
- 37 km from the Bolimowski junction to Brzeziny
- 11 km from Brzeziny to Łódź
Separate procurement procedures will also cover rail traffic control systems (SRK), telecommunications, and the traction power network, including power supply, for the entire Warsaw–Łódź corridor. A dedicated tender for archaeological works along the route is currently under review.
Technical Parameters and Strategic Context
The Kotowice–airport section forms part of the flagship “Y” high‑speed rail line, connecting Warsaw, Łódź, Poznań and Wrocław. The line is being engineered for operating speeds of up to 350 km/h, with geometry and systems designed accordingly, including:
- High‑speed gradients and curve radii
- Dedicated high‑speed switches
- A new 25 kV AC traction power standard, introduced for the first time in Poland
For the Warsaw–Łódź route, all 12 required location decision applications have now been submitted. The first decision, covering the section near Warszawa West, was granted in November last year.
Under the current programme, the Warsaw–Łódź high‑speed line is scheduled to open in 2032, aligned with the launch of the new airport. By 2035, services are expected to extend to Poznań and Wrocław, completing the core of Poland’s high‑speed “Y” network.
Image credits: iStock and Port Polska
