Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) has launched the next phase of procurement for Poland’s first high-speed rail (HSR) section, with six consortia competing for the contract.
The project covers a 13-kilometre section between Kotowice and the future airport hub, forming part of the planned Warsaw–Łódź high-speed line. The contract is expected to be signed in 2027.
Bidders (6 consortia):
- Budimex
- Consortium of ZUE, Duna Polska, POLAQUA
- Consortium of TORPOL, MIRBUD, KOBYLARNIA
- Consortium of Trakcja, PORR
- Consortium of Mostostal Warszawa, NDI, NDI Sopot, INTERCOR
- Consortium of Gülermak, Track Tec Construction, UNIBEP, Pomorskie Przedsiębiorstwo Mechaniczno-Torowe
From a regional perspective, this marks the first HSR construction procedure in Central and Eastern Europe, highlighting growing momentum for high-speed rail development beyond Western Europe.
The procurement is being conducted through a competitive dialogue process, with experience in previous infrastructure works and local project delivery among the key selection criteria. Final bids will be evaluated based on price and warranty conditions.
The Kotowice–airport section forms part of the wider “Y” high-speed rail network, which is expected to connect Warsaw, Łódź, Poznań and Wrocław, with design speeds of up to 350 km/h.
In total, the Warsaw–Łódź corridor will include around 120 kilometres of new high-speed infrastructure, alongside separate tenders for signalling, telecommunications and power supply systems.
According to current plans, the Warsaw–Łódź section is scheduled to open in 2032, together with the new airport, with further extensions towards Poznań and Wrocław expected by 2035.
For the rail sector, the project represents a milestone in the expansion of high-speed rail into Central Europe, with long-term implications for capacity, connectivity and modal shift across the region.
