PKP announces big plans for rail improvements in eastern Poland

PKP Polish Railway Lines (PKP PLK) stated on Wednesday that it will modernize railway lines in southeastern Poland, one of its biggest projects for 2017. The work will focus on electrifying the main line between Lublin and Stalowa Wola, in which a total of PLN 569 million will be invested. The president of PKP PLK, Ireneusz Merchel, added that completion of the project would be beneficial not only for civilian passengers, but also for trade. “This is one of eight [rail] projects implemented in Eastern Poland, and the biggest. Electrification will also be important for freight traffic…we will sign the contract in the first half of 2017,” he told a press conference. “This is the first major project in the framework of Poland and Eastern Europe. Supporting rail transport is new within the framework of this program,” Deputy Minister Jerzy Kwieciński added. The Operational Program for Eastern Poland (POPW) will also cover investments in municipal transit systems, such as new trams, new cycling lanes, and the major reconstruction of streets and a bus terminal in Olsztyn. POPW has allocated PLN 1.466 billion from EU funds.