On 14 April 2026, TBM “Jadwiga” broke through the mountain at Mordarka, completing the 3,750 metre main rail tunnel under Pisarzowa ahead of its originally planned late-May 2026 deadline. The 2,500-ton, 11-metre-diameter machine operated continuously for ten months from June 2025, reaching a peak single-day advance of 46 metres, a performance rated among the best in Europe for projects of this type. At its deepest point, the bore runs 120 metres below ground. A companion machine, TBM “Kinga,” completed the parallel 4.8-metre diameter evacuation tunnel in advance. Both TBM shields will be refurbished and redeployed to the Szczyrzyc area for the programme’s next phase.

New Contracts, Reopened Track and a Growing Contractor Roster

Since the original article’s publication, the Podłęże–Piekiełko programme has expanded considerably in scope and contractor involvement. In October 2025, PKP PLK awarded Budimex, Budimex Kolejnictwo and Gülermak a PLN 1.7 billion (EUR 400 million) contract for the Szczyrzyc to Tymbark section, covering nearly 8 km of new track including two further tunnels (T7 at 1.1 km and T9 at approximately 3.8 km). In early 2026, Ferrovial and Budimex secured a separate PLN 2.58 billion (EUR 604 million) contract for the Podłęże–Gdów sections F and J. Additionally, the first modernised track segment on the Chabówka to Rabka Zaryte section was reopened to passenger trains in December 2025, marking the programme’s first revenue-service milestone. These developments build directly on the latest procurement phase captured in the EUR 448 million tender for six railway tunnels, which signals how the corridor is rapidly shifting from planning into full-scale tunnelling execution.

Project Overview

• Project Name: Podłęże–Piekiełko Railway Modernisation and New Line Programme (Line 104 Chabówka–Nowy Sącz Modernisation and New Line 622)
• Location: Małopolska Region (Lesser Poland Voivodeship), southern Poland
• Developer/Owner: PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK)
• Total Cost/Value: Approximately EUR 4 billion (PLN 17 billion) across the full programme
• Scale/Capacity: Modernisation of 75 km of existing track (Chabówka to Nowy Sącz) plus 58 km of entirely new line; 20 tunnels totalling over 31 km; design speed up to 160 km/h (passenger) and 120 km/h (freight)
• Construction Start: Multiple phased starts from 2023; TBM operations commenced June 2025
• Expected Completion: 2029 to 2030 (phased across all sections)
• Funding/Financing: EU National Recovery and Resilience Plan (KPO), Polish state budget via the National Rail Programme to 2030
• Current Status: Active construction across multiple sections; first tunnel fully excavated (April 2026); first modernised section reopened to passengers (December 2025); new contracts awarded for Szczyrzyc–Tymbark and Podłęże–Gdów sections
• Key Milestone: TBM “Jadwiga” completed excavation of the 3,750 metre Męcina–Mordarka tunnel on 14 April 2026, ahead of schedule, making it Poland’s longest railway tunnel

Project Team

• PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK) — Client and Infrastructure Manager
• Budimex S.A. — Lead Contractor (Limanowa–Klęczany section, Szczyrzyc–Tymbark section, Podłęże–Gdów F+J sections)
• Budimex Kolejnictwo S.A. — Consortium Partner (Szczyrzyc–Tymbark and Podłęże–Gdów sections)
• Gülermak Ağir Sanayi İnşaat ve Taahhüt A.Ş. — Consortium Partner and TBM Specialist (Limanowa–Klęczany and Szczyrzyc–Tymbark sections)
• Ferrovial Construction — Co-contractor, Podłęże–Gdów F+J sections (first tunnelling joint venture with Budimex)
• Egis (France) — Tunnel Designer for all 13 planned tunnels across the programme
• Ministry of Infrastructure, Republic of Poland — Supervisory Authority
• Center for EU Transport Projects (CUPT) — EU Funding Body
• Changsha (China) — Manufacturer of TBM “Kinga” (4.8 m diameter evacuation TBM)

Reported 15th March 2024: Poland is set to construct the longest single transport tunnel of any kind, road and rail, in the country. With a proposed length of almost 3.8 km (2.4 miles), the tunnel will cut across part of the Western Beskids mountains in the south of the country.

Currently, the longest tunnel in the country is the 2.34-kilometre Expressway S2 Tunnel in Warsaw, also known as the Ursynów Tunnel. The latter is a highway tunnel that’s part of the S2 expressway in Warsaw that opened at the end of 2021. From the west, the tunnel entry begins at Węzeł Ursynów Zachód junction. In the east, the tunnel joins the Węzeł Ursynów Wschód junction.

Poland’s longest tunnel will be built under a project to modernize the section of railway between Nowy Sącz and the village of Chabówka, both of which are located in the southern province of Małopolska. Recently, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. announced that it had signed a 1.9-billion-zloty (€444 million) contract for the development of the project in question.

PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A is the Polish railway infrastructure manager, responsible for the maintenance of railway tracks, conducting the trains across the country, scheduling train timetables, and management of railway land. The company is currently responsible for over 18,806 kilometres of rail tracks.

Implementation of the project to modernize the section of railway between Nowy Sącz and the village of Chabówka

The project at large will be carried out by a consortium comprised of Budimex and Gülermak Heavy Industry Construction and Contracting Inc. Budimex is one of the largest commercial construction groups operating in Poland. The company is also recognized around the world for its experience, knowledge, skilled personnel, and iconic projects.

Gülermak on the other hand is a Turkish company that has been playing a key role in the construction industry at both domestic and international markets since its establishment in 1958. The company is recognized as a leader in rail system projects, infrastructure projects and industrial projects as well as for its deeply rooted corporate culture and highly experienced staff.

According to Polish deputy infrastructure minister Piotr Malepszak, the project, which is due to be completed in 2026, will see the modernization of infrastructure built almost 150 years ago. The aftermath will be reduced travel times between Kraków and Nowy Sącz. To be precise, the project will cut travel time between these two regions from around three hours to just one hour.

Funding for the construction of Poland’s longest tunnel

The construction of Poland’s longest tunnel as well as the implementation of the modernization project it is a part of are a part of a broader programme to improve rail infrastructure in the region. This programme also comprises the construction of a new line connecting Kraków with the Podhale and Sądecczyzna regions that lie along the mountainous border with Slovakia.

Set for completion by 2029, the entire programme will help cut train journey times between Kraków and Zakopane to 90 minutes from around 2 hours and 20 minutes. The programme also encompasses improvements to station infrastructure, including creating platforms that will be fully accessible to people with reduced mobility.

The entire programme including the modernization project and construction of Poland’s longest tunnel is funded through the National Reconstruction Plan (KPO), or rather, the EU’s post-pandemic recovery fund.

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