Bold Plans to Build Polish Airports

The Polish air transport market is one of the fastest growing in Europe. This is because foreign companies are queuing up to invest in airports. According to a programme adopted by the government last week, there is still room for five international airports in Poland. Gdansk is one of the cities which will host the 2012 European football championships. Due to this, the town will have to absorb tens of thousands of supporters. In preparation for the event, the local Gdynia authorities have decided to accelerate construction of the airport that is to be opened in the town in 2011. The airport will cost at least ZL70m. A network of airports is also to be constructed in the Mazowsze province. After 2020, the airports should be ready to cope with 20 million travellers annually. They will be served, among others, by the Modlin, Sochaczew and Minsk Mazowiecki airports. - Billions on New Railway Stations

The cities which are to host Euro 2012 are to have new railway stations. The modern stations, together with car parks as well as hotel, trade and catering facilities, are to be built in Warsaw, Gdynia, Sopot, Wroclaw, Poznan, Katowice and Chorzow. It is also possible that stations will be built in Szczecin and Lodz. It is still uncertain if the Warsaw Central Station will only have a new underground, or if it will be wholly modernised. According to Andrzej Wach, PKP president, PKP plans to allocate ZL2.3 billion to the modernisation of nine railway stations. For instance, the railway station in Katowice, together with its environs, is to cost about EUR200 million. PKP does not have such funds. Therefore, it plans to attract private partners. The interest in railway stations rose after it was revealed that Poland would host Euro 2012. "We receive applications from development companies, bank subsidiaries and funds specialising in property," said PKP board member Jaroslaw Adwent. \nc 04000000