„Kinga” passed through the tunnel under Pisarzowa

On 24 March, the President of the State Mining Authority and representatives of the District Mining Office in Kraków attended the completion of the emergency escape tunnel between Męcina and Mordarka, bored using the TBM “Kinga” (tunnel boring machine).

The Pisarzowa Tunnel is the first of 20 planned along the entire route and one of the longest in the country, measuring 3,750 metres. It forms part of the Podłęże-Piekiełko project, which is being carried out by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe. Completion of the entire project will significantly reduce journey times from Kraków to Nowy Sącz, with the journey expected to take around 60 minutes. Trains in the tunnel will reach speeds of up to 160 km/h.

The TBM “Kinga” has been working underground for almost a year. The machine, which is approximately 170 metres long and weighs over 600 tonnes, belongs to the consortium carrying out the project, led by Budimex S.A. Once work near Pisarzowa is complete, it will be dismantled and transported for refurbishment. From next year, under a new name, it will begin tunnelling on the next section between Szczyrzyc and Tymbark.