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2023-11-03 00:00:00
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Poland's grandest infrastructure undertaking, the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK), designed to seamlessly integrate air, road, and rail (both freight and passenger) operations into a unified center, is making notable progress. As the search for its ultimate location advances with land acquisitions and excavations already in motion, CPK is also diligently planning the symbiotic relationship between these diverse transportation modes in the hub and throughout Poland's infrastructure framework.
The focus for rail freight remains on selecting an optimal transport model and strategizing intermodal transport configurations and appropriate sites. CPK recently highlighted the commencement of extensive geological excavations at the primary airport site and several auxiliary locations, slated to become either passenger rail stations or terminals to facilitate intermodal freight movement.
In an endeavor to finalize the hub's precise location, CPK is preparing to approach the local authority, the Mazovian Voivode. The goal is to obtain necessary permits by year-end, propelling the project closer to the construction phase.
Till date, the Voluntary Acquisition Programme (PDN) has facilitated the purchase of over 1,000 hectares for CPK. The search for a critical financial business partner for the airport component is also nearing its climax. As elucidated by Mikołaj Wild, CPK's CEO, this pivotal investment will be split between debt financing (accounting for 60%, including instruments like bonds and loans) and private capital (making up 40%). The latter will stem from the airport management entity, having dual shareholders: the State Treasury controlling 51% and the financial partner holding up to 49%.
Highlighting the indispensable role of rail freight in CPK's blueprint, Wild emphasized its significance in the hub's combined passenger-cargo transport vision. While most of the railway structure within CPK will cater to high-speed passenger services, provisions will be made to incorporate shuttle trains, especially intermodal ones, carrying containers and semi-trailers.
CPK's broader vision encompasses the creation of a rail freight terminal near the airport, further fortifying rail cargo movement. This terminal is envisioned to support both the airport and the waiting freight trains for CPK railway slots. A specialized track for facilitating the smooth transshipment of semi-trailers is also in the pipeline.
Further amplifying its commitment to growth in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), CPK plans several intermodal terminals along its swift rail network. These terminals, envisaged to manage 750-meter-long trains, will be strategically placed on high-potential routes, optimizing the mix of passenger and rail freight.
Given the uniqueness and complexity of bundling numerous transport modes, the CPK project is understandably monumental for Poland. Recognizing this, Andrzej Duda, the Polish President, labeled it as a transformative 21st-century initiative for the country. The challenge lies in constructing a specialized infrastructure that harmonizes all modes, particularly rail.
To meet these intricate demands, CPK is poised to adopt the comprehensive TMT freight transport model. This all-encompassing model, which spans rail, road, air, and sea, is Poland's inaugural holistic tool designed for a meticulous freight traffic analysis. It is expected to provide an exhaustive understanding of all intertwined supply chains, ensuring the infrastructural evolution is attuned to the industry's demands, especially concerning the service of freight traffic and lightweight intermodal trains.
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