The European Commission has approved an investment of €45.6 million from the EU’s Cohesion Fund for the upgrade of the railway connecting the Trans European Transport Network (TEN-T) Kraków Airport to the Kraków city centre in the Polish region Małopolskie. The existing sections of the railway line – Kraków Główny – Mydlniki – Balice sections -will be modernised on a length of 10 km to shorten travel time for commuters and visitors and improve quality of urban transport in the Kraków urban region. The project is expected to be finalised by March 2015.

“The modernisation of the railway line between Kraków Airport to the city centre will have a positive impact on the economic development of the region of Małopolskie. The Kraków airport which is one of Poland’s eight airports classed as a Trans European Transport Network will be better accessible for inhabitants and visitors and the region will be even more attractive for tourism and business”, stated Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn .

The investment comes through the   “Infrastructure and Environment” programme and  is financed via the priority axis “Environment-friendly Transport”. The European Union,  through the Cohesion Fund, will finance €45.6 million out of a total investment of €83 million.

The project foresees the construction or modernisation of track structures, turnouts, platforms, level crossings, civil-engineering structures, signalling equipment and control-command systems, overhead contact line and a railway halt.