PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK) has signed a EUR 940 million contract—recorded by biznes.pap.pl at approximately PLN 4.24 billion, or EUR 976.9 million—with a consortium led by Track Tec Construction to modernize and construct the Polish section of the Rail Baltica railway line between Białystok and Ełk.
Scope of the Rail Baltica Białystok-Ełk Contract
The project covers the modernisation and construction of almost 95 km of railway, featuring the addition of a second track and the installation of the ETCS train control system, according to PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe. The consortium executing the project comprises Track Tec Construction as the leader, alongside Intop, Intop Infrastruktura, Unibep, and Pomorskie Przedsiębiorstwo Mechaniczno-Torowe. According to biznes.pap.pl, Unibep’s specific share of the contract amounts to approximately PLN 1.06 billion net, which covers both a basic scope of work and works covered by option rights.
Timeline, Financing, and Regional Significance
The works are financed by the European Union through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and are scheduled to be completed in 2029, with specific works on the Białystok–Ełk section slated for completion by the fourth quarter of 2029. Biznes.pap.pl notes that the project is to be completed within 46 months of the date of signing the contract. Once modernised, the journey between Białystok and Ełk is expected to take around 55 minutes, and trains will be able to run at speeds of up to 200 km/h once the ETCS system is fully operational. The international infrastructure initiative links Poland with Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
Infrastructure Upgrades and Freight Improvements
The contract entails building 20 road viaducts, 12 railway viaducts, and 12 underpasses, alongside the modernisation of eight stations and the construction or relocation of 10 stops. Five new passenger stops featuring platforms adapted for passengers with reduced mobility will also be constructed, while level crossings will be removed and replaced with 32 grade-separated crossings. For freight operations, upgraded infrastructure will accommodate trains up to 750 metres long operating at speeds of up to 120 km/h. These works operate under three projects covering the Polish sections of the E75 route: Białystok–Knyszyn, Knyszyn–Osowiec, and Osowiec–Ełk.
