Poland is preparing to introduce the Horizontal Railway Schedule (HRJ), a cadenced train service system—a new concept for organizing rail traffic that will fundamentally change the way rail services are planned and operated, Port Polska announced.
Inspired by models successfully implemented in countries such as Switzerland and Austria, the system is based on trains running at regular intervals and at easy-to-remember times, offering greater predictability and more efficient connections for passengers.
The project also represents a response to European legislation on the liberalization of the passenger rail market, as part of the Fourth Package. Starting in December 2030, in addition to the national operator PKP Intercity, other operators will be able to enter the long-distance rail services market in Poland.
“The implementation of the Horizontal Rail Schedule eliminates the problem of irregular departure times and long wait times. By coordinating schedules, trains will arrive at stations at the same times, enabling quick and safe transfers between services. We are drawing inspiration from the most efficient European rail systems, particularly the Swiss model,” said Piotr Malepszak, State Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure.
In practice, trains on the main routes will run at fixed intervals—for example, every hour or every two hours—which will make travel easier to plan and more attractive compared to road transport.
An Integrated Network for the Entire Country
The new system will cover not only long-distance trains but also regional and metropolitan services. For the first time, Polish authorities have developed a unified national vision for the organization of rail transport for the period 2030–2040, in collaboration with all of the country’s regions.
“The HRJ covers not only long-distance transport but also regional and metropolitan services. For the first time in Poland, coherent national-level scenarios have been developed for the period 2030–2040,” said Filip Czernicki, CEO of Centralny Port Komunikacyjny.
The plan calls for expanding rail connections to all regions of the country, either through direct trains or through well-coordinated connections with regional services and buses.
“The main advantage for passengers is the stability and predictability of the services. If you miss a train, you know exactly when the next one will arrive. This model is already in place on certain routes, and we want to expand it nationwide,” said Piotr Rachwalski, a member of the management team at Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK).
Authorities estimate that the new system will help increase passenger numbers and lead to more efficient use of existing infrastructure.
In the long term, the Horizontal Rail Schedule will also serve as a tool for planning rail investments, providing the infrastructure manager with a clearer basis for developing lines, stations, signaling systems, and other elements necessary to increase the network’s capacity.
Starting in 2035, the future “Y”-shaped high-speed line, which will connect Warsaw to the new airport, Łódź, Wrocław, and Poznań, will become the backbone of the national network, integrated into the new rail operations concept. In this way, Poland aims to create a rail transport system that is more predictable, better coordinated, and more attractive to passengers.
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