The company has now completed the land acquisition programme for the first section of the planned high-speed rail “Y” network, which will link Warsaw, Łódź and the future national airport.
The programme covered 206 developed plots designated for the new railway line. Of these, 169 plots have been acquired, representing more than 80% of eligible properties whose owners were able to participate in the scheme.
The first notarial deed under the programme was signed in March 2025. The scheme primarily focused on developed properties needed for the construction of railway line no. 85, the first high-speed section planned between Warsaw and Łódź.
For properties not acquired voluntarily, the company says final procedures are now underway. Remaining land will either be acquired through compulsory purchase or be subject to use restrictions in exchange for compensation. Expropriation based on railway location decisions is expected to apply only to the area strictly necessary for the project, which in many cases may mean only part of a property.
The voluntary acquisition model offered owners two main options. One was based on replacement value rates without taking account of property wear and tear. The second allowed valuation bonuses of 20% for undeveloped land and 40% for buildings, structures and other components, including houses, farm buildings and cultivated plants.
Additional support was also available for affected owners, including practical relocation assistance, compensation for loss of creditworthiness and annuity payments for people giving up agricultural activity.
Port Polska plans to launch similar voluntary acquisition programmes for further sections of the “Y” line, including Łódź–Wrocław and Sieradz–Poznań. Their timing will depend on the relevant administrative approvals.
Design work for the 140-kilometre Warsaw–Łódź high-speed section is now nearing completion. The company has already launched competitive dialogue procedures for the 13-kilometre Kotowice–airport junction section and the 14.3-kilometre airport–Bolimów junction section, with further tenders expected later this year.
The Warsaw–Łódź section, whose design received EU support under the Connecting Europe Facility, is scheduled to open at the end of 2032, together with the new airport.
