POLAND: A contract to undertake a feasibility study for a suburban rail network in the Tri-city region of Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot was due to be awarded last month, following acceptance of the initial proposal by Poland's Ministry of Regional Development.
The study should be completed by July 2009, and construction by 2011 so that revenue services can start in time for the Euro 2012 football championships.
The project envisages developing a regional express line connecting Gdansk with Gdynia via Lech Walesa international airport, plus the reactivation of the line from Gdansk Glówny to Nowy Port which would serve the Euro 2012 stadium. The estimated cost of building 5 km of new line and upgrading 17 km of existing route is put at 612m zloty, of which half will be funded by the EU. The remainder will be provided by the Pomerania Voivodship, the cities of Gdansk and Gdynia and PKP.
Journey time to the airport should be 22 min from Gdansk and 27 min from Gdynia.
