Rail transport in Poland
Encyclopedia
The Polish railways network consists of around 19599 kilometres (12,178.3 mi) of track as of 2008, of which the vast majority is electrified
using a 3 kV
DC
overhead line system
.
Poland is a member of the International Union of Railways
(UIC). The UIC Country Code
for Poland is 51.
by an assortment of different rail companies, when territory was part of different countries including, among others, the Deutsche Reichsbahn
and Russian Imperial State Railways
. Due to the average age of Poland's railway network and lack of maintenance, many sections of track are limited to speeds below 100 km/h (62.1 mph) even on trunk lines. No high-speed lines
exists in Poland and some 500 km (310.7 mi) of track allow traveling at 160 km/h (99.4 mph), most notable being the Central Trunk Line (CMK) which links Warsaw
to Katowice
and Kraków
, with some sections constructed to an alignment which would permit 200 km/h (124.3 mph) but not operated at that speed.
In 2008, the Polish government announced the construction of a dedicated high speed line
based on the French TGV
model and possibly using TGV style trainsets by 2020. The Y-shaped line would link Warsaw
to Łódź, Poznań
and Wrocław. This line would allow speeds of up to 320 km/h (198.8 mph). This project includes also an upgrade of Central Trunk Line to 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (or more) as this line features an LGV
-like profile.
Polskie Koleje Państwowe, a state-owned corporate group
, is the main provider of railway services. The PKP group holds an almost unrivaled monopoly over rail services in Poland as it is both supported and partly funded by the national government.
As of 2008, foreign services operate on the Polish Railways network. These include EuroCity
and EuroNight
trains operating between Western and Eastern European destinations, most notably the EN Jan Kiepura direct sleeping cars which operate between Russia
and Amsterdam, Basel and Munich via Warsaw, Poznan and Germany. These trains generally consist of varied coaches from different rail operators that are added to the train as it passes through their area of operation.
Poland uses the standard gauge
for its railways, except for Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line and a few very short stretches near border crossings
. Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line (known by its Polish acronym LHS) in Sławków is the longest broad gauge
railway line
in Poland. The line runs on a single track for almost 400 km from the Polish-Ukrainian
border, crossing it just east of Hrubieszów
. It is the westernmost broad gauge railway line in Europe that is connected to the broad gauge rail system of the countries of the former Soviet Union
.
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
using a 3 kV
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
overhead line system
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
.
Poland is a member of the International Union of Railways
International Union of Railways
The UIC , or International Union of Railways, is an international rail transport industry body.- Brief history :The railways of Europe originated as separate concerns. There were many border changes after World War I and the Treaty of Versailles. Colonial railways were the responsibility of the...
(UIC). The UIC Country Code
UIC Country Code
The UIC Country Code is a two digit number used to identify member countries of the International Union of Railways . The UIC has issued numbering systems for rolling stock and train stations that both contain the UIC Country Code. The values are defined in UIC leaflet 920-14.-Table of Codes:-...
for Poland is 51.
Overview
Although the network is generally electrified, the vast majority of the track was laid by the Communist authorities from 1946 onwards or was, in a significant number of cases, laid before World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by an assortment of different rail companies, when territory was part of different countries including, among others, the Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn
Deutsche Reichsbahn was the name of the following two companies:* Deutsche Reichsbahn, the German Imperial Railways during the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich and the immediate aftermath...
and Russian Imperial State Railways
Russian Railways
The Russian Railways , is the government owned national rail carrier of the Russian Federation, headquartered in Moscow. The Russian Railways operate over of common carrier routes as well as a few hundred kilometers of industrial routes, making it the second largest network in the world exceeded...
. Due to the average age of Poland's railway network and lack of maintenance, many sections of track are limited to speeds below 100 km/h (62.1 mph) even on trunk lines. No high-speed lines
High-speed rail in Poland
As of December 2009, Poland had 700–800 km of railways suited for rail transport reaching 160 km/h. An additional 1,500 km are expected by 2015, including some sections allowing 200 km/h. While previously the Polish government had invested primarily in Poland's road network,...
exists in Poland and some 500 km (310.7 mi) of track allow traveling at 160 km/h (99.4 mph), most notable being the Central Trunk Line (CMK) which links Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
to Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
and Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, with some sections constructed to an alignment which would permit 200 km/h (124.3 mph) but not operated at that speed.
In 2008, the Polish government announced the construction of a dedicated high speed line
High-speed rail in Poland
As of December 2009, Poland had 700–800 km of railways suited for rail transport reaching 160 km/h. An additional 1,500 km are expected by 2015, including some sections allowing 200 km/h. While previously the Polish government had invested primarily in Poland's road network,...
based on the French TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
model and possibly using TGV style trainsets by 2020. The Y-shaped line would link Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
to Łódź, Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
and Wrocław. This line would allow speeds of up to 320 km/h (198.8 mph). This project includes also an upgrade of Central Trunk Line to 250 km/h (155.3 mph) (or more) as this line features an LGV
LGV
LGV may stand for:* Large Goods Vehicle in Europe.* Lymphogranuloma venereum* Lignes à Grande Vitesse, French high-speed rail lines:** LGV Atlantique** LGV Est** LGV Interconnexion Est** LGV Nord** LGV Méditerranée** LGV Picardie** LGV Rhône-Alpes...
-like profile.
Polskie Koleje Państwowe, a state-owned corporate group
Corporate group
A corporate group is a collection of parent and subsidiary corporations that function as a single economic entity through a common source of control. The concept of a group is frequently used in tax law, accounting and company law to attribute the rights and duties of one member of the group to...
, is the main provider of railway services. The PKP group holds an almost unrivaled monopoly over rail services in Poland as it is both supported and partly funded by the national government.
- There are three main PKPPolish State Railwaysis the dominant railway operator in Poland.The company was founded when the former state-owned operator was divided into several units based on the requirements laid down by the European Union...
companies:- PKP PLKPKP PLKPKP, Polskie Linie Kolejowe is a company of the PKP Group and is responsible for maintenance of rail tracks, conducting the trains across country, scheduling train timetables and management of railway land....
- owns and maintains infrastructure including lines and stations. - PKP IntercityPKP IntercityPKP Intercity is a company of PKP Group responsible for long-distance passenger transport. It runs about 350 trains daily, connecting mainly large aglomerations and smaller towns, also servicing most of the international trains....
- provides long-distance connections on the most popular routes. Trains are divided into the categories: EuroNight, EuroCity, Express InterCity (which are generally faster and more expensive) and TLK (interregional fast trains, which are slower than EN/EC/EIC/Ex, but cheaper) and international fast trains. - PKP CargoPKP CargoPKP Cargo is a company of the PKP Group in Poland responsible for freight transport. It owns 3,549 locomotives and 50,731 freight wagons. It is the largest railway cargo carrier in Poland, and second largest in the European Union...
provides cargo rail transport.
- PKP PLK
As of 2008, foreign services operate on the Polish Railways network. These include EuroCity
EuroCity
EuroCity, abbreviated EC, denotes an international train service within the European inter-city rail network. In contrast to trains with the "IC" label, "EC" trains are international trains that meet certain criteria. The EuroCity label replaces the older Trans Europ Express name for...
and EuroNight
EuroNight
EuroNight, abbreviated EN, denotes all main-line national and international night train services within the European inter-city rail network. Unlike the equivalent day-running counterparts EuroCity and InterCity trains, the EuroNight trains tend to run during the nighttime and are equipped with...
trains operating between Western and Eastern European destinations, most notably the EN Jan Kiepura direct sleeping cars which operate between Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Amsterdam, Basel and Munich via Warsaw, Poznan and Germany. These trains generally consist of varied coaches from different rail operators that are added to the train as it passes through their area of operation.
Rail links with adjacent countries
- Same gauge:
-
Czech RepublicCeské dráhyČeské dráhy or Czech Railways is the main railway operator of the Czech Republic. In 2010 its consolidated revenues reached CZK 41.0 bn...
- same voltage -
GermanyRail transport in Germany, Germany had a railway network of 41,315 km. 19,857 km are electrified. The total track length was 76,473 km. Germany is a member of the International Union of Railways . The UIC Country Code for Germany is 80.-Overview:...
- voltage change - 3 kV DC/15 kV AC -
SlovakiaRail transport in SlovakiaRail transport in Slovakia began on 21 September 1840, with the opening of the first line from Bratislava to Svätý Jur and on 20 August 1848 ....
- same voltage -
SwedenRail transport in SwedenRail transport in Sweden uses a network of 13,000 km of track, the 20th largest in the world. Construction of the first railway line in Sweden began in 1855. The major operator is the state-owned SJ AB....
- By train ferryTrain ferryA train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
-
- Break-of-gaugeBreak-of-gaugeWith railways, a break-of-gauge occurs where a line of one gauge meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock cannot run through without some form of conversion between gauges, and freight and passengers must otherwise be transloaded...
- /-
BelarusTransport in BelarusThis article is about transport in Belarus. For Soviet transportation, see Transport in the Soviet Union.- Railways :Rail transport in Belarus is operated by Belarusskaya Chyhunkatotal:5,512 kmcountry comparison to the world: 32...
- voltage change - 3 kV DC/25 kV AC -
LithuaniaLithuanian RailwaysLithuanian Railways is the national, state-owned railway company of Lithuania. It operates all the railway lines in the country.Lithuanian Railways' main network consists of 1749 km of broad gauge railway of which 122 km are electrified. They also operate 22 km of standard gauge...
- voltage change - 3 kV DC/25 kV AC (electrified lines only through Belarus) -
RussiaRussian RailwaysThe Russian Railways , is the government owned national rail carrier of the Russian Federation, headquartered in Moscow. The Russian Railways operate over of common carrier routes as well as a few hundred kilometers of industrial routes, making it the second largest network in the world exceeded...
(
Kaliningrad OblastKaliningrad OblastKaliningrad Oblast is a federal subject of Russia situated on the Baltic coast. It has a population of The oblast forms the westernmost part of the Russian Federation, but it has no land connection to the rest of Russia. Since its creation it has been an exclave of the Russian SFSR and then the...
) - without overhead linesOverhead linesOverhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point... -
Ukraine - voltage change - 3 kV DC/25 kV AC
-
Broad gauge railways
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
for its railways, except for Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line and a few very short stretches near border crossings
Border Crossings
Border Crossings is a live, all-request, music-oriented radio show that is broadcast worldwide by the US government-operated Voice of America. Premiering at 1505 UTC on October 14, 1996 with Judy Massa as host, it is one of VOA's longest-running music programs, surpassed only by Willis Conover's...
. Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line (known by its Polish acronym LHS) in Sławków is the longest broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
railway line
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
in Poland. The line runs on a single track for almost 400 km from the Polish-Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
border, crossing it just east of Hrubieszów
Hrubieszów
Hrubieszów is a town in southeastern Poland, with a population of 18,661 . It is the capital of Hrubieszów County. Since 1999 Hrubieszów has been part of Lublin Voivodeship . Earlier, 1975–98, it had been part of Zamość Province...
. It is the westernmost broad gauge railway line in Europe that is connected to the broad gauge rail system of the countries of the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Non-PKP services
- Przewozy Regionalne - formerly a part of PKP group, now owned by regional authorities of the 16 voivodeships. The company operates local passenger trains (under the REGIO brand) financed by local governments, some low-cost long-distance trains (interREGIOInterRegioThe InterRegio is a train service seen in some European countries. Mostly they are trains that run "from region to region", as best described by Swiss Federal Railways.-Switzerland:...
) and some short-distance international trains operated jointly with DB RegioDB RegioDB Regio AG is a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn which operates short and medium distance passenger train services in Germany, and operates light and heavy rail infrastructure in the United Kingdom.-Germany:...
(REGIOekspres). Passenger trains are rather slow and are mostly run using electric multiple unitElectric multiple unitAn electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s and diesel railcarRailcarA railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s/railbusRailbusA railbus is a very lightweight type passenger rail vehicle that shares many aspects of their construction with a bus, usually having a bus, or modified bus body, and having four wheels on a fixed base, instead of on bogies...
es. InterREGIO trains are often faster than TLK trains, but consist of EMUs or older cars. - Deutsche BahnDeutsche BahnDeutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
- DB RegioDB RegioDB Regio AG is a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn which operates short and medium distance passenger train services in Germany, and operates light and heavy rail infrastructure in the United Kingdom.-Germany:...
have connections from some Polish close border stations (GorzówGorzówGorzów may refer to the following places in Poland:*Gorzów Wielkopolski, a city in Lubusz Voivodeship *Gorzów Śląski, a town in Opole Voivodeship *Gorzów, Lesser Poland Voivodeship...
, KostrzynKostrzynKostrzyn is a town in Poland, in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, with 8,398 inhabitants . Katarzyna Tomicka was born nearby in Iwno....
, SzczecinSzczecinSzczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....
) with DB network with local trains (on the Polish parts of their routes these trains are generally operated by Przewozy Regionalne). - Arriva RPArriva RPArriva Poland Sp. Zoo, is a Polish private rail carrier providing services in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Masovian, Pomeranian and Warmian-Masurian voivodships. The company presently belongs to the Deutsche Bahn Group-History:...
(a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn) is a regional operator on non-electrified lines in the Kuyavian-PomeranianKuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship-Transportation:Transportation infrastructure is of critical importance to the voivodeship's economy. Kuyavia-Pomerania is a major node point in the Polish transportation system. Railway lines from the South and East pass through Bydgoszcz in order to reach the major ports on the Baltic Sea...
and PomeranianPomeranian VoivodeshipPomeranian Voivodeship, or Pomerania Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in north-central Poland. It comprises most of Pomerelia , as well as an area east of the Vistula River...
regions
- DB Regio
- Koleje DolnośląskieKoleje DolnośląskieKoleje Dolnośląskie is a regional rail operator in the Lower Silesian Voivodship of Poland.The company was founded in December 2007 and is fully owned by the local government.- Train categories :...
is a regional operator on a few lines in Lower SilesiaLower SilesiaLower Silesia ; is the northwestern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia; Upper Silesia is to the southeast.Throughout its history Lower Silesia has been under the control of the medieval Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy from 1526...
. - Koleje MazowieckieKoleje MazowieckieKoleje Mazowieckie is a regional rail operator in the Masovian Voivodeship of Poland.- History :The company was founded in 2004 as a joint venture of the Masovian Voivodeship, with 51% shares, and the, then government-owned, PKP Przewozy Regionalne, with 49% shares, to handle local passenger...
is a regional operator on all lines in Masovian VoivodeshipMasovian Voivodeship-Administrative division:Masovian Voivodeship is divided into 42 counties : 5 city counties and 37 "land counties"...
, including WarsawWarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. - Koleje Śląskie
- SKPL is a micro-operator providing services on branch lines and narrow-gauge lines.
Rapid transit
Rail transport has many uses in Poland and although this is generally kept within the long/short distance passenger and freight category it is also used in the form or rapid transit in some areas. This includes:- PKP Szybka Kolej Miejska in the Tri-city area of northern Poland
- Warszawska Kolej DojazdowaWarszawska Kolej DojazdowaWarszawska Kolej Dojazdowa is a suburban light rail line in Poland's capital city of Warsaw. The line, together with its two branches, links Warsaw with the municipalities of Michałowice, Pruszków, Brwinów, Podkowa Leśna, Milanówek and Grodzisk Mazowiecki to the south-west of Warsaw.-History:The...
A suburban railway in Warsaw - Szybka Kolej MiejskaSzybka Kolej Miejska (Warsaw)Szybka Kolej Miejska is a rail operator providing services in the Warsaw metropolitan area using the national rail network while constituting a part of the cities integrated public transport system organized by the Warsaw Transport Authority.- History :...
a suburban, city-owned line in Warsaw - Warsaw MetroWarsaw MetroThe Warsaw Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Warsaw, the capital of Poland. It consists of a single north-south line that links central Warsaw with its densely populated northern and southern suburbs. The first section was opened in 1995, then gradually extended until it...
An underground metro system in operation in Warsaw which is currently undergoing a period of expansion.
See also
- High-speed rail in PolandHigh-speed rail in PolandAs of December 2009, Poland had 700–800 km of railways suited for rail transport reaching 160 km/h. An additional 1,500 km are expected by 2015, including some sections allowing 200 km/h. While previously the Polish government had invested primarily in Poland's road network,...
- History of rail transport in PolandHistory of rail transport in PolandThe history of rail transport in Poland dates back to the first half of the 19th century when railways were built under Prussian, Russian, and Austrian rule. Of course, "divided Poland" in 19th century was the territory of the former Commonwealth of Poland and not that one of today's Republic of...
- Transport in PolandTransport in PolandThe transport in Poland involves air traffic, waterways, and railroads.As a country located at the 'cross-roads' of Europe, Poland, with its developed economy is a nation with a large and increasingly modern network of transport infrastructure....