Poland’s Gdańsk region may get a new track, separating freight from passengers

The Polish infrastructure ministry wants to build a fourth track on the rail line south of Gdańsk, towards the rail hub of Tczew. It is Poland’s busiest rail line and the new track is supposed to help separate freight from passenger trains.

The idea is part of a larger plan to upgrade rail infrastructure between Gdańsk and Tczew. The fourth track is supposed to be built between Pruszcz Gdański to Pszczółki, where regional trains, intercity trains and freight trains all come together.

“It is about the construction of a fourth track on this route, which would belong to line 260. Currently, there is one track of the aforementioned line, as well as two tracks of line 9, which should be completely separated from freight traffic”, a Polish government official told Polish media. “The new track would [allow] exit from the Port of Gdańsk. This is an 8,5 km long track.”

Busiest track in Poland

“Currently, track 2 of line 9 is the busiest track on the entire rail network in Poland. This track carries 50 million tonnes of train weight per year. On 8,5 kilometers of track we currently have a concentration of regional traffic, IC, TLK and Pendolino trains, and we have freight traffic from the port”, the government official explained.

The construction is planned to take place in 2029 and 2030, but it could prove to be challenging. According to Polish media, not all viaducts have enough space for another track, so they would need to be expanded as well.