Poland Drills Its Longest Railway Tunnel: 3.7 km in 10 Months — Implications for EU Logistics and Business

Poland has completed the drilling of the longest railway tunnel in its history. A TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) named “Jadwiga” bored through 3,750 meters in the Beskids Mountains — between the villages of Męcina and Mordarka — in just 10 months. This is not just another construction project; it’s a key part of a transport revolution in the country’s south.

For residents of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, this tunnel is a way out of transport hell. Currently, getting from Kraków to Nowy Sącz is a 2.5–3 hour ordeal on perpetually congested roads. When the project becomes fully operational, the train will take about one hour. To Zakopane — an hour and a half instead of three to four hours by car. The difference is staggering.

For U.S., UK, and Canadian investors and logistics firms, this signals expanded EU supply chain capacity. Poland is already a nearshoring hub for Western companies; this tunnel cuts travel times to Slovakia and Hungary, opening new corridors for cross-border trade with Ukraine.

But let’s take it step by step. Here, the numbers are the main protagonists. And they impress even seasoned engineers.

“Jadwiga” Through the Mountain: 46 Meters Per Day — A European Record

A colossus weighing 2,500 tons and measuring almost 11 meters in diameter launched in June 2025. And in 10 months — no weekends, no “let’s think about it” delays — it bored through those 3.7 km. On its best day, “Jadwiga” advanced 46 meters. According to PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA, this is one of the best performance metrics in Europe for such work.

Importantly, the TBM didn’t just crush rock — it simultaneously installed concrete lining. So the tunnel is already almost “roughly” complete.

Poland’s Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak delivered a speech that was grandiloquent but on point:

“Three weeks ago, we drilled the small evacuation tunnel; now, the large one for trains. This proves: we have top-tier specialists.”

And you know what? It’s hard to argue with him.

Not Just a Tunnel, but 31 km of Underground Passages and PLN 17 Billion*

This project itself is not a whim, but a key part of the “Podłęże-Piekiełko” mega-project. The total budget is approximately PLN 17 billion* (around USD 4.73 billion). That’s a staggering amount, but the scale is correspondingly grand.

As part of the project, 20 tunnels will be built (16 for trains, 4 evacuation) with a total length exceeding 31 km. Plus dozens of bridges and viaducts. And all of this — in challenging foothill terrain where every meter literally has to be gnawed out.

Once everything is complete, the train from Kraków to Nowy Sącz will take about 60 minutes. And from Kraków to Zakopane — roughly 90 minutes.

End of Drilling Is Not the Start of Operations — But “Jadwiga” Will Move On

The project’s backers don’t hide it: the end of drilling is not the finish line. There’s still work to connect the tunnels to evacuation exits, lay tracks, install the catenary, and set up safety and traffic management systems. Then — certifications and approvals. Train traffic here will begin no sooner than a year to a year and a half from now.

But there’s good news for tech enthusiasts. After maintenance, “Jadwiga” (and its fellow TBMs) will be transported to the Szczyżyca area, where they will drill the next tunnels. The machine won’t be sitting idle.

Part of the project is co-financed by the European Union through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Krajowy Plan Odbudowy i Zwiększania Odporności) — Poland’s national program under the pan-European mechanism.

Why Does This Matter? Three Honest Takeaways

As a journalist who has been writing about business and economics for 20 years, I won’t pretend this tunnel has a direct connection to North America. It doesn’t. But there are three important lessons and opportunities here for Western businesses and investors.

First: the approach. The Poles built an extremely complex mountain project in 10 months — with clear planning, round-the-clock work, and no dawdling. Similar challenges exist elsewhere (aging infrastructure, mountainous terrain). The neighbors’ example proves: it’s solvable with political will and professional management.

Second: EU money at work. The European Union is financing large-scale infrastructure projects in Poland through recovery mechanisms. For Western companies eyeing EU-funded tenders, understanding how the Poles operate — preparing quality projects, meeting deadlines, ensuring transparency — is directly applicable to opportunities in other EU member states, including future reconstruction in Ukraine.

Third: logistics and supply chain opportunities. Poland is already Central Europe’s logistics hub. Every new kilometer of Polish road and rail creates new routes for cross-border trade with Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Baltics. For U.S., UK, and Canadian logistics firms, construction material suppliers, and machinery manufacturers, this is a market worth watching closely.

So let’s skip false modesty: our neighbors’ success is not a reason for envy, but a reason for analysis and action. The Poles have proven: if you have a goal, money, and “Jadwiga,” then mountains are not an obstacle. Hats off to Polish engineers.

* Note: All foreign currency calculations are based on the exchange rate as of April 19, 2026: 1 Polish zloty (PLN) = 0.278 U.S. dollars (USD). The amounts shown are for informational and illustrative purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. For current exchange rates, please use the currency converter.