The major project, which is set for completion in 2032, is expected to improve rail links between major cities.

Close up image of a Pendolino train leaving Warsaw Centralna Railroad Station (Central Station) in P

The new railway network will allow trains to operate at speeds of up to 350km/h (Image: Getty Images)

A new railway station with huge underground tunnels is set to be constructed beneath a new central airport in Poland. The Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) has opened tenders for the design and construction of the train network which will modernise links and improve connectivity across the country.

The government-backed project, located between Warsaw and Łódź, is projected to cost around PLN 131bn (roughly £26.7bn), with the works due for completion by the end of 2032. The tunnel will carry several railway lines and link Warsaw to the east and with Gdańsk, Katowice and Łódź to the west. The plans also include a new high-speed line with routes from Łódź to Wrocław and Sieradz to Poznań.

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The rail tunnel will stretch nearly 5km beneath the centre of Łódź, around 30 metres underground, to become the longest in Poland. A 6km dual-track tunnel will also be built directly under the CPK Airport terminal.

The tunnels will form the backbone of a new 480km rail system, allowing trains to operate at speeds up to 350km/h. They will connect Warsaw, the new CPK Airport, Łódź, Poznań, and Wrocław.

The tender covers extensive civil engineering and rail works, with the project set to include the new CPK Airport and integrated railway station. It is hoped the underground routes will facilitate increased rail speeds and reduce transit times across Poland.

Blue fast train on the bridge

The trains will run east and west across the centre of Poland (Image: Getty Images)

CPK CEO Filip Czernicki said: "The tunnel is an integral part of high-speed line No. 85 linking the CPK Airport with Warsaw and Łódź. The station will form a fully integrated part of the terminal, enabling smooth and rapid transfers between rail and air."

While supporters argue the huge project will relieve capacity constraints at Warsaw's airports, and speed up domestic travel, critics have raised questions about the cost and environmental impact of the work. They also note the feasbility of the project which is expected to be complete in just over six years time.