EUR 27 billion (PLN 116 billion) was invested in Polish rail infrastructure from 2004 to 2023, with works including modernisation, renewal and new lines covering 17,000 km of tracks. The investment was ensured by the state budget as well as co-financing from the European Union. Thanks to financing from various EU programmes, railway lines, stations and stops were modernised and new track sections and modern rail traffic control and safety systems were built. The changes benefited primarily passengers who travel safer, faster and in greater comfort.
The Polish rail infrastructure modernisation and expansion was supported by the Infrastructure and Environment Operational programme, the Eastern Poland Operational programme, Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and sixteen Regional Operational programme in each voivodeship.
“PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe has actively used EU funds since Poland joined the European Union. After twenty years, the Polish railway is in a completely different place. Thanks to EU support, we have completed thousands of investments. Therefore, the release of funds from the National Reconstruction Plan is an announcement that the railway will be able to continue to develop dynamically,” said Piotr Wyborski, President of the Management Board of PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe.
The result of the implemented projects is shorter travel times on important routes such as Warsaw – Tricity, Katowice – Kraków, Kraków – Rzeszów, Wrocław – Poznań, Warsaw – Białystok, Ełk – Szczytno – Olsztyn.
After many years, railway connections from Wieliszew to Zegrze Południowy, from Ostrołęka to Chorzel, from Legnica to Lubin and Rudna Gwizdanów, from Łuków to Lublin, as well as on the routes Lewki – Hajnówka, Świdnica – Jedlina Zdrój and Wrocław – Sobótka – Świdnica, were restored.Residents gained convenient daily and occasional rail travel.
The construction of new lines to airport terminals allowed for better integration of various means of transport and enabled combining rail and air transport.Connections have been established to Kraków Balice, Katowice-Pyrzowice, Rzeszów Jasionka, Warsaw Chopin Airport and Olsztyn-Szymany.
Passengers gained a higher standard of service at rebuilt stations and stops.Modern facilities that ensure greater accessibility to railways also for people with limited mobility have been built in every voivodeship. Passengers can start their journey from comfortable platforms, among others in Szczecin, Gdańsk, Rzeszów, Łódź, Wrocław, Kraków, Lublin, Kielce and Bydgoszcz.Work is progressing at other stations, including in Warsaw, Olsztyn, Ełk, and Białystok, which will adapt facilities to the needs of various groups of travelers.To facilitate travel for all passengers, elevators, escalators and ramps are installed.Information is available in Braille for blind and visually impaired people.
Access to railways has also increased thanks to the construction of new stations and stops throughout Poland. New facilities were built both in large cities, such as Kraków, Rzeszów, Warsaw, Olsztyn and Łódź, as well as in smaller towns, including Pisz, Warka, Wałbrzych, Hryniewicze, Pabianice, Zgierz, Zaklików, Stalowa Wola, Zamość, Ustroń and Iwiny.
PLK SA’s investments also include work to improve the level of safety in rail and road traffic. Collision-free intersections, such as tunnels and viaducts, have streamlined the passage of trains and improved local communication. Thousands of rail and road crossings received new surfaces or devices and modern systems allow for better supervision of train traffic.
An important effect of investments for Polish rail infrastructure is also the improvement of conditions for transporting goods. Thanks to investments made with EU funds, access to sea ports in Gdańsk, Gdynia, Szczecin and Świnoujście has improved. Efficient transport of goods is possible thanks to works at border crossings and modernisation of important lines for freight traffic, such as line 131 Chorzów Batory – Tczew, line 273 Wrocław – Szczecin, the so-called Nadodrzanka, railway lines in the province Silesia, including Toszek Północ – Rudziniec Gliwicki – Stare Koźle, Chybie – Żory – Rybnik – Nędza/Turze.
PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe continues the great investment process in railways as an ecological means of transport.The result will be further development of infrastructure, which will translate into further faster and safer journeys, a better transport offer and greater accessibility to railways.
In 2023, Poland has updated its National Railway Programme with a perspective until 2030 with a total estimated investment of EUR 38 billion of which EUR 17.8 billion will be invested in the 2021-2027 financial framework.
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