CPK Launches 6-km Tunnel and Rail Hub Tender in Poland
CPK launched formal tender talks with four consortia to design and construct a 6-km rail tunnel and underground high-speed station in Poland by late 2032.
⚡ In Brief: Centralny Port Komunikacyjny has launched competitive dialogue with four consortia to build a 1.6-million-cubic-metre underground rail hub and six-kilometre tunnel beneath Poland’s planned central airport ahead of an operational start in late 2032.
WARSAW, Poland – Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) initiated competitive dialogue with four consortia comprising 11 companies to design and construct an underground high-speed rail hub. The complex features a 1.6-million-cubic-metre underground station box and a six-kilometre approach tunnel serving Poland’s new central airport. Contract award is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, with construction breaking ground by late 2027.
What Is the Full Scope of This Project?
The CPK airport railway development integrates an underground six-platform station and a six-kilometre tunnel into Poland’s national high-speed network. Civil works are divided into two distinct procurement packages: Lot 1 covers the eastern and central tunnel sections, the six-platform station, and the multimodal passenger transfer facility, while Lot 2 covers the western tunnel section and main-line junction connections. The underground station complex will measure over 1.6 million cubic metres, giving it roughly three times the volume of Warszawa Centralna.
The facility is designed to accommodate east–west high-speed traffic between Warsaw and Łódź, along with north–south traffic once the Central Rail Main Line (CMK) North extension is delivered. Overlying passenger terminal foundations began construction in September 2026 under a contract delivered by Budimex (Source: Ferrovial, 2026). Dedicated CPK AeroExpress shuttle services will run every 15 minutes to Warsaw and every 30 minutes to Łódź once fully operational by 2035 (Source: Railway Gazette International, 2026). The specific procurement budget for the two individual civil packages was not disclosed by CPK.
Key Project Data
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Project / Contract Name | CPK Underground Railway Station and Tunnel (Lots 1 & 2) |
| Total Value | Not disclosed (Component of 131.7 billion PLN programme) |
| Parties Involved | Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (client), 4 shortlisted consortia (11 companies) |
| Timeline / Completion | Award Q1 2027; works start late 2027; station opening late 2032 |
| Country / Corridor | Poland / Warsaw–Łódź High-Speed Line (“Y” Line corridor) |
How Does This Compare to Similar Projects?
The CPK subterranean rail station represents one of the largest underground high-speed hub investments launched in Central Europe. While Poland has invested over €20 billion in transport infrastructure since 2004, prior investments primarily targeted urban systems such as 90.9 km of tram additions across major metropolitan areas (Source: Railway Gazette International, 2025). The airport rail link expands this remit to intercity trunk infrastructure supported by a 131.7 billion zloty overall programme budget through 2032 (Source: CPK, 2026).
The scale of the multi-contract framework mirrors long-term delivery models across Europe, such as the UK East West Rail Company seeking a strategic delivery partner under a £300M consultancy framework spanning 2027 to 2039 (Source: Safer Highways, 2025). In public infrastructure procurement, Crown Commercial Service similarly launched an eight-year civil construction framework valued at £120 billion starting in January 2027 (Source: Construction News, 2026). However, CPK’s delivery structure differs by directly coupling the subterranean station box delivery with airport terminal structural loads executed concurrently under separate procurement packages.
Editor’s Analysis
CPK’s procurement dialogue shifts Poland’s rail strategy from isolated metropolitan modernisations into an interconnected high-speed trunk system. By synchronising the Warsaw–Łódź railway launch with the airport opening in late 2032, project managers reduce the risk of underutilised ground access while deferring outer branches to Wrocław and Poznań until 2035 (Source: Railway Gazette International, 2026). This staged delivery confirms that airport capacity in major European megaprojects is now inextricably dependent on upfront rail capacity.
FAQ
Q: What is the size of the CPK underground railway station?
A: The station complex covers more than 1.6 million cubic metres and contains six underground passenger platforms. This footprint makes the facility nearly three times larger in volume than Warsaw Central Station.
Q: When will passenger trains begin operating to the airport station?
A: Passenger operations are scheduled to commence in late 2032 alongside the opening of the Warsaw–Łódź high-speed line. Subsequent high-speed branch lines connecting to Poznań and Wrocław are scheduled to open by late 2035.
Q: How much will the tunnel and station contract cost?
A: The precise financial allocation for the station and tunnel tender has not been officially confirmed. The entire airport development programme has an allocated budget of roughly 131.7 billion zlotys through 2032.
Railway infrastructure, rolling stock and transport technologies specialist focused on global rail industry developments, high-speed rail systems, signaling technologies and freight transportation. Covering railway investments, public transport modernization, rail operations and international mobility projects across Europe, Asia and North America.