photo: Budimex/Illustrative photo
Poland is set to build its longest rail tunnel, with construction handled by the Polish-Turkish consortium Budimex SA – Gülermak. The tunnel’s construction is expected to take less than a year.
Modern Tunnel Boring Machines for a Record-Breaking Project
Construction giant Budimex is strengthening its tunnel-building capabilities by adding two state-of-the-art Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). These machines will be used to construct Poland’s longest rail tunnel, part of the modernized Limanowa–Klęczany railway line in the Małopolskie Voivodeship in southern Poland.
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The first of these TBM machines, manufactured in Changsha, China, recently arrived at the port in Gdynia. It will be used to construct the nearly 4-kilometer-long tunnel, a crucial section of the project managed by Budimex SA – Gülermak.
The TBM EPB (Earth Pressure Balance) machine measures 4.8 meters in diameter and 170 meters in length. Transported in 36 components, its 87-ton shield and 41-ton cutting head will be assembled directly at the construction site. Drilling is scheduled to begin this spring.
"These specialized TBM machines, the first of which we now have on-site, will allow us to drill nearly 3.8 kilometers of tunnels in just 10 months," said Marcin Curkowicz, head of the technical department for Budimex’s rail division.
A second TBM, with a larger diameter of 10.6 meters, is set to arrive in Poland soon. Its size is comparable to half the length of a tennis court or three cars parked end-to-end.
A Milestone in Polish Infrastructure
The tunnel will stretch between the villages of Męcina and Mordarka as part of the modernization of a 12.5-kilometer railway section. The total project cost is estimated at EUR 445 million, with the entire modernization expected to be completed within 2.5 years. The tunnel itself, however, will take less than 12 months to construct. Once completed, trains on the reconstructed track will reach speeds of up to 160 km/h.
"We have been working on the Limanowa–Klęczany section for over six months now. Given the project’s scale, it is undoubtedly one of Poland’s most significant rail initiatives in recent years. That’s why, alongside Gülermak, we have invested in these advanced TBMs. We aim to develop our tunneling expertise further to independently take on future projects," said Maciej Olek, a board member and director of railway construction at Budimex SA.
Budimex’s Expanding Reach
The construction of Poland’s longest tunnel is not the only major rail project currently being undertaken by Budimex. The company is also finalizing the reconstruction of the critical Warszawa Zachodnia train station in the Polish capital.
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Internationally, Budimex achieved significant success in Latvia, where it began work on high-speed rail lines as part of the Rail Baltica project, in partnership with French and Italian firms.
In the Czech Republic, Budimex is yet to secure its first railway contract but is currently working on the D35 highway section between Džbánov and Litomyšl and a flood protection reservoir in Kutřín, Chrudim region.
"Our long-term goal is to become a stable and reliable player in the Czech construction market. We aim to contribute to key road and rail projects, ensuring top-quality execution," said Krzysztof Sokołowski, Budimex’s director for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Source: BUDIMEX