Six contractors competing for a contract to build the first High-Speed Rail section in Poland

14.04.2026

[News]

Seventeen companies grouped into six consortia have applied to participate in a competitive dialogue for the construction of the first High-Speed Rail section in Poland. The project will be delivered by Centralny Port Komunikacyjny as part of the strategic Port Polska investment programme.

The section in question is a 13-kilometre stretch of high-speed track between Kotowice (in the Mazovia region) and the airport. It is an important part of the planned High-Speed Rail line between Warsaw and Łódź. The contract is scheduled to be signed in the fourth quarter of 2027.

Applications to participate in the competitive dialogue procedure for the design and construction of railway line no. 85 on the Kotowice – airport section were submitted by the following contractors:

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

This is the first procedure for the construction of a High-Speed Rail line not only in Poland, but in the whole of Central and Eastern Europe. The course of this procedure so far aligns with the objective of supporting the development of Polish companies and local jobs. In future railway tenders, we also expect a strong participation of domestic firms, which will provide a significant boost to the Polish economy,

said Maciej Lasek, Government Plenipotentiary for Centralny Port Komunikacyjny.

Centralny Port Komunikacyjny will now begin the evaluation and analysis of the applications. According to the assumptions, all six potential contractors may be admitted to the next stage of the procedure, i.e. discussions with bidders conducted under the competitive dialogue process.

The primary selection criterion is experience in completed construction works (including projects carried out in Poland). One of the selection criteria was also the Polish language proficiency of key personnel. The criteria for evaluating bids in the procedure itself will be price and the extension of the warranty period. The conclusion of the dialogue, selection of the contractor, and contract signing are planned for the fourth quarter of 2027.

In the coming months, as part of the Port Polska investment, we intend to launch further procedures for the construction of the High-Speed Rail section between Warsaw and Łódź. In total, we are planning five more sections which, together with the Kotowice – airport hub segment, will amount to approximately 120 km of new track designed for speeds of up to 350 km/h,

said Piotr Rachwalski, Member of the Management Board of Centralny Port Komunikacyjny.

The Kotowice – airport section is part of the so-called “Y” railway line, which will connect Warsaw, Łódź, Poznań, and Wrocław. Trains are expected to operate at speeds of up to 350 km/h, with the line’s geometric and technical parameters—such as gradients, curve radii, switches, and a new traction power standard for Poland (25 kV AC) – designed accordingly.

The company plans to launch procedures for the construction of the following sections of the Warsaw – Łódź high – speed line:

18 km from Warszawa West to Kotowice

15 km from the airport to the Bolimowski junction

12 km within the Bolimowski junction

37 km from the Bolimowski junction to Brzeziny

11 km from Brzeziny to Łódź

Additionally, two procedures will be launched covering rail traffic control systems (SRK), telecommunications, and the traction power network (including power supply) for the entire Warsaw – Łódź line. A tender procedure for archaeological research along the route is currently under review by the tender committee.

For the Warsaw – Łódź route, the company has already submitted all 12 applications for location decisions required for the railway line. In November last year, it received the first such decision for the section near Warszawa West.

According to the schedule, the Warsaw – Łódź section is to be launched in 2032, together with the opening of the new airport. By 2035, passengers are expected to reach Poznań and Wrocław via the “Y” line.