The pig-out. Modern railway lines will connect the container terminal to Europe

The Świnoujście container terminal will be part of the integrated European transport corridors. The project fits perfectly in the ideas contained in the so-called White Paper on Transport of the European Union, indicating strategic directions for transport development and transformation in the coming decades. Rail and water transport are of particular importance in terms of both ecology and economics. According to the EU strategy for 2030, 30% of transport should be moved from roads to railways or inland waterways, and by 2050 it is expected to be 50 half of this transport.

Rail investments in the port unit Szczecin and Świnoujście, as well as on the lines connecting these ports to the facilities are therefore very needed. Investors have no doubt about it.

– Projects in the ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście and on the routes of Wrocław-Szczecin and Poznań-Szczecin are important on a national and international scale. Investments increase the role of railways as efficient, safe and environmentally sound transport and will bring tangible economic effects. The PLK’s activities are part of the idea of a European Green Deal – says Arnold Bresch, board member, investment manager, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.

Rail investments in the port team

In the area of Szczecin and Świnoujście ports, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. are currently implementing an investment worth about PLN 1.5 billion. The funds for this purpose come from the CEF – Connecting Europe. The work will ensure that longer and heavier warehouses can be reached. 750-metre trains with a load of 221 kN per axle will go. Freight warehouses will be handled faster and more efficiently. Transhipment capabilities will also increase. Ports will be able to receive and clear more cargo, strengthening the competitiveness of freight transport and their potential, stimulating the economic development of the region.

17 kilometres of new tracks have already been set up in the Szczecin Port Central station area. The contractor assembles poles and structures supporting the new traction network. More traffic control devices are installed. Under the track the ground is strengthened, drainage is performed to ensure the smooth passage of heavier freight trains. The infrastructure in Ostrów Grabowski is also being rebuilt, which is at the disposal of the Board of Maritime Ports Szczecin and Świnoujście.

In the area of the station Świnoujście there is a second track between the station Świnoujście Przytór and the station Świnoujście. New switches are installed to improve line bandwidth and allow more trains to run. At the Świnoujście station (goods station) there are about 9 km of new tracks and a traction network. New switches were installed, important elements of the track system, responsible for the efficient operation of trains at the station.

At Lubiewo station there are already new routes and a new traction network and one of the tracks has been listed and the Euroterminal area has been strengthened to build more.

The scale of the work in the area of Szczecin and Świnoujście ports is shown by the figures: approximately 100 km of tracks and the traction network will be upgraded, and 285 runs will be listed. The safety level will increase modern traffic control devices.

W Szczecin will also be rebuilt bridge over the river Parnica and 3 railway viaducts. The work is planned for mid-2022.

Modernisation of strategic lines to Poznań and Wrocław

The activities of the Polish Railway Lines are synchronized with the expansion of ports and fit into ZMPSiŚ investments. In addition to investments in the ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście, the infrastructure manager modernizes access lines – the Poznań – Szczecin – Świnoujście and Wrocław – Szczecin route (so-called Nadodrzanka).

It is worth noting that for PKP the Polish Railway Lines S.A. project: "Working on the E59 railway line on the Poznań Główny – Szczecin Dąbie section" is one of the largest projects within the National Railway Programme.

The investment worth approximately PLN 4.1 billion is also co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). As a result of these works, the comfort of travel will increase, increase the level of safety and shorten the journey time. After obtaining the necessary permits, the fastest long-distance trains will travel between Poznań and Szczecin less than 2 hours at 160 km/h. The modernised route will provide better conditions for the transport of goods an important part of the European transport corridor leading from Lower Silesia to West Pomerania. The main work is planned by the end of 2022.

PLK is also successively modernized by the Nadodzańska route C-E 59 from Wrocław to Szczecin, which carries cargo from the south to West Pomeranian ports. The effects of improving the technical condition of the route and eliminating bottlenecks are already visible. The journey time, including freight warehouses, has decreased considerably. Another improvement is connected, among others, with the construction of a new bridge in Szczecin Podyuchach, which will eliminate the one-track, narrow throat on departure from the port in Szczecin.

PKP PLK is already preparing a feasibility study to continue the modernisation of the supernova. The documents developed will allow to define the scope of the work and their approximate costs. After the investment, the permissible freight trains will be increased to 750 metres and freight trains to 100 km/h. The capacity of the route will also increase – more trains will be able to run, including freight warehouses. The deadline for starting work is to raise funds in the EU perspective 2021-2027. 

Tenders may be submitted until 15 April.

The procedure to identify the investor and the downstream operator of the deep water container terminal is ongoing. Interested parties may submit their tenders by 15 April 2021.

Documents to be downloaded: http://www.port.specin.pl/en/offer/glandohydrate-terminal-container/procedure/ (PJ)

Source: ZMPSIŚ