CPK: The New European Connectivity Hub (Centralny Port Komunikacyjny)

CPK – The Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) is an infrastructure project in Poland, designed to integrate air, high-speed rail, and road transport. Located approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Warsaw, CPK aims to establish an interconnected national and regional transportation system.

The project was initially approved in November 2017, and following a re-evaluation by the Polish government in June 2024, the core airport component was reconfirmed. CPK relies on methodologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) to manage its complexity and ensure accuracy in design and construction.

Project Vision and Scale

Airport Component

The CPK international airport will span approximately 3,000 hectares. In its initial phase, it’s designed to handle 34 million passengers annually, a capacity the International Air Transport Association (IATA) anticipates will be sufficient until at least 2035. The design allows for future expansion to 44 million passengers annually without significant operational disruptions. The long-term goal is to reach 100 million passengers per year.

The airport will initially feature two runways, 4,000 meters long by 45 meters wide, with plans for expansion to four runways. The passenger terminal, approximately 450,000 square meters, will have nearly 140 check-in counters at its opening. Commercial traffic from Warsaw Chopin Airport is expected to transfer to CPK to ensure the new hub’s economic viability. It also seeks to alleviate the “nuisance” that Chopin Airport has represented for Warsaw’s 280,000 residents.

Integrated Railway Network

The CPK project includes a railway investment with a high-speed rail (HSR) hub integrated directly with the airport terminal. A “Y”-shaped railway line will connect Warsaw with CPK Airport, Łódź, and branch off towards Wrocław and Poznań. Travel times are projected to be reduced to 15 minutes to Warsaw Central Station, 25 minutes to Łódź Fabryczna Station, and approximately 2 hours to most major Polish cities. A high-speed connection to Frankfurt (Oder) is also envisioned, reducing the Berlin-CPK travel time to less than 3.5 hours. The first HSR line between Warsaw and Łódź, including a 4.6-kilometer tunnel in Łódź, will open simultaneously with the airport.

Road Infrastructure and Airport City

The project allocates PLN 2.6 billion for the construction of approximately 90 kilometers of roads connecting CPK to the public road network and the expansion of the A2 motorway between Warsaw and Łódź. A planned Airport City in the vicinity will include trade fair, congress, conference centers, research and development (R&D) facilities, and offices. Benoy’s design proposal emphasizes the construction of this Airport City.

Design and BIM Implementation

The design of the passenger terminal, train station, and interchange was led by the Foster + Partners and Buro Happold consortium, selected through a tender process. This team collaborated with over 30 specialized firms, including NACO, Kuryłowicz & Associates, and Cundall. The final design package comprises over 6,200 drawings and 50 technical reports.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a central methodology for the CPK project. The project uses Bentley ProjectWise as its Common Data Environment (CDE). Bentley ProjectWise is a CDE platform for managing data and documentation in multidisciplinary infrastructure projects. It centralizes information such as 3D models, documents, schedules, and cost estimates, facilitating team integration. Its implementation has enabled precise data management, automatic change tracking, and minimization of errors across international and multidisciplinary teams.

Funding and Development

The Council of Ministers of Poland has adopted the Multiannual Program for the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny for the period 2024-2032, allocating a total of PLN 131.7 billion (approximately EUR 30.8 billion) for preparatory works, design, and main construction activities. Funding comes from the State Treasury, European Union funds, bank loans, and CPK corporate bonds.

The fund allocation breaks down as follows:

CPK Airport Investment: PLN 42.7 billion by 2032.
Railway Component: Over PLN 76.8 billion.
Road Infrastructure: PLN 2.6 billion.
HSR Rolling Stock Acquisition: PLN 1.7 billion.
Airport City and Cargo City Development: PLN 0.8 billion in capital.

The updated CPK timeline anticipates the launch of the first phase of CPK Airport and high-speed train connections between Warsaw, CPK, and Łódź by the end of 2032. Construction of the airport’s foundations is scheduled to begin in 2026. The tunnel and underground train station should be completed by 2029. Testing and certification processes for the airport system will conclude by 2032. The first construction permits, related to new high-voltage power lines outside the airport area, have already been received.

Sustainability at the Core

CPK aims to be a global model for sustainable aviation, integrating environmentally friendly technologies and practices. The project is committed to combating climate change through energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources.

CPK aims to be a Net Zero Ready Airport from day one of operation, which implies the technical preparation to be powered exclusively by renewable energy sources for heating, cooling, and electricity supply.

Specific green initiatives include: Renewable energy from solar power (photovoltaic panels) and geothermal heating/cooling. Smart energy systems, cooperation with Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) to build a combined heat and power (CHP) plant fueled by natural gas and supplemented with solar panels, utilizing trigeneration. Water management from rainwater harvesting and on-site treatment plants to reuse non-potable water and electromobility and biofuels to reduce energy consumption and use low-carbon vehicles.

Strategic Impact

CPK is projected to be an economic catalyst for Poland, estimated to generate over 150,000 job opportunities. The Polish government’s strategy favors contractors with experience in infrastructure projects in Poland and who employ local workers.

Intermodality is a key advantage of CPK, with the airport connecting all parts of Poland and European countries, especially its central and eastern parts. The airport’s location near the A2 motorway and halfway between Warsaw and Łódź will facilitate integration with the road network.

A Transformative Project for Poland

The Centralny Port Komunikacyjny is a multifaceted strategic investment that seeks to transform Poland into a transportation hub for Central and Eastern Europe. Its conception as a multimodal hub integrating air, high-speed rail, and road transport, along with its vision for sustainability and its role in regional security, represents a commitment to the future.

Planning and the use of advanced methodologies like BIM, with Bentley ProjectWise as its Common Data Environment, are fundamental to managing the project’s complexity. Modular expansion capability, conflict detection in design, and resource optimization are key aspects of its engineering approach.

Financially, the project is backed by state, EU, and private funding, with a budget of PLN 131.7 billion until 2032. The timeline foresees the opening of the first phase of the airport and key railway connections by the end of 2032. CPK is an economic engine that will generate over 150,000 jobs and a vital geopolitical asset.