PKP PLK, the Polish railway infrastructure manager, recently confirmed that it will officially sign the upgrade and renovation contract for the Warsaw Lublin mainline's Zhonghua Shawaweil Otwok section, which is also the final major project in the modernization process of this key corridor. The total investment of this project is 1.4 billion zlotys (approximately 380 million US dollars), funded by the EU Infrastructure, Climate and Environment Fund from 2021 to 2027, and is scheduled to be fully completed by 2028.

The core content of the project is to add two tracks on a 15 kilometer long line, achieving separate operation of long-distance trains and commuter trains, thereby significantly improving the transportation capacity and service reliability of the entire line. Eight stations along the route will undergo modernization simultaneously, including Warsaw Anin, Warsaw Mizexin, Warsaw Falenika, and others. Each station will be equipped with a modern passenger information system and fully optimized accessibility facilities to meet the travel needs of people with limited mobility.

To thoroughly improve safety and accessibility conditions, the project also plans to build 20 new underground passages and rebuild the existing pedestrian overpass at Warsaw Falenika Station. In addition, four level crossings on this section will be cancelled, further eliminating conflict points between road traffic and railway operations.

Piotr Wyborski, Chairman of the Board of PKP PLK, pointed out that "the Otwok Line is one of the most frequently used lines in the Warsaw railway network. Adding tracks, separating passenger commuting from long-distance transportation, will bring more trips, more flexible transfers, and shorter travel times." This section of the project is expected to start preliminary work in early 2025 and is an important part of the overall modernization plan of the Warsaw railway system. Keywords: international news and information, traffic news

After the completion of the project, the travel time from Warsaw to Lublin will be reduced from the current 1 hour and 46 minutes to about 1 hour and 30 minutes. This will not only effectively improve the commuting efficiency between the main city and surrounding cities, but also lay a solid foundation for the efficient operation of the Polish railway system in the coming decades.Editor/Cheng Liting