Construction of Poland’s longest railway tunnel, a 3.75 km stretch near Limanowa, has been completed, marking a key phase in the modernization of the Chabówka-Nowy Sącz line.
Longest Tunnel Breakthrough Achieved
The longest railway tunnel in Poland, nearly 4 km in length, has been successfully completed. The project, part of a larger infrastructure plan connecting Krakow to Nowy Sącz and Rabka, still requires the construction of 12 additional underground passages.
The tunnel near Limanowa was excavated over 10 months by the “Jadwiga” tunnel boring machine, with a laser show marking the breakthrough on Tuesday evening. The project is the most expensive in the Małopolska region.
High-Speed Rail Planned
The new line will allow trains to travel at speeds of 150-160 km/h. This will significantly reduce travel times, potentially cutting the Krakow to Nowy Sącz journey to 40 minutes from the current two-hour car ride.
Historical Line Undergoing Major Upgrade
The nearly 4-kilometer tunnel under Mount Pisarzowa is part of a comprehensive overhaul of the Chabówka – Nowy Sącz line, originally built in the late 19th century during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The original line featured tight curves and low speeds, leading to its closure for regular passenger traffic in 2004.
The modernized route will utilize tunnels and viaducts to create a faster, more direct path, with trains exceeding highway speeds.
Extensive Infrastructure Project ‘Podłęże – Piekiełko’
Beyond the Chabówka – Nowy Sącz line, a nearly 60-kilometer section from Podłęże near Krakow to Tymbark is being built from scratch. The “Podłęże – Piekiełko” project will include a total of 13 tunnels and 11 viaducts, with the longest viaduct exceeding 2 km in length.
Tunnel Specifications and Construction Details
The tunnel near Limanowa has a diameter of 11 meters. A parallel evacuation tunnel, 4 meters in diameter, was completed three weeks prior. The tunnel was constructed by a consortium of Budimex and Gulermak, completing the work slightly ahead of schedule.
Compared to the Zakopianka road tunnel, which experienced significant delays due to challenging geological conditions, the rail tunnel progressed smoothly. The Zakopianka tunnel is wider, featuring two lanes each approximately 15 meters in diameter.
Completion Expected by 2027
Marcin Curkowicz, contract director at Budimex, noted challenges during excavation, including methane gas deposits. However, the completion of the tunnel structure itself was timely. Finalizing the tunnel with track and control systems will take until the end of 2027.
PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe aims to launch initial services on a short section between Nowy Sącz and Limanowa by the end of 2027.
Further Tunnel Construction Planned
The “Jadwiga” tunnel boring machine will now be deployed to construct another tunnel near Tymbarka, which will be even longer at 3820 meters. The Budimex – Gulermak consortium will also handle this phase of the “Podłęże – Piekiełko” project.
One short section, from Chabówka to Rabka Zaryte, has already been completed, with work ongoing on several other segments.
Project Timeline and Budget
Marcin Mochocki, vice president of PKP PLK, announced that tenders for the Gdów to Szczyrzyc and Szczyrzyc to Kasina Wielka sections will be issued within weeks. PKP PLK anticipates the entire project will be finished between late 2030 and early 2031, though this timeline is considered optimistic.
The entire project will cost a record 17 billion złoty, making it the largest railway undertaking in Poland in years. The 60-kilometer Podłęże – Tymbark line is the longest passenger route built since the Central Magistral Kolejowa in the 1970s.
Reduced Travel Times Anticipated
Once completed, the train journey from Krakow to Nowy Sącz will be reduced from 2 hours 20 minutes to 1 hour. Travel time from Krakow to Zakopane will also decrease, from 2 hours to 90 minutes.