ABSTRACT
Infrastructure is the key factor enabling implementation of HSR services. According to international experience these services can use purposely built very HSL and medium HSL, as well as upgraded conventional lines. The second option can be particularly favorable for developing countries. Moreover, it can be treated as the first step to further extension of the system. In Poland development of HS infrastructure was started on the Central Trunk Line (CMK) linking Warsaw with Cracow and Upper Silesia. The CMK line was constructed in late 1970s and is characterised by very favourable geometry (typical curve radius is 4000 m). The modernization of its infrastructure included rebuilding or replacement of structures (viaducts, bridges, culverts), elimination of level crossings, renewal of overhead catenary, strengthening of power supply system (construction of new substations and modernisation of existing ones) and, last but not least, installation of ETCS level 1. On 24 November 2013 the speed of 293 km/h was achieved on the line by ED250 EMU during the tests carried out by the Railway Research Institute in the process of certification of the train. Finally, in December 2014, the trains carrying fare-paying passengers started to operate at the speed of 200 km/h on total length of 87 km of double-track line.
The following steps of high-speed implementation in Poland will include two groups of activities:
– introduction of 200 km/h running on further sections on CMK line (ETCS level 1) and on recently upgraded Warsaw - Gdansk main line (ETCS level 2),
– lifting maximum speed on CMK line to approximately 230 km/h.
