The Polish infrastructure operator PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe and the construction company Budimex (Poland) have signed a contract for the design and reconstruction of three stations in the Ełk area, located on the route of the Rail Baltica railway line, which is currently under construction. The project, worth 587 million PLN (128 million euro), is co-financed within the Connecting Europe Facility programme. The work is scheduled to begin in the next 3 months and be completed by the end of 2023.

Under the terms of the contract, two stations – Ełk and Ełk Towarowy (cargo), as well as the stopping point Ełk Szyba Wschód will be reconstructed. This investment package is part of the first phase of the work that is to be conducted on the Białystok – Ełk section and is related with the Rail Baltica project; it is important for the development of passenger and freight traffic in Poland and relations between the countries of Eastern Europe.

At the Ełk station, it is planned to increase the height and width of all three platforms in order to facilitate access for passengers with reduced mobility, provide the platforms with non-slip surfaces, install shelters and benches, new passenger information devices, including those for visually impaired people. The underground passage will replace the existing facilities.

At the Ełk Szyba Wschód stopping point, it is planned to build two platforms, each 200 m long, equipped with shelters, benches, handrails, audiovisual information systems and accessible to passengers with reduced mobility.

After reconstruction, the Ełk Towarowy station will receive freight trains up to 740 m long. Modernisation of the traffic control centre in Ełk will ensure safety and efficiency of freight traffic in Poland’s connections with the Baltic states (photo: PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe).