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Transporting workers to the construction site of the Lubiatowo–Kopalino nuclear power plant: everything you need to know

Writer: Damian Brzeski
Damian Brzeski
56 minutes ago
14 min read

The employee is to arrive at the construction site at the agreed time, with a suitcase and the equipment needed for the job.


When organizing transport to the construction site of the Lubiatowo–Kopalino nuclear power plant, you need to plan for pick-up after arrival in Gdańsk or from your accommodation in the Tricity, travel to the precisely indicated reporting point and return.


If a vehicle is to enter the construction site, notification of the vehicle and personnel will also be required. It's worth gathering this information when placing the order.



Workers wearing hard hats get into a black Mercedes van at a nuclear power plant construction site; the Polish flag and industrial buildings are in the background.

Lubiatowo–Kopalino and the Choczewo commune - where to transport an employee?


Lubiatowo–Kopalino is the name of the investment location in the Choczewo commune . You may also hear the term "Kopalino nuclear power plant" used in conversations. When booking a ride, you'll need the exact location: your hotel, the construction site's reporting point, or the agreed-upon entrance gate.


The route, pickup time and further arrangements with the carrier depend on this.

If the vehicle is to enter the construction site, provide this information when ordering and arrange notification of the vehicle and persons entering.


It's important to determine who's submitting the application, what vehicle, driver, and employee data is required, and how to confirm entry preparation. This is similar to how it's organized for trips to ports and large industrial zones: the travel date is coordinated with access to a specific location.


It's best to start by contacting your team coordinator. Ask them to provide your arrival point and the check-in procedures for that location. Also, agree on a required check-in time and the time needed for the first day's paperwork.


This allows the carrier to schedule a pickup from the airport, Gdańsk or Gdynia in line with their work schedule.


Reporting point, drop-off point and construction site contact


When ordering employee transportation, please indicate the agreed drop-off or drop-off point. Provide its address and a map point confirmed by the person accepting the crew.


Include whether this is an entrance for employees, a service point for first-time visitors, or a meeting place with a subcontractor representative.


The driver and passenger should receive the same information. If the coordinator changes the arrival point, also notify the carrier. This avoids situations where the vehicle is traveling to a previously agreed-upon address while the employee is waiting for delivery to a different location.


Transfer to the investment and further transport within its area


Transfers from the airport or hotel to the construction site and onward transportation within the site can be separate stages of the journey. Determine where the requested transfer ends. If the team is using construction-specific transportation, the arrival time and drop-off location must be coordinated accordingly.


Such solutions are described in documents from foreign construction sites. In the guide for the Penly EPR2 project in France, EDF describes shuttle buses from the entrance to the project's stops. The Sizewell C documents from August 2026 present a plan that includes transfer points and shuttle services between construction sites.


In Lubiatów-Kopalin, the specific group's transportation method should be agreed with the coordinator. When booking, please indicate where the requested transfer ends and how it connects to onward transportation, if the group will be using it.


Map of the route from Gdańsk to the nuclear power plant in Choczewo, blue variants with times 1:16–1:25.

How many kilometers is it from Gdańsk, Gdynia and the airport to Kopalino?


When planning your journey to the Lubiatowo–Kopalino nuclear power plant construction site, you can use the following approximate road distances. Kopalino is the reference point; for Gdańsk and Gdynia, the area around the main train stations is used.


Pick-up point

Approximate road distance to Kopalino

Gdańsk City Center - the area around Gdańsk Główny train station

approximately 95–110 km - check route

Gdynia city center - the area around Gdynia Główna railway station

approximately 60–90 km - check route

Gdansk Airport (GDN)

approximately 80–95 km - check route

The ranges include various route options. The journey to a specific gate or construction site reporting point may vary. Before ordering, please confirm the exact delivery location with the coordinator and verify the route from the actual pickup address.


Direct entry to the construction site and notification of vehicles and people


If a vehicle is to enter a construction site, prepare notification of the vehicle and any entering personnel, as required by the site administrator. Inform the carrier of the need for entry when placing the order to coordinate the vehicle, driver, and employee details.


You can establish a division of duties as follows: the carrier provides the client with the required details of the assigned vehicle and driver. The client collects the data of the entering employees and coordinates with the site manager who submits the notification.


The designated person confirms to the carrier and the team that the entry formalities are ready.


Reservations confirm the travel arrangements. Entry to the construction site must be confirmed separately for the assigned vehicle, driver, and passengers.



The notification should correspond to the actual trip. If the vehicle, driver, or passenger composition changes, check with the coordinator whether an update is necessary. This also applies if the carrier proposes a replacement vehicle.


The first day of work and the time needed for formalities


Ask your employer what time the employee should report and what they need to do upon arrival. The first day may be different from subsequent days: you'll need to consider the employee's formalities and any onward travel to work.


Schedule a pickup time by counting backward from the required call time, taking into account travel time, agreed-upon stops along the way, and travel time. Just because the vehicle arrives near the construction site doesn't mean the worker is ready to begin work.


Infographic about transporting workers to the Lubiatowo-Kopalino power plant: bus at the construction site, 5 steps, distances and return.

Transfer from Gdańsk airport to work at the power plant - how to plan a pickup?


When arranging a technician or service technician pickup from Gdańsk Airport (GDN), determine whether the employee will travel first to a hotel or directly to an agreed-upon point at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino development. Collect travel details before confirming travel, even if you're arranging a worker's arrival from abroad.


Flight number, meeting point and passenger contact information


When booking an airport transfer, please provide the flight date and number, number of passengers, and contact information. Agree on a meeting point and ensure the passenger receives confirmation in a language they understand. This information should also include their onward destination.


If you're booking transportation for someone else, provide the carrier with the contact information of the employee and the coordinator. The driver should be able to locate the passenger, and any changes to the hotel or construction site notification should be forwarded to the person organizing the delegation.


It's worth checking whether the employee's phone will work upon arrival in Poland. Having an agreed-upon meeting point and alternative contact information also helps if a passenger can't call immediately after disembarking the plane.


Delayed arrival and baggage claim time


Set a pickup time based on departure from the terminal and baggage pickup. Without these arrangements, the arrival time alone doesn't indicate when the employee will be ready to depart.


Before booking, ask how the carrier arranges travel after a flight delay, how waiting times are handled, and who should be notified of the change. The terms and conditions should be known to both the person making the booking and the passenger.


A delay may also affect further arrangements: the reporting time, the coordinator's pickup, or the prepared arrival. If the plan is no longer feasible, agree on a new sequence of stages with the person responsible for the team.


Transfer to the hotel or directly to the registration point?


A direct transfer makes sense when the employee has a confirmed arrival time, knows their destination, and has their boarding or entry formalities prepared. If they need to check into a hotel first and start work later, consider a separate transfer from their accommodation.


If you do not have a confirmed registration time or are unsure whether the entry or boarding formalities are ready, please make further arrangements with the coordinator before booking a direct course.


Let's say a specialist arrives with luggage for their entire stay. Even if the schedule allows for a direct trip to the check-in point, you still need to determine what will happen to their bags. The baggage drop-off location can influence the route as much as the arrival time.


Transporting workers from Gdańsk and Gdynia to the power plant construction site - how to plan the journey?


Whether you choose a hotel in Gdańsk, accommodation in Gdynia, or accommodation closer to the project will determine the daily pick-up location for your team. When choosing accommodation, consider the entire stay: working hours, travel time, and planned departures.


Accommodation in Tricity or closer to the investment?


Compare the accommodation with the travel plan. For a short stay, arrival, meetings in the Tricity area, and onward departure may be important. If the employee will be working consecutive days, also consider daily commute times and arrangements for returning after the shift.


The link between accommodation and transport is evident at Hinkley Point C (HPC). Hi West describes the daily shuttle service from accommodation campuses to the UK construction site, organised in partnership with a transport provider. This is an example of planning both elements together. Hi West – Transport for HPC Employees .


The beginning of the ride

What to agree on first

Gdansk GDN Airport

Flight, meeting point, luggage and onward destination

Hotel in Gdańsk

Exact address, pickup time and required reporting time

Overnight stay in Gdynia

Pick-up point, route and any additional addresses

Accommodation closer to the investment

Daily schedule and connection to agreed arrival point

Pickup from one address or multiple locations


If your crew is staying in different locations, provide the carrier with a complete list of pickup points. Each additional address will affect the route and the time the first passenger must be ready.

When sharing a ride, also take into account the travel time of people picked up along the way.


If everyone is reporting together, a single route can facilitate coordination. If work hours are different or overnight stays are far apart, consider separate trips and compare their organization.


Current route, pickup time and travel time


Agree on a route to the designated point and the time required for subsequent stages of the journey. Take into account current roadworks and detours, and for regular deliveries, update the plan as conditions change.


Use the estimated travel time provided by the navigation system to prepare your schedule. Add in scheduled pickups, drop-offs, and formalities. The employee's report time should remain the reference point for the entire trip.


A vast construction site of a nuclear power plant in Poland with tents, excavators and trucks; sandy roads under a blue sky.

Return from the construction site to the hotel, Tricity or Gdańsk airport


When ordering, specify whether the employee is returning to the same hotel, traveling to the Tricity area, or ending their business trip and leaving for Gdansk. This allows us to prepare the appropriate vehicle and establish contact details for pickup.


Pick-up after shift and shift end time


Confirm the meeting point with the driver. If the employee still needs to arrive at the pickup point after completing the task, include this step in the vehicle ordering time.


Determine who notifies you of changes to your departure time and how such a change impacts wait times and transportation availability. Contacting the coordinator is helpful when multiple passengers finish at different times and you need to decide whether to continue traveling together.


Transfer to the hotel and rest after work


After a long shift, a simple return plan is essential: a known pickup point, a prepared ride, and a confirmed overnight address. This allows the employee to relax during the trip and not have to organize the next leg themselves.


When sharing a pick-up, consider the order of hotels. A route that's convenient for gathering the team in the morning may require a different arrangement after work ends, especially if the passenger mix has changed or some people are going to a different location.


Return to Gdańsk Airport - pre-departure planning


Determine your required arrival time at GDN based on the airline's recommendations for your specific flight, taking into account check-in and baggage drop-off. Count backward from this time to determine your departure time. Take into account your current route, baggage, and any hotel baggage pickup.


If an employee wants to go to the airport straight after completing their assignment, check with the coordinator whether this is possible. Changing the end time could then impact the employee's ability to catch their flight. Also, determine who makes the decision to change the departure time.



One-off transfers or regular employee transport?


A one-time transfer covers a specific arrival or departure of an employee or team, while a regular transfer covers repeated trips in line with the work schedule. Tailor the scope of service to the actual arrival, overnight stay, and return dates.


Trips of individual specialists and short business trips


For a short business trip, create a plan from arrival to departure: accommodation, agreed-upon transportation to and from work. This also applies to the technician, engineer, or service technician arriving to perform a specific project task.


It's important to indicate which times are confirmed and which are dependent on completion of work. This will give the carrier clear information about what can be scheduled immediately and what requires later coordination.


Shift transfers and variable passenger numbers


For fixed routes, prepare a schedule for each group: pickup points, check-in and drop-off times, number of passengers, and operational contact information. Update it whenever accommodations or crew members change.


The number of people on a single trip is more important for vehicle selection than the total number of employees involved in the project. If people start work at different times, it's necessary to consider multiple separate trips and the possibility of changes between them.


Team exchanges and arrivals of employees from abroad to Poland


Match the arrival schedule of new arrivals with the departure schedule of those who are ending their stay. Check accommodations, arrivals, departures, and entry arrangements for the current team.


People from various countries also work on such projects. A 2009 TVO report indicates that nearly 4,400 people representing 55 nationalities worked on the Olkiluoto 3 construction site at its peak. This historical example demonstrates the importance of ensuring clear communication with visiting specialists. TVO report, p. 16 .


If the team is arriving directly by car or bus from another country, further travel to Pomerania must also be combined with the place of accommodation, registration time and access rules.


The nuclear power plant in Choczewo with a cooling tower and the flags of the USA and Poland against the background of a forest under a blue sky.

What standard should the transportation of employees and technical teams be?


Check how the transport will be organized for your specific business trip: with luggage, at a fixed time, with changes in hours, and with possible access to the construction site. Vehicle comfort and efficient coordination are both important.


A vehicle adapted to the number of people, suitcases and equipment registered


Please include the number of passengers and luggage details. Even if the vehicle has enough seats, longer-term luggage and toolboxes may require reconfiguration or a larger vehicle.

Before quoting, please provide dimensions and type of equipment.


The carrier should confirm whether they can take the equipment and how it will be placed and secured in the vehicle. If the equipment requires separate transport, this should be agreed upon before the employee travels.


Driver safety, comfort and work organization


Pay attention to the condition and cleanliness of the vehicle, functioning seat belts, comfortable seats, and travel conditions. Arrange pickup and drop-off locations so that passengers can safely board and retrieve their luggage.


For night arrivals, early pickups, and drop-offs after shifts, also ask how the carrier schedules drivers' workloads. A March 2024 report from the HPC Transport Forum describes the fatigue assessment model used by SPS, which takes into account, among other things, night driving and pre-duty rest. This operator-specific practice demonstrates the importance of driver planning.


Confirmation of travel and contact with the coordinator


The confirmation should include the date, time, pickup point, destination, and contact information so that all participants are on the same page. The foreign employee should receive information in the agreed-upon language.


Designate someone to collect and communicate changes. With multiple subcontractors, this helps streamline decisions about joint pickups, new times, or passenger changes. This ensures the driver receives the latest arrangements, and passengers know the current plan.


Handling outages and schedule changes


Agree on how to contact someone in case of a problem and how to arrange a replacement. Also ask what happens if there's a change in time, number of passengers, or route.


In case of direct entry, agree that the carrier will inform the coordinator about the change of car or driver, and the client will report the change of passengers.


The person responsible for the notification should check whether it needs to be updated and confirm that the entrance is ready for the current vehicle and occupants. Solving the transportation problem must be combined with preparing access to the destination.


What determines the cost of transporting employees to Lubiatowo–Kopalina?


When pricing employee transportation, provide planned route segments, number of trips, crew size, luggage, additional pickup points, and expected wait times. For regular deliveries, also consider the frequency of trips. Compare offers covering the same scope of services and check the terms before ordering.


Route, team size, luggage and additional stops


Provide the start and end points of each leg, the number of people, luggage, and pickup points along the way. Include planned stops, hotel pickup, and return.


Transfers from Gdansk to your accommodation, daily travel from Gdynia, and final transfers to the airport all offer different services. When comparing offers, check which sections are actually covered by the quoted price and which vehicle is included.


Waiting, changing reservations and settling travel


Establish waiting times following a flight delay or work extension, order change policies, and payment methods. Provide information about any required travel and related coordination.


For regular deliveries, determine how to communicate changes in the number of trips and passengers. Regular orders allow for planned collaboration, but the price still depends on the scope of the service requested.


What to provide to the carrier? A checklist for the person organizing the trip.


Before submitting your order, please gather the following information. If a part remains to be determined, please indicate it immediately and provide the contact information for the person who can confirm it.


Information about the ride:


  • travel date, agreed pickup time and flight number, if applicable;

  • exact pickup address or meeting point at the airport;

  • destination point and contact details of the person hosting the team;

  • required on-site reporting time;

  • number of passengers and suitcases and information about the equipment being transported;

  • contact details of the passenger and coordinator and the agreed language of contact;

  • return plan: date, time, pick-up point and destination; for departures to GDN, also date, flight number and departure time;

  • data needed for settlement and arrangements regarding changes and expectations.


If the car is to enter the construction site directly, additionally agree on:


  • information that the order includes notification of entry to the premises;

  • preparing notification of the vehicle and entering persons;

  • required vehicle data, in particular the registration number, and driver and employee data;

  • the person responsible for reporting and contacting the site manager;

  • the deadline for submitting data and the method of confirming that entry is ready;

  • what to do after changing the vehicle, driver or passenger composition.


Determine the scope of notification information for a specific location. As the person making the order, collect passenger data, obtain the required information from the carrier about the assigned vehicle and driver, and determine who will contact the site manager to confirm entry preparations. Communicate the latest arrangements with the carrier and the crew.



FAQ - practical questions about employee commutes to Lubiatowo-Kopalina


The following situations require additional arrangements between the passenger, the carrier, and the coordinator. It's advisable to communicate the change as soon as the new travel plan is known.


What to do if an employee's flight is diverted to another airport?


Communicate your new arrival point with the carrier and coordinator. Agree on pickup options, a new route and pricing, and then confirm your next plan for getting to your accommodation or work.


Is it possible to combine the pickup of people arriving on different flights?


Collecting passengers from different flights requires coordinated times, waiting times, and a common destination. Check whether a delay in one passenger's departure time still allows the remaining passengers to meet their schedules.


What should I do if an employee cannot enter the investment site upon arrival?


Contact your team coordinator and discuss further action. Let the carrier know your decision regarding a wait, an alternative destination, or a return trip so they can confirm their service options.


How to arrange the transport of large toolboxes or unusual equipment?


When reporting toolboxes or unusual equipment, please provide the type, quantity, dimensions, and weight of the equipment. The carrier should confirm the vehicle selection and the conditions for transporting the equipment and passengers.


Can the team exchange be combined with a return transfer to the airport?


Coordinate both destinations into one schedule. You'll need to coordinate arrival and departure times, work completion, baggage, and preparation for the arrival of a new crew, if necessary.


How do I arrange a ride when passengers represent different subcontractors?


When employees of multiple subcontractors travel, designate a person responsible for travel arrangements and determine the payment method. Upon arrival, also confirm who is responsible for handling registration for each employee.


Before booking, coordinate your arrival, accommodation, check-in, notification, and return arrangements. The employee, driver, and coordinator should receive the same, up-to-date itinerary. Based on this, you can prepare a trip from GDN, Gdańsk, or Gdynia tailored to your specific travel destination and team schedule.

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