For the Subcarpathian region, the implementation of the National Railway Program (NCP) is of strategic importance. The value of the work planned in the NCP reaches PLN 2.4 billion. It includes a total of 19 projects on the basic and reserve lists. Their aim will be to shorten travel time, increase its comfort and safety, and improve the capacity of routes in the province.

The future Via Carpatia will be of great importance for road transport. It will include the S19 expressway running through the Podkarpackie region.

From Lublin to Stalowa Wola

One of the key projects is to be the modernization of lines 68 and 565 on the Lublin - Stalowa Wola Rozwadów section, along with electrification. It will consume nearly PLN 139 million. Currently, it is a single-track, non-electrified route, which quite severely limits passenger traffic and increases travel time. In addition, bridges and viaducts along the route need repair. Once the work is completed, trains are expected to accelerate to 100-120 km/hr, which would reduce travel time from the current one hour and 50 minutes to one hour and 25 minutes for regional trainsets, and from one hour and 20 minutes to one hour and five minutes for interregional trains. Upgrading the tracks would also allow heavier freight trains to pass.

Further upgrades are to be carried out on the Stalowa Wola - Tarnobrzeg/Sandomierz - Ocice/Padew and Stalowa Wola Rozwadów - Przeworsk railroad sections. Each of these projects is expected to cost more than PLN 340 million. The former is 66 kilometers long, while the latter, which is on the reserve list, is 76 kilometers long. The works to be carried out will also include the reconstruction of platforms at all passenger stops and the adaptation of stops to serve the disabled.

The NCP's task list also includes modernization of, among others, the Padew - Mielec - Debica, Boguchwała - Czudec, Jaslo - Nowy Zagórz, Jedlicze - Szebnie, Nowy Zagórz - Łupków, Padew - Wola Baranowska, Ocice - Rzeszów or Medyka - Mościska II routes. As a result, PLK assumes that the journey between Kraków and Rzeszów will be shorter by 15 minutes, on the Boguchwała - Czudec section by four minutes, while the journey from Jaslo to Zagórz will be shortened by 20 minutes. The trip between Rzeszow and Krosno will take one hour and 20 minutes instead of two hours, while the trip between Rzeszow and Przemyśl will be shortened from one hour and 25 minutes to one hour.

From Olsztyn to Kielce

For the improvement of the rail infrastructure of the Subcarpathian region, the realization of the Eastern Main Line will be of great importance. These are lines that connect: Olsztyn, Białystok, Lublin, Rzeszów and Kielce. The planned work is expected to increase the capacity of the routes and the speed of trains. - We hope that more attractive connections will lead to an increase in the share of rail transportation in freight and passenger transport," said Adam Hamryszczak, deputy development minister. The infrastructure improvements are also expected to make the eastern provinces more attractive for investment, and consequently contribute to accelerating their economic development. Investments along the Eastern Main Line will be financed from several sources. These are the CEF, national funds and three operational programs subsidized by EU funds: Eastern Poland 2014-2020 (eight projects), Infrastructure and Environment 2014-2020 (four projects) and Regional Operational Program 2014 2020 (two projects). The value of all projects related to the Eastern Magistral will exceed PLN 6.5 billion.

From Poland to Greece

Like the Eastern Magistral for rail traffic, the future Via Carpatia will be of great importance for road transportation. This is a route planned along Poland's eastern border to integrate the transportation systems of Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. The high-speed artery could not only revitalize the eastern provinces, but also boost economic exchange with southern European countries. On Polish territory, the Via Carpathia road route includes road sections: S61, DK8 and S19 connecting Budzisko, Suwałki, Białystok, Lublin, Rzeszów and Barwinek.

The Via Carpathia project was conceived 10 years ago, but it was only in October of this year, when the European Parliament (EP) adopted a report on infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe, that its realization came closer. - My arguments that thanks to Via Carpathia, the EU's peripheral regions will be given the opportunity for accelerated development were accepted. The construction of the route will also stimulate an influx of investment, increase entrepreneurship and improve the security of the entire EU," said Law and Justice MEP Tomasz Poręba, author of the report.

Construction of the S19 expressway will be key on the Subcarpathian section of the route. Two sections of this expressway-Sokołów Małopolski - Stobierna and Świlcza-Rzeszów Południe-are currently under construction. When they are completed in mid-2017, the S19 expressway in the Subcarpathian region will be more than 31 km long. Meanwhile, the second stage of the tender for the design and construction of the route from the border of the Lublin and Subcarpathian provinces to Nisk is expected to be launched at the turn of the year. It has been divided into three fragments: Lasy Janowskie - Zdziary with a length of about 9.3 km, Zdziary-Rudnik nad Sanem with a length of about 9 km, and Rudnik nad Sanem-Nisko South with a length of about 6 km. Contracts with contractors will be signed in the second half of next year. The investment is expected to be completed in 2021. The entire S19 section between Rzeszow and Lublin will be 158 kilometers long.

text: rp.pl

Photo: 123RF