Source: https://intermodalnews.pl/2025/03/19/cpk-i-pkp-plk-uzgodnily-przebieg-linii-kdp-do-ostrawy/

(original article in Polish)

CPK and PKP PLK have agreed on the route of the high-speed rail line to Ostrava

The Central Communication Port (CPK) and PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK) companies are organizing investment plans for the expansion of the national rail infrastructure in Silesia. The division of responsibility for investments has been established: the northern part of the Katowice-state border connection will remain in the hands of PKP PLK, and the southern part - CPK. The intersection point of both investments is Mikołów.

The planning chaos that has been ongoing since 2022 has led to both companies preparing independent, competing investments in parallel. Due to the lack of coordination between these projects, there was a risk of cost escalation and delays in the implementation of key transport projects for the country.

The PKP PLK company responsible for the northern part of the Katowice – state border connection, has reached an agreement with the CPK company, which will build completely new infrastructure in a new route, i.e. the southern section of this line – said Piotr Malepszak, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure. – The effect of this is a coherent plan for the implementation of railway investments, which will translate into the launch of over 100 trains per day on the section from Piotrowice towards Mikołów, and further towards an efficient connection of cities without a good rail connection with Katowice, i.e. Wodzisław, Rybnik or Jastrzębie-Zdrój, the largest city in the region, which currently has no access to the rail network – he adds.

Thanks to the cooperation between CPK and PKP PLK, the investment assumptions in the Silesia region have been revised and agreements have been reached on the further implementation of the rail network expansion. It is to be based on the results of traffic forecasts and analyses of regional spatial conditions. CPK will continue the implementation of the High Speed ​​​​Rail line south of Mikołów, providing modern connections for, among others, Rybnik, Żory, Wodzisław Śląski and Jastrzębie-Zdrój. In the latter and in Żory, modern transfer centers will also be built, and in smaller towns, such as Świerklany, Godów or Mszana, train stops will be built.

The implementation of the investment will significantly shorten travel times on the Katowice-Mikołów routes from 20 min to 10 min, Katowice-Żory from 90 min to 20 min, Katowice-Rybnik from 45 min to 24 min, Katowice-Wodzisław Śląski from 60 min to 38 min and Katowice-Jastrzębie-Zdrój from a minimum of 60 min (by car) to 35 min. It should be noted that currently Żory and Jastrzębie-Zdrój do not have direct rail connections with Katowice.

Thanks to joint investments by CPK and PKP PLK, residents of Jastrzębie-Zdrój will gain two railway stations and connections with, among others, Wodzisław Śląski, Rybnik, Żory, Mikołów, Katowice and further towns in the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis.

Residents of Żory will gain the opportunity to travel quickly to such centers as Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Mikołów, Katowice, as well as further towns in the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis and Krakow. In the interregional perspective, residents of all the above-mentioned towns will have the opportunity to travel much faster, including to Warsaw. In preparing investments in the Silesian Voivodeship, at the stage of study work, CPK conducted a number of consultation and information meetings with the participation of residents and local authorities. The company maintains regular contact with residents, property owners and local authorities.

The design process assumes a reduction in the number of properties taken over. It is planned to launch the Railway Voluntary Acquisition Program (KPDN) for this investment, which provides favorable conditions for the sale of properties to the investor. All currently implemented environmental procedures will be continued, which will allow for avoiding delays and ensure the continuation of the investment on a stable basis.

The new Katowice – state border – Ostrava line is an important element of the European Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and is of key importance for the development of the Katowice railway junction and the entire Silesian Voivodeship. The new railway line will not only significantly shorten travel times between cities in the region, but will also enable fast international connections with Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.