Tuesday 27 September 2016
International Cooperation

Poland/Germany: DB Netz AG and PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. conclude new infrastructure contract facilitating cross-border traffic

Contract signed on DB AG stand at InnoTrans

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This year’s InnoTrans saw the heads of DB Netz AG and PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PLK) S.A. sign a new contract defining cooperation arrangements between the two companies and operational responsibilities for infrastructure on the nine cross-border routes between Germany and Poland:

  • Löcknitz—Szczecin
  • Tantow—Szczecin
  • Küstrin/Kietz—Kostrzyn
  • Frankfurt (Oder)—Rzepin
  • Guben—Gubin
  • Forst (Lausitz)—Tuplice
  • Horka Gbf—Węgliniec
  • Görlitz—Zgorzelec
  • Hagenwerder—Krzewina Zgorzelecka—Zittau

“Our two infrastructure companies have a long tradition of constructive cooperation”, said Dr Thomas Schaffer, Board Member for Sales and Timetabling at DB Netz AG. “This new contract sets us on track for further improvements in the quality of rail travel between Poland and Germany.”

“The last 10 years or so of coordinated collaboration have been vital to the improvement and development of railway infrastructure and traffic between our two countries”, said Andrzej Pawłowski, Vice-President of the Management Board and Director for Operational Affairs at PKP PLK S.A. “Our two companies coordinate their business in collaboration both with one another and with domestic policymakers in both countries.”

One of the contract’s central concerns is to define principles governing the construction of infrastructure facilities and the maintenance of railway infrastructure. It also addresses the planning and preparation of track works, as well as cross-border traffic management and path allocation. Particular focus is placed on modernising cross-border passenger and freight routes, renewing railway bridges, and installing and interlinking new train control and signalling systems.
The basis for successful cooperation was laid with the ratification of the Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Poland on Cooperation on Cross-Border Rail Traffic of 14 November 2012.

For almost 10 years, the DB Netz AG/PKP PLK S.A. joint infrastructure group has been overseeing upgrades and modernisation work on existing cross-border rail links. It has successfully brought a number of projects to fruition, such as the renewal of the Frankfurt/Oder rail bridge and the repair of the Görlitz rail viaduct, as well as the renewal and resignalling of the Pasewalk—Löcknitz, Berlin—Kietz/Kostrzyn, Guben—Czerwiensk and Cottbus—Forst lines. Further projects include upgrading and electrifying the Angermünde – Szczecin and Hoyerswerda—Horka—Wegliniec lines, as well as replacing the bridges over the Oder at Kietz/Kostrzyn.

(Source: Deutsche Bahn)

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