“Kinga” and “Jadwiga” are already working. The longest railway tunnel in Poland is drilling

The construction of the longest, almost 3.8-kilometer railway tunnel in Poland has started in Lesser Poland. It is created between the towns of Męcina and Mordarek and is part of the Podłęże-Piekiełko railway project.

The specialized TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) machine has already arrived. As the Minister of Infrastructure assessed Dariusz Klimczaktunnel is one of the largest rail investments in the country.

The machine, whose shields were given the names of Jadwiga and King, will hollow a railway tunnel, which will be built between the towns of Męcina and Mordarek on section 104 from Chabówka to Nowy Sącz. According to the assumptions, the tunnel drill will take 10 months. The investment is part of a larger railway undertaking called Podłęże – Piekiełko.

One of the most important projects in the country

The Minister of Infrastructure assessed during the Monday briefing in Męcin that the task of Podłęże-Piekiełko, consisting of two parts: modernization and electrification of route No. 104 Chabówka-Nowy Sącz and the construction of a completely new, 58-kilometer section connecting Podłęże near Krakow with Tymbark and Mszana Dolna, is the most important railway project in southern Poland and one of the most important in the country.

– This is a project that not only provides for the modernization of the railway line, but also the latest engineering solutions and the construction of railways in a new course. In Poland, no new railway routes were built for decades, no tunnels were built. Thanks to the fact that we were able to raise money from the national reconstruction plan, we can finally start implementing this project – said Klimczak. He added that the investment is in the key and most spectacular moment – launching the TBM shield that will hollow the tunnel.

– Today the disc is starting and construction (tunnel) begins. I talked to engineers, they said that we signed the contract a year ago on March 8, and today the construction is completely prepared – no one saw such a construction rate in Europe – the minister said on Monday.

He noted that thanks to the tunnel and the modernized route, the time of traveling by train from Limanowa to Nowy Sącz would be 20 minutes, from Nowy Sącz to Krakow – an hour. – This is a real railway revolution in the south of Poland for PLN 12 billion – emphasized Klimczak.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense present at the ceremony Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz He pointed to the importance of investment for the development of rail transport and Poland's security, as well as meeting the long -term expectations of the inhabitants of the Limanów region and the entire Sądecczyzna region. – These are strategic investments due to the security of the Polish state, and military mobility. This is the ease of movement of allied troops, equipment – we need it. This aspect of the security of the Polish state in the construction of this railway line is included – emphasized the head of the Ministry of National Defense.

Shorter journey around the new line

Imported from China The TBM machine, which will hollow the main tunnel with a length of 3.75 km, weighs 2,000. 534 tons. The weight of the main drive, so -called Main Drive is 100 tons; The cutting head with a diameter of 11 meters consists of five segments with a total weight of 245 tons.

The construction site also has a smaller TBM machine with a diameter of 5 meters and a weight of 600 tons, which will drill a parallel evacuation tunnel.

The agreement for the modernization of the fourth section of the line No. 104 Limanowa – Kneel Single with a length of 12.5 km was signed in March last year. with a consortium of companies composed of Budimex/Gülermak Agir Sanayi inşaat ve taahhüt/Gülermak. They determined the time of the work of PLK SA for 31 months. Torah will be largely conducted in a new trail. The cost of making the tunnel itself is over PLN 750 million, and the construction of the entire Limanowa section – kneeling siding (including the tunnel) costs PLN 1.9 billion.

According to PKP Polish Railway Lines The implementation of the entire investment called Podłęże-Piekiełko is to improve rail connections in southern Poland, shortening travel time and increasing the safety of journeys. After completing the project, the fastest trains will pass along the Krakow -Nowy Sącz route in about 60 minutes, and the journey to Zakopane will take about 90 minutes.

Currently, contractors also work on other sections of the Podłęże – Piekiełko investment. The new railway is being built between Limanowa and Nowy Sącz and Chabówka and Rabka Zaryte. There are tender procedures for the next episodes of this line: Rabka Zaryte – Mszana Dolna – Fornale (Kasina Wielka), Szczyrzyc – Tymbark, Podłęże – Gdów and Tymbark – Limanowa.

The entire Podłęże – Piekiełko project will be one of the most expensive railway investments in Poland, with a total estimated value of PLN 12 billion. It will be financed, among others from the KPO and the National Railway Program, and the scheduled deadline is 2029.