Work has begun on the most extensive railway development initiative ever undertaken in Poland. Prepared within the framework of the Port Polska programme, the project aims to reduce travel times between the country’s largest cities to a maximum of 3.5 hours. Journeys from Warsaw to key destinations such as Kraków, Poznań and Wrocław are expected to take no longer than 100 minutes. The plan will also ensure that every county gains either direct or indirect access to long-distance rail services. Its foundations rest on forecasting, simulation tools and wide-ranging consultations.
The Integrated Railway Network (ZSK) is being implemented on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure by Centralny Port Komunikacyjny, as part of the broader Port Polska strategy, together with PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe.
ZSK encompasses new investments designed to eliminate infrastructure gaps and outlines the expansion of Poland’s rail system beyond 2035, following the completion of the “Y” line connecting Warsaw, the new airport, Łódź, Poznań and Wrocław. It represents a comprehensive, long-term investment roadmap created with input from academic experts and agreed upon with local authorities, logistics stakeholders and the military.
Long-distance services are organised by the Ministry of Infrastructure, alongside predefined commercial connections within the passenger transport network.
Within the ZSK framework, approximately 8,000 km of potential new railway lines have been analysed. Consultations were conducted across all 16 voivodeships, involving nearly 800 representatives from more than 100 institutions, including local governments, rail operators, universities, and logistics and security organisations.
Expert and defence sector involvement
Investment proposals were reviewed in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defence, the General Staff and other military bodies, particularly in relation to national security and dual-use infrastructure. Collaboration also extends to the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) and the Institute for Urban and Regional Development.
The final configuration, following the launch of the “Y” line, is supervised by the ZSK Scientific Council. This body includes 19 specialists from leading Polish institutions such as the Warsaw School of Economics, technical universities, the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Railway Research Institute.
Future expansion after the “Y” line
Consultations took into account regional requirements to ensure that each county is connected to long-distance services, either directly by rail or indirectly via regional bus links. International connections are being coordinated with neighbouring countries, including the Baltic States, the Czech Republic and Germany.
Planning relies on dedicated Passenger and Freight Transport Models, which integrate road, rail and air systems using statistical data and forecasts. A detailed expansion blueprint covering several thousand kilometres of new lines is expected to be published later this year.
Towards a user-friendly timetable
Infrastructure upgrades are accompanied by work on the Horizontal Timetable (HRJ), designed to provide a regular and convenient schedule for passengers. In addition to high-speed services on the “Y” line, regional express trains will connect medium-sized and smaller cities, including via existing convenient schedule for passengers. In addition to high-speed services on the “Y” line, regional express trains will connect medium-sized and smaller cities, including via existing conventional routes.
Nationwide consultations on the timetable involved 157 experts in workshops with regional organisers and national institutions. Local authorities submitted 727 proposals and comments, while public consultations generated around 1,800 additional inputs. Discussions also included operators and international partners.
Advanced planning tools
Port Polska makes use of sophisticated analytical systems developed internally, enabling precise design of the future rail network and alignment with European Union transport priorities.
“Thanks to advanced analytical tools such as the Passenger Transport Model and the Freight Transport Model, the future rail system can be prepared with exceptional precision, with decisions based on accurate and reliable data” – says Michał Pyzik, Director of Transport Planning Projects Portfolio at Centralny Port Komunikacyjny – “The tools have been developed in-house by the company’s engineers and take into account the international context of the rail network – both for passenger and freight transport. As a result, they align closely with European Union plans to prioritise rail at both national and international level”.
Ongoing construction and long-term goals
Construction is already under way on a 480 km high-speed line linking Warsaw with Łódź, Poznań and Wrocław, designed for speeds of up to 350 km/h. Beyond this, a broader government rail programme covers 12,000 km of lines, with planned spending of PLN 180 billion by 2032.
Rail usage in Poland is also expected to grow. Currently, Poles make just under 12 train journeys per person annually, compared with the EU average of 18. The goal is to increase this to around 20 journeys per year. On major routes such as Warsaw–Poznań and Warsaw–Wrocław, rail is projected to account for more than two-thirds of passenger traffic once the “Y” line is completed.
Port Polska itself is a strategic infrastructure initiative led by Centralny Port Komunikacyjny, aimed at building an integrated national transport system that combines air, rail and road networks, including a new central airport between Warsaw and Łódź and a nationwide high-speed rail system.
Nationwide consultations on the timetable involved 157 experts in workshops with regional organisers and national institutions. Local authorities submitted 727 proposals and comments, while public consultations generated around 1,800 additional inputs. Discussions also included operators and international partners.
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