With the assistance of Cezary Grabarczyk, the Minister for Infrastructure, an agreement concerning the execution of the feasibility study for a cross-town tunnel connecting Lodz Fabryczna with Lodz Kaliska station was signed on 26 September by the City of Łódź, PKP PLK S.A., the Institution of Culture EC1 Łódź - Miasto Kultury and the Łódź Voivodship. This agreement is essential for the success of the whole investment of high-speed rail in Poland, which will connect Warsaw, Łódź, Poznań and Wrocław.

‘High-speed rail, which will connect four largest agglomerations in Poland, is a new task in the process of modernisation of transportation systems. I would like to emphasise that implementation of the programme is possible thanks to the decisions made by the government, but also due to the fact that Łódź and the Łódź Voivodship are interested in the programme, and they spare no expense. Without the involvement of the municipality, high-speed rail would reach Poland much later. The project requires one task to be executed – the tunnel under Łódź, connecting the Łódź Fabryczna station with the Łódź Kaliska station. Without the expenses born by Łódź, support of the Marshal and the local government, railways would not manage this issue on their own (…) There is a chance that when we start construction works at the new railway, in accordance with the programme accepted by the government, after four years (in 2014) we will be ready to start the first train which will dash 350 kilometres per hour. There is a chance that the effort of the governments of Łódź and the voivodship will have one more effect – a service centre for the Polish high-speed rail. Łódź is on the way of all expected connections, it is the optimum place. It means new working places and investments. The offered service will have to fulfil the highest standards, because modern railway has to be computerised, automatised and absolutely safe. It will be the hallmark of Lodz in the 21st century. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to reaching such a quick agreement. From words to action,’ said the Minister for Infrastructure Cezary Grabarczyk.