Poland - General Information

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Country Name

Poland (Polska)

State railway system

Polskie Koleje Panstwowe SA (PKP) is the controlling entity for the PKP Group.

National Railway Operator

PKP Intercity is responsible for long-distance passenger transport.

PolRegio, formerly Przewozy Regionalne, is responsible for local (Regio) and InterRegio services and also InterRegioBus. Since 1 December 2021 Polregio is a joint-stock company, [a business owned by its investors, with each investor owning a share based on the amount of stock purchased in order to finance endeavours too expensive for one shareholder or even a government to fund, with all owners to share in profits]. This was a change from a limited liability company is claimed to strengthen the company's position. Przewozy Regionalne was until 22 December 2008 a wholly owned subsidiary of the PKP Group when the shares were transferred to the 16 regional governments. This then changed from 21 September 2015 when the Government's Treasury’s industrial development and restructuring agency Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu acquired a 51% stake with the 16 Voivodships retaining 49%, the government intention being majority shareholder to improve management, and resolve different policies within the 16 regional authorities where some established their own local train operating companies or their own tenders for the provision of services.

Language

Polish.

Currency

Złoty.

UIC code

numeric 51; alpha PL.

Timetable

Journey Planner

Downloadable Timetable

The complete Timetable for either the full year or roughly current quarterly period is available by selecting the required date option from Download zip 100 - P200.

This can be reduced to an individual Table by either Enter station name or Enter Timetable number or Line number. All will again give a period option, plus from a station search a list will be displayed, then click on the chevron to the right of the wished for Table number for a listing by period.

In all options it should be noted there are four pre-announced "adjustment" dates each year but complete PDFs are re-issued on an almost weekly basis with no summary available of what has changed... For 2021/22 these are 13 March, 12 June, 4 September & 6 November 2022

The last printed Timetable was for 2011/12 with no public access to on-line PDFs for 2012/13. Following on-line petitions these were made available from 2013/14 but the white/yellow, station arrival/departure sheets, showing train detail by scheduled platforms [Peron] were downloadable from 2012/13, very useful to establish alternative routes close to stations.

Additionally individual operators and PKP Inter City publish PDFs, as do PolRegio by Voivodeship [Region]. Links are

By Operator

Intercity: PKP Intercity Rozkład jazdy but only by station.

International: which from 2018 are accessed by Country and not just one PDF file

Local Services: This first link leads to a large scale map of lines with the Regions superimposed on it PolRegio.. Once the requested Region is known, select the Region name from the drop down box for Links to Regional Timetables. Note the PolRegio link also contains useful information on discounted ticketing.

Other Operators: See Inni przewoźnicy pasażerscy (Other passenger operators) page, plus Sinfin railways of Poland, which supposedly links to all passenger, freight, operational Narrow Gauge, Metro and Trams in Poland. Any omitted should hopefully be included on EGTRE Other Railways.

Printed Timetable

None since Dec 2011 - Dec 2012 period; see previous section. PDF's from 1851 to 2011/12 [with gaps] listed by individual Table numbers in each year were previously available at this link.

Additional Notes on reading the Timetable

Note the letters have been replaced by the more usual 1-7 indicating Monday to Sunday, and "F" & "G" are obsolete but are listed here to help interpret previous years printed TT's.

(A) Working days except Saturdays i.e. SSuX
(B) daily except Saturdays, i.e. SX
(C) Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, i.e. SSuO
(D) Mondays to Fridays except holidays, i.e. SSuX
(E) Mondays to Saturdays except holidays, i.e. SuX
(F) runs when advertised or required
(G) runs until further notice
z against timings in column means Bus replacement autobusowa komunikacja zastępcza
"I" in the middle of the train column the train passes through this station without stopping
"<" in the middle of the train column the train does not pass through that station but instead takes a different route
Codziennie Daily
Do until or to
Od from or since
do odwołania until further notice
autobus szynowy Railcar [i.e. a train]
Gł., Główny main station
I And
Kursuje Runs
Oprocz Except
Oraz As well as
p (przyjad) Arrive
po ogłoszeniu [from] when advertised
p.odg. (posterunek odgałęzny) junction
Poza tym Besides
Przełącznik Switch, as in alternative route
Przez Via
st. station [stanica] i.e. do. st. Until station
Swiat Holidays
W On
Wąsk. (wąskotorowa) narrow gauge
z, ze from or after
Na odcinku ……. ruch pociagów zawieszony do odwołania On the section…. no scheduled trains until further notice

Engineering Information

These are now part of General Notices on the PolRegio website. Select Region from drop down box and read through all the Notices it displays.

Bus Information

The recommended national journey planner for all bus or tram journeys is jakdojade.pl, it will even plot the route taken.

The Rozkład jazdy autobusów PKS website offers a number of options including:

  • Ogólny rozkład jazdy autobusów PKS (Bus journey planner)
  • Rozkład jazdy autobusów PKS według miast (Bus information by city)
  • Rozkład jazdy komunikacji miejskiej według miast (Links to transport authority sites by city)

or the following from the ZTM Warsaw website which gives links to Operators in the majority of towns in Poland

Maps

Printed Maps

Web-based Maps

  • a countrywide but with zoom facility on-line map unfortunately without line numbers but shows current status, plus detail such as electrification and single/double track etc
  • Open Railway map. Zoom into Poland and this contains Line numbers at a much more detailed level than the Atlas Maly
  • Thorsten Büker's Map of Poland [Although this remains on-line, Mr Büker has advised they are not being updated so note for Poland it is dated 26 March 2018]
  • EGTRE Maps and Plans - Poland
  • Linked from the PKP Website http://mapa.plk-sa.pl/ so assumed to be official. It takes a short while to load.
  • Detailed individual train journey maps can be obtained from the Beta Version of the PKP Journey Planner which will even include any unusual booked route. After a search click on the three vertical line option on the right hand side of the screen. Note if there are options for services in opposite directions it is highly likely to show the same path for both.

Additionally there is a real time "Train Radar" by Region selecting from a drop down box in the top right corner

For anyone interested in historical maps plus line closure dates, the bazakolejowa website in Polish is a good starting point.

Ticketing

Tickets for almost all Polish train operators can be purchased online at the operators’ website or via a ticketing website eg bilkom.pl website (only in Polish).

If the boarding station is not staffed or has no machines, you can buy a ticket on the train without extra charge if you report immediately to the conductor who can usually be located at the front of the train as an additional fee may be charged if they come round the train to find you! If the ticket office on the station you started your journey is open, you can also buy a ticket on the train, but an extra charge may be added depending on ticket type and the length of the journey.

PKP offers a number of network tickets which offer good value, although travellers need to take care differentiating between not only PKP Inter City and PolRegio services but even different types of regional service. The Polrail travel website provides useful introductory information in English and can assist with ticket purchases for throughout Europe. Terms and Conditions are constantly changing so this is not to be taken as definitive Information and prospective travellers should be aware that most regional operators accept only their own tickets so should check beforehand. This may be a good start point. Some regions accept PKP network tickets but none accept ordinary (non-network) PKP tickets.

• The following operators normally accept PKP network tickets: Arriva RP, ŁKA (except Sprinter services), KS, KW, KMŁ

• The following operators do not normally accept PKP network tickets: KM, SKM Warszawie, WKD, KD, SKM Trójmieście.

See Other Railways for details of these operators.

The Koleje Mazowieckie website (the area round Warsaw) gives details of useful network type tickets. However, care should be taken to distinguish between Koleje Mazowieckie (KM) and Szybka Kolej Miejska w Warszawie (SKM) services as they only accept each other's tickets on certain routes, for example between central Warsaw and Warsaw Chopin Airport. ZTM (Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego), the Warsaw Transport Authority, has a useful map showing the tariff zone boundaries in the metropolitan area indicating where KM, SKM Warszawie, WKD have some limited inter-availability, plus details of daily or weekly zonal tickets covering all but main line and PR services. Additionally KM tickets are accepted by WKD under some conditions; see honouring of tickets.

All main stations are equipped with machines offering an extensive range of tickets (including some network tickets), which accept credit and debit cards and may accept notes. However, small stations may have no ticket machines and even major ones only a few and not for all operators, Warszawa Centralna being the classic example where there are no SKM or KM machines. Ticket windows are the norm, sometimes with separate windows for PKP Inter City and Regional services. Queues can be long, especially at peak times, and ample time should be allowed to buy tickets if you have not purchased them online and are unable to use the ticket machines.

Especially involving the Warszawa area operators, tickets from machines will be issued without a day and time printed on them. Even the operators websites recognise this as a problem and advise if a composter cannot be located tickets should be validated by permanently writing on their back the date and time of the start of the journey in a 24-hour format, e.g. 7.11.2021 at 06:55.

Tickets other than for suburban journeys will indicate a specific train, but may be changed or refunded (before the train time) using the website you purchased them from (at least for PKP InterCity and bilkom.pl).

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

The PKP Group subsidiary Polskie Linie Kolejowe is responsible for maintenance of the infrastructure, timetabling and management of railway property.

In January 2020 the Infrastructure Ministry revealed plans to transfer responsibility for some closed lines to the provinces. Dolnośląskie will be the first to acquire such lines.

Network Statement

2020/21 and 2021/22.

Gauge

The main line network is Standard. In addition 394 km of a 1520mm gauge freight-only "Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa" (Broad-Gauge Steel Line) between Sławków near Katowice and Vladimir in Ukraine is in Poland and was formerly part of PKP and known as the "Steel and Sulphur Railway". The LHS has a separate website plus a Supporters Club lhs.pl with interactive maps and photographs. A suggested extension into the Czech Republic/Austria is mentioned from time to time with the increase in rail traffic from China etc but would be enormously expensive. Other broad gauge tracks cross into Poland from the Ukraine, Belarus and Kaliningrad, with from L'viv in the Ukraine via Medyka to Przemyśl Główny in use by Ukrainian Railways operated passenger services. See [EGTRE Poland Cross Border services] for further details.

A number of tramway systems are metre gauge including Bydgoszcz, Elbląg, Grudziądz, Łódź and Toruń.

Electrification

Main line electrification is 3 kV dc. The WKD system in Warszawa (see Other Railways) was converted from 600 V to 3 kV dc on 27-28 May 2016.

Warsaw metro is 750 V dc third rail.

Tramways are 600 V dc.

Rule of the road

Right.

Distances

The timetable PDFs (see the 'Downloadable Timetable' section above) give detailed distances for each station. The "Mały Atlas Linii Kolejowych Polski 2011” gives detailed distances for each station, junction and significant operating location.

Two websites have tables of distances by line number (not table number).

  • In Semaforek enter the line number in the 'szukaj' box at the top right and click the search button.
  • On the Atlaskolejowy select the line from the drop down list labelled 'Wykaz linii kolejowych w Polsce' .

Other Railways

The last PKP operated Narrow Gauge scheduled passenger trains ran in July 2001 but a 4km part of ex PKP line 317 from Pleszew PKP to Pleszew Miasto still ran SSuX [except school holidays] operated by private Company SKPL, [Stowarzyszenie Kolejowych Przewozów Lokalnych] until 7 December 2012 but as the branch is dual gauge Standard gauge freight traffic continued. SKPL then resumed a NG passenger service on 4 May 2015 but when they acquired standard gauge BzMot's from Slovakia they took over the service from February 2017 until that summer (when they were required elsewhere) but BzMot's had resumed by June 2018. The NG rails remain serviceable and summer Sunday afternoon narrow gauge services ran in August 2019 and July & August 2020 and 2 Sunday only pairs are timetabled in 2022 from July 10th to August 28th. The images used are NG diesel and coaches which had operated before the railcars.

The DB subsidiary Usedomer Bäderbahn opened a 1.5 km extension from Seebad Ahlbeck Grenze to Świnoujście Centrum in Poland on 20 September 2008. Built mainly on a reinstated formation, there are plans to extend back into Germany to Garz Airport and a Feasibility Study is due to be completed by March 2022. There will be no physical connection to the PKP network which is on the opposite side of the River Świna [although a road tunnel is under construction].

See Gauge for details of the "Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa" (Broad-Gauge Steel Line).

Private operators have franchises to work a number of local passenger services over PKP lines:

Click here for a useful map showing the regions.

  • KM Koleje Mazowieckie KM operates local services in Mazowieckie, the area round Warszawa.
  • SKM Szybka Kolej Miejska w Warszawie operates local services in the Warsaw conurbation, including services to Warsaw Frederic Chopin airport.
  • WKD Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa operates self contained local services from Warszawa Śródmieście to Grodzisk Mazowiecki Radońska and Milanówek Grudów.
  • SKM Szybka Kolej Miejska w Trójmieście (Three Cities) operates local services in the Gdansk/Gdynia conurbation, including regional services between Gdynia and Slupsk, as well as some trains to Tczew and Malbork.
  • Arriva RP Arriva operates local services in Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province and partly in the Pomorskie and Mazowieckie provinces, based around Bydgoszcz, Toruń and Grudziądz.
  • ŁKA Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna operates local services and from 2020/21 to Ostrów Wielkopolski and Drzewica
  • KD Koleje Dolnośląskie operates local services in Lower Silesia, the region around Wrocław.
  • KMŁ Koleje Małopolskie operates local services in Małopolskie, the region around Krakow
  • KS Koleje Śląskie operates local services in Silesia, the region around Katowice.
  • KW Koleje Wielkopolskie operates local services in Wielkopolskie, the region around Poznań and during 2018 local services radiating from Poznań itself will be separated out into a Poznań Kolej Metropolitana franchise.

Tourist Lines

A number of ex PKP narrow gauge, ex Forestry Railways or Park railways offer tourist or charter services. The Polish Government publish a report each year and for 2019 released in January 2021 can be accessed here. This claimed 28 operated on 397.7km of track and carried 916,900 passengers. The map in this report is poor so the following website with links to websites etc accessed through an interactive map at Narrow Rail Poland may assist.

Some links to tourist lines are available on the Sinfin.net site.

Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines; see the IG Draisinenfahrten website. Click on 'International', followed by 'Draisinenlinks' to obtain website details under the heading 'Draisinenstrecken in Polen (PL)'.

Metro

Warszawa. An expanding Network with extensions of Line 2 west to Bemowo opening on 30 June 2022 and east to Bródno on 28 September 2022. A three-stop nearly 4km western extension to Karolin is at the design stage but not yet funded. See the Metro Warsaw website map.

Trams/LRT-Systems

Bydgoszcz, Częstochowa, Elbląg, Gdańsk, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Grudziądz, Katowice area [no longer including Gliwice as this part of the network closed on 31 August 2009], Kraków, Łódź, Olsztyn, Poznań, Szczecin, Toruń, Warszawa & Wrocław.

The UrbanRailNet site has basic diagrams for the systems plus links to the local operators.

Some links are available on the Sinfin.net site and also see Poland - Tram services over obscure routes for further details.

Some cities provide free travel to those of pensionable age, usually irrespective of citizenship. Those potentially eligible should check the operators' website to see if this applies and check the criteria; some cities offer free travel from age 65 but most from age 70. Normally all that is required is to show one's passport to the inspector as proof of age.

Wolsztyn Steam services

Perhaps surprisingly these are operated under a legally required tendering process through Koleje Wielkopolskie with the current contract being granted to the only bidder "Parowozownia Wolsztyn". This covers from the 2022 resumption date of 15 January 2022 to an unknown date but note the Saturday Poznan service will be suspended from 19 March to November 5 2022 [dates inclusive] due to engineering work.

Any travellers should note it is usual for steam to cease during August and from late November until mid-January for staff holidays.

Steam had resumed on 15 May 2017 after a gap since 31 March 2014 under a three, then one year contract with PKP Cargo which ended on November 27 2021. A highly recommended but UNOFFICIAL website is updated daily including giving advance warning when there are no steam locomotives available due to scheduled maintenance plus timetable details of what should be worked by steam. The 2022 contract specified the same level of service as before, which is two pairs SSuX Wolsztyn - Leszno and two pairs SO Wolsztyn - Poznań [but see above for 2022 limitations]. To keep steam operating it has been known during periods of engineering work to change to Wolsztyn - Zbąszynek as it did from 16 March - 30 June and 1 - 26 October 2020 or Wolsztyn - Poznań from 9 - 20 November 2020. The annual Steam Parade will not take place in May 2022 due to track work in the Wolsztyn area, and was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

Note there are also plans by the Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Wolsztyńskiej Parowozowni to operate a steam service from Wolsztyn 13.8km to Świętno [where there is a Museum in the old station] on the currently closed line 371 towards Konotop.

Recent and future changes

Future Changes

  • 604 The direct curve onto 604 from Warszawa to Góra Kalwaria may lose services from December 2022 TT change as KM will be introducing Flirt EMU’s and they can’t use the low platforms at Góra Kalwaria or the intermediate stop on 604 Czachówek Wschodni. The suggestion is an EN57 shuttle from Czachówek Południowy which would reinstate use of the south to east curve.
  • 135a Re-opening from Przeciszów onwards to Oświęcim is delayed to an unknown date.

The new north to east 3.3km curve from the CMK at Włoszczowa Północ towards Kielce (tables 100/109) was seen to be complete in October 2022 with commissioning of what is designated line 582 planned for the second half of 2022. During significant delays to this project PKP PLK in their 2021-2027 plans suggested a north to east curve off the CMK near Opoczno to connect with the line 25 [Tomaszów Mazowiecki -[ Opoczno - Skarżysko Kamienna but it is not known if that remains a proposal.

Other potential & pending re-openings are:-

  • 303 Rokitki - Duninów - Chocianów : Services planned to resume with December 2022 timetable change. Was in use to Duninów by freight traffic with the 4km onwards to Chocianów purchased by the Region in December 2020.
  • 316 Chojnów – Rokitki: Services planned to resume with December 2022 timetable change. This and 303 are subject to repairs to two previously stored SA109 DMU’s being completed in time, the track etc is ready.
  • 285 Świdnica Kraszowice to Jedlina Zdrój on the Wałbrzych – Kłodzko line is planned to re-open in December 2022 with reconstruction well under way in parts in late 2020. It closed to passengers in May 1990
  • the contract to re-open and re-electrify line 28, the 3 km branch from Weiliszew to Zegrze was signed in April 2020 for passenger services to commence in the fourth quarter of 2022 but an SKM announcement in October 2022 advised services are not expected to resume until December 2023. The branch will be served by an extension of the SKM service from Warsaw to Legionowo.
  • 53 The Marshal's Office of the Łódź Voivodeship has announced a weekend service from Tomaszów Mazowiecki to Spała would resume once ŁKA receive their ordered hybrid units, expected to be at the December 2022 timetable change.
  • When Kościerzyna to Gdynia/Gdansk is closed for up to three years for doubling and electrification, Kartuzy - Gdansk train services will be diverted via the refurbished 14km freight lines from podg Glincz via Stara Piła [line 229] to Gdansk Kokoszki [line 234], plus 1.5km currently lifted to Gdańsk Kiełpinek. It should be noted that Gdańsk Kiełpinek is a station on line 248 from Gdańsk Wrszeszc to the Airport and later maps show the reinstated line reaching there, but when the local Voivodship suggested services run through to at least Gdańsk Wrszeszc the original bus connection to/from Gdansk was suggested as still applying, assumed due to the electrification works. So it remains unclear what the through Gdansk - Kartuzy journey arrangements will be via lines 229 & 234 although the target re-opening date is January 2023.

Linked into this, a September 2021 Press Article clearly stated the agreed electrification contract includes a 3km link to allow trains from the Tri-City to Kościerzyna to run via Kartuzy without having to change direction. Perhaps surprisingly this isn’t a south “avoider” but a new loop to the east of Kartuzy to then turn south to approach the existing Kartuzy station from the north. Map here that also shows the lines connecting at Gdańsk Kiełpinek. A different article confirms this as it stated station Leszno Kartuskie will be relocated so as that is on the currently closed line from Kartuzy to Sominino, on completion of this "loop" that line and station would re-open. Completion by March 2024 is suggested.

Later possible/planned re-openings

  • 421 When Torun Wschodni to Sierpc re-opened on 31 January 2022, the Voivoidship Press Release mentioned they were close to announcing a resumption between Aleksandrów Kujawski - Ciechocinek but by June 2022 this had changed to it would not resume until December 2023 at the earliest.
  • line 35 Ostrołęka - Chorzele PLK work to reopen is underway, with services planned to resume on 1 July 2023 but a November 2022 announcement advised this would not be met with no replacement date. A clue is that no paths have been applied for by KM for 2022/23, so a resumption in December 2023 looks likely. Additionally, beyond Chorzele to Wielbark towards Olsztyn is complete and been used since November 2019 to deliver materials to construction sites south from Chorzele but there have been minimal suggestions of also re-opening to passengers as this involves a different voivodship and an update in the November 2022 announcement was inter-vovoidship talks have not started due to no firm information on a resumption of traffic date. PKP IC have an aspiration to run services on this route in their 10-year PKP IC Public Service plan, but in the short term it may only be available for freight traffic.
  • re-opening line 406 26km north from Szczecin Glowny to Police was included in a successful EU Funding application to upgrade all the suburban railway network, with EU conditions that it was to be completed by the end of 2023. For some time it has been known this deadline would not be met, allegedly due to sub-Contractor issues and a November 2022 Press article confirmed this and advised the latest estimate for re-opening is 2025, subject to obtaining new EU funding.
  • EU funding for electrification and reopening of line 182 from Tarnowskie Góry via Katowice [Pyrzowice] Airport to Zawiercie was granted in September 2018, but delays on Tendering meant a contract was only signed in October 2020 for construction from early 2021 for completion in the fourth quarter of 2023.
  • Construction of the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Lanckorona avoiding curve has commenced with the plan for services to commence using it from the start of the 2023/24 timetable. Completion will allow direct trains from Kraków to Bielsko Biała via Skawina and Wadowice.
  • Finance has been obtained to build a new 5km branch off the Rzeszów to Ocice line to serve Rzeszów-Jasionka airport with an estimated opening date of the end of 2023.
  • Olsztyn Gutkowo to Braniewo The refurbishment of sections needing work to be able to resume passenger services was tendered section by section, with work on the last part from Olsztyn Gutkowo – Dobre Miasto finally starting in October 2021 and estimated to take two years.
  • the TBM for the 7km Y-shaped underground tunnel from Łódź Fabryczna via new stations at Łódź Polesie and Łódź Śródmieście with links north and south to both Łódź Żabieniec and Łódź Kaliska started work in Summer 2020 for completion in 2023 and planned passenger use from December 2024. Additionally and still at the Study stage are plans for a second tunnel for use by fast trains which will again be from Łódź Fabryczna but direct with no stations to near Lublinek on the line towards Zduńska Wola/Wrocław.

A study recommending 4 different routes for a new 140km railway from Ostrołęka direct to Łomża, then to Pisz - Orzysz - Giżycko has been completed recommending a cost-benefit analysis. There were Public Consultions in mid-2022 and the schemes website has maps of the four variants for completion of Ostrołęka to Łomża by 2027, and onwards via Pisz to Gizycko by 2032. Note the approved Kolej+ bid for Łapy via Śniadowo to Łomża is separate and this new scheme explains why refurbishing Ostrołęka - Śniadowo is not part of either...

There are plans to combine both Warszawa Airports into a new one to the west of the capital and for it to be open by 2027, plus it would be served not just by links to existing nearby lines and Warszawa but also new railways direct to most main lines heading away from the capital. This Centralny Port Komunikacyjney is still at the planning stage but the as at June 2022 rail plans involving numerous grade separated junctions are here.

In Warsaw, a new 12 km tramway line going south from the centre to Wilanów is to be completed by the end of 2023.

On 10 May 2021 a contract was let for a 5.5 km northward extension, by a new line, of the Torun tramway to Jar, with completion scheduled 31 May 2023.

Rail travel promotion is a popular topic in Government at present, both brand new and re-instatement of closed lines. Part of this is the CPK Plan [Centralny Port Komunikacyjny, https://www.cpk.pl], as approved by a 10 May 2018 Act of Parliament which envisages a new Airport being built to the west of Warsaw near Stanisławów north west of Grodzisk Mazowiecki by winter 2027/2028 with up to 1,789km of new railways to allow reaching the airport or Warsaw in less than 2½ hours. An article showing proposed new high speed lines between Żyrardów and Sochaczew and the airport with a map is here

kolej+

On countrywide re-openings, the current Government initiative is a Kolej+ program for upgraded, new or reinstated stations, or connections to cities with a population of over 10,000 currently without a railway station. The budget was originally PLN 5.6 billion, excluding a compulsory 15% contribution from local government on any that proceed. Applications could also be for new stations or modernization of the existing network, [e.g. electrification or new passing loops], with any finally approved to be implemented by 2029 [revised end date]. 96 applications were made, 79 qualified to the second stage on 27 November 2020 and Voiviodships had until 24 November 2021 to submit a document confirming the security of financing for a minimum of 4 pairs of trains for 5 years. 47 of these passed that stage, with PKP PLK having until late February 2022 to analyse further and rank them for the Ministry of Infrastructure to consider for final approval. Then on 1 April 2022 the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure advised that subject to Parliament approval, the kolej+ budget would be increased by an additional PLN 5.5 billion, followed on 20 April by the Prime Minister advising 34 of that 47 had been approved.

The list of approvals is here which is notable as it includes a number of brand new lines excluded previously from listing in EGTRE as Press Comment was they would be too expensive to proceed!! Successful applicants originally had around two months to conclude an agreement with PKP PLK who were to confirm they were willing to proceed but this proved impossible, officially firstly as "market conditions were changed by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine", and secondly by Local Authorities not meeting in August so by September is now the target. With the passing of time finance issues appeared as allegedly PKP PLK took a position that the entire risk of inflation increases be borne by local Governments, but an agreement was reached in August 2022 increasing the Government's contribution to PLN 13.2 Billion, with Local Authorities proportion increasing to around PLN 2 Billion so contract signings commenced. It was also suggested if any projects do not obtain PKP PLK consent that the next project in line could be invited to take its place, i.e. the funds would remain available. Those approved on 20 April 2022 with track implications are [with quoted km's] :-

Dolnośląskie

  • 284 Legnica – Złotoryja – Jerzmanice Zdrój [24km]
  • 290 Zgorzelec – Bogatynia [30km]
  • re-open Wrocław Świebodzki as part of improvements of services from Wrocław to Środa Śląska [- Legnica], Wołów [- Glogów] & Jaworzyna Śląska [6km]

Łódzkie

  • Construction of a new line connecting 131 Chorzew Siemkowice with 181 Wieluń [28km] This is moving on quickly as according to 1 September 2022 Press Article, PKP PLK and the Marshal’s Office of the Lodz Voivodeship have already signed a PLN 508 million contract for its construction including 5 new stations at Wieluń Berlinek, Ruda, Wierzchlas, Drobnice and Siemkowice.
  • 24 Modernization and electrification from Piotrków Trybunalski - Bełchatów with an extension to Bogumiłów [40km]

Lubelskie

  • New electrified line construction from Szastarka [on 555] via Janów Lubelski to Biłgoraj [on 556] [65km], plus improved access to Kraśnik was a joint application. The Contract signed on 8 November 2022 is for two branches, 18 km from Szastarka to Janów Lubelski and a quoted 12 km from the currently remote from Kraśnik town centre station, through Kraśnik to Kraśnik Fabryczny, plus a design and technical study for construction and electrification of the 35 km onwards from Janów Lubelski to Biłgoraj.
  • New electrified line construction from Lublin via Łęczna to Bogdanka [25km] Ditto re contract and the new line utilises the Lublin Airport branch
  • 551a Electrification of Lublin to Łuków Ditto re contract
  • 554/557 Re-instating the Zawada avoider [1.9km] is included in an upgrade to the [Lublin -] 66km Rejowiec - Zawada - Zamość line/service Ditto re contract
  • 558 Chełm - Włodawa [51km] Ditto re contract and this project involves a 10km new alignment north of Okuninka Białe via Okuninka to a new station at Włodawa Miasto as the current Włodawa station is 4km from the town centre

Lubuskie

  • 275 Bieniów - Lubsko [18km]

Małopolskie

  • Revitalization of 108/110 Gorlice - Jasło including new direct curve towards Stróze
  • Construction of a new line from Krakow to Myślenice [22km]
  • 113 Re-opening of [Kraków -] Podłęże - Niepołomice [6km] Note this would be an all new line as the closed formation is now a road!
  • New line construction from Kraków to Olkusz but as this is quoted as just 4km, a search on the PKP PLK website confirms this is actually only a Jaworzno Szczakowa avoider

Mazowieckie

  • New line construction from Zegrze via Serock and Pułtusk to Przasnysz, [73km] connecting into the pending re-opening from Wieliszew - Zegrze. A contract between PKP PLK and the City and Municipality of Serock for design documentation was signed in October 2022.
  • 34 Małkinia - Ostrów Mazowiecka [20km] A contract between PKP PLK and the Marshal's Office of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship for works implementation was signed in October 2022. Note this includes electrification.
  • 55 Siedlce - Sokołów Podlaski [30km] Ditto
  • 76 & 77 use of freight lines between Bąkowiec and Świerże Górne, then new construction of [24km] west to join the Radom - Warszawa line at Dobieszyn. Kozienice would be served by a new station on the existing freight line and not re-instatement of the stub branch to the old station. 321M PLN Contracts to construct and upgrade the existing line were signed in November 2022.

Opolskie

  • 177, 294 Racibórz – Babarów - Glubczyce - Racławice Śląskie [54km]

Podlaskie

  • 36 re-opening Śniadowo – Łapy & 49 Śniadowo - Łomża including electrification and re-instatement of the Śniadowo avoiding curve [77km]. Ostrołęka – Sniadowo is not included as there are separate plans to build a new direct line from Ostrołęka to Łomża and the 'kolej+' quoted km's match just Łomża - Łapy.

Śląskie

  • 141 an alternative connection between Gliwice & Katowice via Ruda Kochłowice so via freight lines 141, 164 and 651 [18km]
  • 142 Passenger service on the alternative route between Tychy and Katowice Ligota via Katowice Murcki [15km]
  • 159 A service to Katowice to/from Jastrzębia-Zdroj [35km] meaning re-opening east from Jastrzębia-Zdroj to the triangular junction with the Żary – Chybie line east of Pawlowice Śląskie and then via Żory to Orzesze using a new quicker alignment than the long closed line. A contract was signed on 9 November 2022 which described it as incorporating "a new single-track line of approximately 20 km from Jastrzębie-Zdrój Centrum – Pawłowice Śląskie and Żory – Orzesze".
  • 162 re-open the freight line from [Dąbrowa Górnicza Ząbkowice -] p. Odg Dąbrowa Górnicza Huta Katowice - Dąbrowa Górnicza Strzemieszyce plus
  • 164 reconstruct Dąbrowa Górnicza Strzemieszyce - Sosnowiec Zagórze - Dąbrowa Górnicza [10km]
  • 189 and 132, a new Zabrze - Bytom service via the freight line from, or a Ruda Chebzie avoiding curve plus either a re-instatement of the line from podg Kuźnica to Bytom Bobrek Wschod or new south to east curve [11km]
  • 198 Reconstruction of the dismantled Pyskowice – Pyskowice Miasto, [3km] partially on a new alignment

Wielkopolskie

  • New line construction Turek – Konin [38km] [As at June 2022 this application was still not confirmed as proceeding].
  • 360 [Leszno -] Kąkolewo - Gostyń [22km]
  • 368 Międzychód – Szamotuły [56km]
  • 369 Śrem – Czempiń [21km]
  • 390/236 Wągrowiec - Rogoźno - Czarnków [64km]

Plus

  • 115 Electrification of Tomaszów Mazowiecki - Skarżysko Kamienna
  • 551a Electrification of Łuków – Lublin

So by implication the following that made it through the Nov-21 Stage with track implications in the PKP PLK list were not approved:-

Dolnośląskie

  • 284 Jerzmanice-Zdrój to Lwówek Śląski was included with the Legnica – Złotoryja – Jerzmanice Zdrój Nov-21 application but ONLY the original application was considered under kolej+. So Jerzmanice-Zdrój to Lwówek Śląski would be for the Region to progress separately.

Lubuskie

  • 363 Skwierzyna – Międzychód

Śląskie

  • 190 Skoczów - Bielsko-Biała

Warmińsko mazurskie

  • 223 Czerwonka - Biskupiec - Mrągowo - Mikołajki – Orzysz [- Ełk]

The following proposals did not make the cut from the original 96 to the 47 for final approval:-

  • 14 Żagań - Szprotawa [on the line to Głogów]
  • 35 [Ostrołęka -] Chorzele - Wielbark - Szczytno
  • 41 Ełk – Olecko – Gołdap
  • 55 the Mazowieckie application for Siedlce - Sokołów Podlaski - Małkinia was revised in Jan-21 excluding Sokołów Podlaski – Małkinia
  • 181 Oleśnica - Syców - Kępno is NOT now part of the Dolnośląskie bid but is agreed a study for the way forward will be undertaken by PKP PLK
  • 206 Żnin – Inowrocław plus
  • Żnin – Bydgoszcz, so assume via the route of the long closed line to Szubin, then 390
  • 212 Lipusz - Bytów with a direct service to the Tri-Cities
  • 212 Bytów – Korzybie Withdrawn as the applicants could not even fund the initial study...
  • line 228 [Gdynia] - Rumia - Gdynia Port Oksywie
  • 246 Unisław Pomorski - Chełmno [formally withdrawn Sep-21 as the 15% contribution costs could not be afforded]
  • all new railway connection from Bydgoszcz to Koronowo, then via ex line 241 to Tuchola [for Chojnice] Withdrawn as allegedly the allocated funds would not cover the costs of the Report required for a Stage 2 application...
  • 358 Czerwieńsk - Krosno Odrzańskie - Gubin – DB border [see 2021/22 for actual re-opening progress]
  • 364 Międzyrzecz – Wierzbno (- Międzychód)
  • 368 after approval in Stage 1 the study was looking at either reinstating the old route or a new line to Wronki north of Szamotuły, but when moving to the next stage in Nov-21 it only mentioned instatement of the old line from Międzychód – Szamotuły
  • new line via Poznań Ławica Airport and Tarnów Podgórne to Kaźmierz, linking in with 363 reopening onwards to Międzychód
  • 410, 411, 422 (Szczecin) – Stargard Szczeciński - Pyrzyce - Myślibórz - Dębno – Kostrzyn Withdrawn as could not afford the 15% of Consultants estimated total re-opening costs
  • 415 Gorzów Wlkp. – Myślibórz  : Ditto
  • line 429 [Szczecin] - Stobno Szczeciński - Dobra Szczecińska
  • 431 Działdowo – Brodnica
  • 937 Nowa Iwiczna - Jeziorna freight branch in south Warszawa [Mazowieckie in Jan-21 advised this was no longer being pursued]


Outside of Kolej+

the Dolnośląski Voivodeship is currently very pro-rail as evidenced by recent and pending re-openings and the following planned to be open within 8 - 10 years. None of the following [except 310] were in the Stage 1 Kolej + approvals so it is assumed funding is being arranged by the Voivodeship:-

  • 291 Wałbrzych Szczawienko − Boguszów Gorce Wschod
  • 308/345 Jelenia Góra - Mysłakowice - Kamienna Góra Transferred from PKP to the Regional Authority 21 June 2021. It has been stated that just to Kowary is initially intended to be reopened to rail transport.
  • 310 Kobierzyce– Piława Górna [Not in final kolej+ approvals so as the trackbed is owned by the Voivoidship and trackwork at Kobierzyce to accommodate this re-opening was the reason given for the delay in reopening Wrocław via Kobierzyce to Swidnica it can be assumed they are financing this themselves...]
  • 317 Gryfów Śląski to Mirsk and 336 from Mirsk to Świeradów Zdrój [effectively one branch] were Transferred from PKP to the Regional Authority in late May 2020. Tenders have been issued separately for each part and the Voiviodship has made it clear that rail services will only commence when both are completed. Work to Mirsk is underway to be completed by 8 January 2023 and the Tender onwards to Świeradów Zdrój is issued for responses by 5 October 2022 with work to be completed 9 months after contract signing. The aim is for passenger services to commence in December 2023.
  • 318 Bielawa Zachodnia – Srebrna Góra. a tender for design documentation for the reconstruction of this extension beyond Dzierżoniów to Bielawa that reopened in 2019 was issued in Summer 2021 but bids exceeded the estimate. The trackbed is yet to be transferred from PKP to the Regional Authority
  • 327 Ścinawka Średnia – Radków
  • 340 [Jelenia Góra -] Mysłakowice - Karpacz Transferred from PKP to the Regional Authority on 21 June 2021 and the tender has been awarded for work on Jelenia Góra - Mysłakowice with plans for services to commence by the end of 2023.

Another prospective trackbed purchase is:-

  • 283 Jelenia Góra - Lwówek Śląski

Kujawsko-Pomorskie have awarded a tender for pre-design documentation for re-instatement of 356 Gołańcz - Kcynia and onwards via the freight only line 281 to Nakło nad Notecią

  • Potential new line from Dębica on the Kraków – Rszezów line to Jasło
  • Potential new Sokołów Podlaski to Warszawa line via Węgrów and Mrozy
  • Potential new Warszawa – Grjójec line. It is believed this is planned to use part of the closed NG line formation south west from Piasecno
  • 421 Aleksandrów Kujawski - Ciechocinek This 6.8km branch is suggested as a candidate for re-opening subject to agreement on costs with PKP PLK and obtaining appropriate funding.
  • Despite both of the Zachodniopomorskie Kolej+ applications being withdrawn, on doing so the Voivoidship announced there were early plans to extend two services to the Baltic Coast, 407 beyond Kamień Pomorski to Dziwnówek, 418 from Darlowo 2.7km to Darłówek Zachodni along the disused military siding, and for a north to east curve at Kostrzyn to allow through Szczecin - Poznań services via Gorzów Wielkopolski.

The next 10 year PKP IC Public Service Contract to provide non-commercial services from December 2021 was funded, signed and agreed including an aspiration to vastly increase train miles from 120,000 trains in 2021 to more than 196,000 by 2030 and introduce IC services to many places currently without them. In addition to the already re-opened Brodnica to Sierpc, [which is planned to be re-routed via Kwidzyn, delayed from June 2022], a February 2022 update in response to a Parliamentary question revealed a list of services currently under consideration. Many would involve line re-openings, not just IC services where currently only local trains run so this list is separated between the two categories.

Potential IC re-openings:

  • [Dębica] via Mielec to Tarnobrzeg
  • [Bydgoszcz] via Wierzchucin, Olpuch, Kościerzyna, [Kartuzy - Gdańsk Port Lotniczy to Gdańsk]
  • Szczytno via Wielbark, Chorzele and Ostrołęka to both Łomza and Łapy [Chorzele to Ostrołęka is a pending re-opening]
  • Ełk via Olecko to Suwałki
  • Kielce via Staszów to Tarnobrzeg
  • [Grudziądz - Laskowice Pomorski] via Wierzchucin, [Chojnice, Szczecinek to Runowo Pomorski]
  • Zduńska Wola to Barłogi
  • Bogaczewo - Braniewo
  • Czerwonka via Mrągowo to Ełk
  • Uherce to Ustrzyki Dolne

Those with existing or pending re-instated local services are Krotoszyn via Leszno to Głogów, Kłodzko to Walbrzych, Kłodzko to Międzylesie, Tłuszcz to Ostrołęka, Nasielsk to Sierpc, Skoczów - Cieszyn, Żary to Węgliniec, Rzeszów to Jasło and Sławno to Darłowo.

A map accredited to the Ministry of Infrastructure and PKP PLK was supported by a public announcement in May 2020 by no less than the Polish Prime Ministers' Office advising of a project for 150 “new” stations to be added to the passenger network by 2025. The map included:-

  • Line 36 with 11 stations between Łapy and Ostrołęka 88km

PKP PLK have issued an investment plan up to 2040 with works costed at PLN 250 billion with EU funds to play a huge role in its financing. The list is to be regard as preliminary and observers are already suggesting that full implementation is extremely unlikely. It includes many listed above which would be taken forward by Local Voivodeships and Kolej + but those only in the PKP PLK documents are:-

  • Brand new lines from Jasło - Dębica, Przemyśl - Zagórz, Chorzew Siemkowice to Wieluń, Płock - Raciąż - Ciechanów - Ostrołęka, Modlin - Ostrołęka, Gdynia - Wiczlino - Bojano, extending line 73 to the centre of Busko Zdrój plus re-openings of
  • 159 via Jastrzębie Zdrój from both Wodzisław and Żory
  • 132 Bytom Bobrek – Pyskowice primarily for freight but a passenger service to be considered. The linked reinstatement of 198 Paczyna to Pyskowice Miasto, possibly on a new alignment is a Kolej+ application
  • 230 Wejherowo - Góra Pomorska

There are plans for a circular service around Poznań via Poznań Franowo and the northern ring including a new east to south curve from Poznań Piątkowo to Poznań Strzeszyn on the Piła line but the tender for refurbishment of the relevant lines and up to eight new/re-opened stations was cancelled in August 2022 as some of the supporting funding was no longer available. A replacement EU CEF "Connecting Europe Facility" funding bid is expected in early 2023.

The Local Councils around Sanok and Zagórz allocated 50,000 PLN in their 2021 Budget for subsidising a SKPL operated daily local service from Sanok via Zagórz to Łupków but it will need additional financial support before it can commence. They have aspirations to expand this to services between Besko – Zagórz, Sanok Dąbrówka – Łupków and Sanok Dąbrówka – Ustrzyki Dolne [the latter where a summer only 2 day a week service commenced in 2021] but the Marshall's Office are of the opinion that bus services serve this remote community area better so this looks unlikely to proceed further.

Rail Baltica

  • PKP PLK awarded contracts in January 2018 for (1) detail design planning for the complete renewal as a double track alignment of the line from Białystok to Ełk by 2023, (2) a feasibility study to upgrade Ełk to Suwałki and to the Lithuanian border. The latter is to include the reinstatement of the curves bypassing Olecko and Suwałki with relocation of the latter station; these will eliminate two reversals. Allegedly it is to be double track and electrified throughout. All work in Poland should be completed well before the delayed overall Completion through to Tallinn in 2030 as per Press Release in October 2021.
  • A March 2019 announcement advised that plans are for four passenger trains per day from Tallinn to Warszawa with two extra per day between Vilnius, Kaunas and Warszawa, plus Tallinn – Riga – Kaunas – Warszawa – Berlin and Vilnius – Kaunas – Warszawa – Berlin overnight trains.
  • Linked with this, Ostrołęka - Łapy was refurbished for use by diversions when Czyżew - Białystok on the main line is closed for refurbishment with Press coverage suggesting passenger diversions via Czeremcha. Despite long periods of single line working on sections of the main line there have been none via either route.
  • As part of the improvements in Poland there is to be a new line from north of Białystok connecting with the line to Elk to avoid the need for a reversal as the long closed curve south of Białystok is obviously thought unsuitable for re-instatement. There are Public consultations underway on the five possible routes ranging from a line just north of the city to from 14km north. All would have triangular junctions at each end and would be used by passenger services. The preferred option is to be selected by March 2022. Railway Press article with map here.

PKP PLK issued a Tender in October 2017 for the long discussed 58km new line from Podłęże [east of Krakow] to both Mszana Dolna towards Chabowka and Tymbark towards Nowy Sącz on line 104, and an associated upgrade of the entire line between Chabówka and Nowy Sącz. Work will also involve flyovers at the Podleze of around 2 km and a substantial re-alignment between Tymbark towards Nowy Sącz including approximately 6km of tunnels. Completion was estimated by 2026 but as work is not planned to commence until 2024 this sounds doubtful.

From June 2017 Ukrainian citizens no longer need a Visa to visit the EU, so daytime services were introduced, then increased on existing cross border routes. There were suggestions others may reopen including via Rawa-Russka with even test trains on some long closed lines such as Zagorz - Kroscienko - Chirów and Przemysl - Nizankowice - [Chirów] using a SKPL BzMot or Engineering vehicles respectively! Full details are in the EGTRE Cross Border section.

Tarnów - Dąbrowa Tarnowska (and possibly to Szczucin). Short Line operator SKPL, better known for running the Pleszew branch service, approached the local Authorities in 2017 with an offer to reopen the 24km to Dąbrowa Tarnowska with a subsidy but as there was no agreement on funding this has not moved forward. The Dąbrowa Tarnowska Council are still keen but with a new bus service to Szczucin parallel to the line commencing in September 2020 it is not looking hopeful.

Line 249. PKM are considering reopening the Gdansk Nowy Port branch to regular services, as opposed to the infrequent services already running for events at the Expo Stadium as per the entry in Obscure Services.

151: the Tychy Lodowisko service is planned to be extended and electrified via podg Piast and Nowy Bieruń to Oświęcim with 5 station re-openings to assist car plant workers with their commuting. Despite press articles in May 2020 saying funding was not available for construction, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. signed a PLN 10 million contract with the Silesian Voivodeship in July 2020 for documentation, to lead towards an application for EU funds from the 2021-2027 Budgets.

Improvements are planned to the 5.6 km freight branch serving Warsaw Modlin Airport in order to provide a passenger service. Originally planned to include a new 1.5 km underground section and station at the Terminal, it is believed plans are now a ground level station close to the Airport.

Śląskie Region have commissioned a feasibility study for the expansion of local services in the Katowice area which if fully implemented would reopen 171 from Panewnik via Katowice Muchowiec to Sosnowiec Dańdówka, curve 654 and lines 161 and 145 on a service from Mysłowice via Chorzów Stary and Piekary Śląskie to Radzionków, a total of approximately 40km. The study is to be completed in 2023.

Electrification

  • line 30 from Łuków – Lublin was accepted into the final stage of potential kolej+ projects
  • 25 Tomaszów Mazowiecki - Skarżysko Kamienna: ditto
  • A contract on the feasibility of doubling and electrifying the Bydgoszcz – Kościerzyna – Gdynia route for diverting freight traffic off the existing main line was awarded in February 2018 which was to investigate possible electrification of Wierzchucin – Tuchola – Chojnice, Czersk – Chojnice, and Lipowa Tucholska - Szlachta – Czersk – Bąk with new curves on and off 426 Chojnice - Tczew. It is assumed this was positive as in October 2020 a contract for preparation of design documentation by the third quarter of 2023 was granted for modernization from Nowa Wieś Wielka through Bydgoszcz to Gdynia, line 203 from Tczew to Czersk, line 215 from Szlachta via Czersk to Bąk and reconstruction of the currently closed line 744 from Lipowa Tucholska to Szlachta West plus two proposed new curves between line 203 and 201 from Łąg Południe - Czarna Woda and Szałamaje - Łąg. It would appear there are plans for at least the new east to south and reinstated line 744 to have a passenger service as the documentation proposes a new Szlachta Zachód station!
  • PKP PLK awarded a contract in February 2018 for design work on electrifying Korsze – Ełk but work was allegedly delayed but has commenced on Ełk to Giżycko for completion in 2024 alongside track renewal.
  • In February 2018 Łódzkie Voivodship awarded a contract to plan electrification of Tomaszów Mazowiecki – Opoczno.

Freight line potential re-openings on behalf of the Polish Army are included here as they are lengthy lines

  • work to re-open a 55km section of line 410 between Grotnik Drawskie and Drawno via Zlociniec on T385 is underway for completion in 2023 with a suggestion of onwards to Kalisz Pomorski on T365 by 2026. Neither includes work to passenger traffic standard but West Pomeranian Voivodeship have stated that if it did they would help with renovating onwards from Drawno to the junction with T360 at Choszczno…
  • A contract to renovate 33km of 283 south from Żagań to where freight is currently processed at Osiecznica Kliczkow on the line from Zebrzydowa is signed with work scheduled to commence in 2024 for Completion in 2026.
  • a press article suggested line 231 from Kruszwica to Mogilno may be re-instated but the Army latter advised at the earliest work is planned from 2025. Freight traffic currently uses from Inowrocław-Rąbinek to Kruszwica .

Changes during the Timetable Period commencing 12 December 2021

  • 125 The extension from Mielec to Padew re-opened on 6 November 2021
  • the reinstated through lines on the east side of the station building at Łódź Kaliska and Peron 4 & 5 have been in use since the 6 November TT change
  • 135a [Skawina -] Podbory Skawinskie to Zator and Przeciszów reopened on 1 October 2022
  • line 190 ex Table 147 [part] Goleszów - Cieszyn re-opened from 5 September 2022. Delayed from the December 2021 Timetable change due to recent landslips requiring embankment strengthening and cable works.
  • 552 The Lublin - Lublin Airport service resumed with three pairs daily on 1 July 2022.
  • 128 two SSuO PR pairs running 19km beyond Uherce to Ustrzyki Dolne are scheduled from 25 June to 28 August 2022 no doubt taking advantage of the recent re-fettling to re-open through from Kroscienko for Ukrainian refugee trains. These run direct to/from Sanok and are early and late as the press release claimed they were deliberately avoiding the Uherce draisine operation...
  • 358 A weekend only service between Zielona Góra via Czerwieńsk - Krosno Odrzańskie - Gubin – Guben DB commenced on 12 June 2022. This followed a with passengers 2 pairs trial service on 7 May 2022. The voivoidship announced in November 2022 that it will run daily from December 2022 as they were satisfied with the around 300 passengers per day.
  • 223 Wrocław to Świdnica via Sobótka was delayed from the December 2021 Timetable introduction date but opened on 12 June 2022, blaming additional work required at Kobierzyce preparing the station area for the planned kolej+ reopening of line 310 from there to Piława Górna.
  • 150 Oświęcim - Czechowice-Dziedzice was reduced to one pair on Sundays from the 12 June which ended on 26 June 2022, then resumed from 6 November with one train southbound every FSuO plus 10/11 November, northbound only on 6/10/13/18/20/25/27 November, 2/4/9th December...

A engineering work diversion via the newly reinstated Bialystok avoiding line from Czeremcha line 32 [T543] to Białystok Starosielce on line 38 [T535] towards Elk was in use from 4 May - 11 June 2022. Travellers could see no sign of works for any new station where it crossed the Warszawa main line, as suggested in a January 2021 press article but a new curve from the Tczew line onto the avoider was seen to be under construction.

  • 550/555 A brand new avoiding curve to the west of Lublin connecting the Warszawa – Lublin and Lublin – Stalowa Wola lines has been built, opening in spring/summer 2022. Press Article. This was never intended for passenger services but purely to divert freight services [previously needing to reverse] away from the Lublin station throat to increase station capacity.
  • 135a Skawina to Podbory Skawińskie on the line towards Oświęcim re-opened on 12 March 2022

Services from Katowice to Tarnowskie Góry are bustituted for 2 years from 13 March 2022 due to engineering work, the TLK services are diverted via Gliwice and 165 to Lubliniec. This closure may have implications to the proposed re-opening from Tarnowskie Góry via Katowice Airport to Zawiercie due for completion in the fourth quarter of 2023...

  • Line 156 ex 105 part Jaworzno Szczakowa - Bukowno An out of the blue re-opening from 13 March 2022 with funding from Malopolska Region for a through Olkusz - Krakow service.
  • 424 Wierzchucin - Lipowa Tucholska - Szlachta resumed on 13 March 2022 after a lengthy Covid related suspension

With many thousand of Ukrainians wishing to enter Poland fleeing the war, special trains were arranged on the existing cross border passenger routes, or from first stations in Poland. Additionally from late February Ukrainian Railways Broad Gauge trains ran to Chelm, plus on the "Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa" (Broad-Gauge Steel Line) using LHS locomotives to reach Olkusz to the east of Katowice where the long withdrawn BG passenger service had terminated. PKP PLK also rapidly re-opened the SG line beyond Uherce to Kroscienko [not cross border] but unfortunately the first train on 3 March derailed with no injuries on its loaded return journey. Services could only run west from Uherce until work was completed so they could be extended to commence from the staff platform at the joint road/rail border control 3.3km further east of Kroscienko station from 26 March.

  • 410 Torun Wschod – Sierpc re-opened on 31 January 2022 but bizarrely initially showing no service from 13 March until 1 April in the PDF nor JP. This gap did not take place in practice.
  • 541 Hajnowka - Siemianówka was previously only summer weekends but a 2 pairs daily service commences from 2 January 2022
  • 147/150 the realigned Czechowice-Dziedzice avoiding curve with repositioned bridge over the Vistula and re-located north junction as shown on OpenRailwayMap has trains listed via the curve from 20 December 2021. Even so no EIC’s are re-routed to the Zebradowice/Petrovice U Karvina border crossing for all of 2021/22. By August 2022 all services to/from the north and Czechowice-Dziedzice were diverted via the re-aligned avoiding curve and a reversal at the west end junction, map view showing this planned to continue until at least 10 December 2022.

The following lines opened at the Timetable change date:-

  • 114 Opoczno to Skarżysko-Kamienna
  • 166 Gliwice - Bytom [see Obscure Services for unusual route taken]
  • 216 line 292 from Wroclaw Sołtysowice to Jelcz Miłoszyce as the Region at the last moment managed to obtain one Hybrid EMU to commence a reduced service from what had been planned. It is also used by two pairs of non-stop overnights. This follows the temporary opening of an 8km section to Wrocław Wojnow from 10 April 2017 to 8 December 2018
  • 431 Sierpc - Brodnica
  • 540 the realigned double track route east of Biała Podlaska on the Łuków - Terespol line replacing two separate single lines either side of a yard

126 Rzeszów - Ocice With works complete, electric services commenced

Long term diversions for all of the timetable year commenced on:-

  • 101/105 Dąbrowa Górnicza Ząbkowice via podg Dorota & line 171 to Sosnowiec Dandowka
  • 215/220 two overnight pairs via the Opole by-pass

Changes during the Timetable Period commencing 13 December 2020

  • 552 The Lublin - Lublin Airport service was "suspended" due to poor passenger loadings from 7 November 2021. It resumed on 1 July 2022.
  • 125 Dębica – Mielec reopened on 1 September 2021. Onwards to Tarnobrzeg was tendered in three sections but only the first part from Mielec to Padew was within estimate, with work going ahead [see 2021/22 above].
  • Warszawa Główną reopened on 13 March 2021. This Terminal station had closed on 23 May 1998 and became the site of the National Railway Museum [since relocated] and is initially for use whilst engineering work reduces capacity through Warszawa Centralna. At first all services used the flyover routing from Warszawa Zachodnia, the tracks to the north of the main line were not reinstated until later in the year and then only for empty stock workings due to platform closures at Warszawa Zachodnia. It is believed they were first used by passenger services from 16 January 2022 when Peron 6 & 7 at Zachodnia re-opened. For the record despite Główną appearing in the 2019/20 Peron sheets with just one arrival SSuX at 07:43 from Sochaczew from 16 March 2020; this service was a bus!
  • 429 Laskowice Pomorskie – Czersk trains services resumed to a limited level and SSuX from 18 January 2021
  • 131 a Saturday outbound, Sunday return from Kraków Główny to Łupków between 26 June and 25 September ran from Sanok to Zagórz via Uherce, [reverse] thereby reopening part of the line towards Ukraine and running via two sides of the triangle north of Zagórz
  • 300/601/606 There are numerous diversions via Warszawa Gdanska from 17 March 2021 with line 19, the connection at Warsawa Golabki, line 509, curves to/from Warszawa Wschodnia and Warszawa Rembertow with scheduled services
  • 537 international trains from Bialystok to Kaunas (LG) were planned to run daily from 1 January 2021 but did not due to covid
  • 543 Lewki to Hajnówka reopened on 1 January 2021. Old maps show a triangle at the Lewki end but only the curve to/from Białystok is reinstated.
  • At Hajnówka, the previously lifted connection from the west side platforms towards Siemianówka has been reinstated. See the Hajnówka Obscure Services entry for further details.
  • 113 local services resumed between Tomaszów Mazowiecki and Drzewica
  • 356 One northbound Węgliniec - Żary service is booked all year to use line 389 from Jankowa Żagańska to Żary
  • 416 In addition to the ongoing Covid related suspensions listed below, all services between Bydgoszcz and Chełmża were suspended from the new timetable until a limited SSuX service resumed on 18 January 2021
  • 555 Electric services commenced between Lublin - Stalowa Wola Rozwadów on 13 December 2020 but this meant no services were booked via the north to west curve at Stalowa Wola Charzewice as the Rzeszów IC's reversed at Stalowa Wola Rozwadów or via the Przeworsk avoider. PKP have announced they will resume using this curve once the line via Ocice and Kolbuszowa is electrified, planned for December 2021.
  • 614 The doubling between Otwock and Pilawa came into full use from 13 December 2020 with most but not all fast services resuming running via this route and reopening line 506 from Warszawa Wawer to podg Warsawa Antoninów. Later due to reduced platforms at Warszawa Wschodnia, all fast services via Otwock were diverted to the local lines through central Warszawa from 7 November 2021 with none via line 506.

Changes during the Timetable Period commencing 15 December 2019

The Kujawskie-Pomorskie Voivoidship transport contracts with Arriva and the local Polregio ended in December 2020 with renewals planned to last 15 years. Mainly due to the pandemic they opted to sign one-year contracts with both carriers with the main tender postponed for a year. In the meantime use of certain services plummeted from an already low base so the following were suspended:-

  • part 410 Sierpc - Toruń Wschodni no service after 18 March, [except 27/28 April] with the local Marshall's Office announcing in November 2020 that it will remain suspended until December 2021, saying users were mostly students who were no longer travelling. It re-opened on 31 January 2022.
  • 424 Wierzchucin - Lipowa Tucholska - Szlachta was suspended after 18 March until 6 June when it resumed with one pair SSuO. It then appears to have been completely suspended from an unknown date until a planned resumption on 13 March 2022
  • 429 Laskowice Pomorskie – Szlachta - Czersk was suspended after 18 March until 1 June 2020 and completely suspended from an unknown date until 18 January 2021
  • 431a Laskowice Pomorskie to Wierzchucin suspended from 18 March 2020 ongoing

A number of other Sparse Services including all cross border local services were suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic from various dates in Spring 2020. The dates are taken from the all year PDFs as per November 2020.

  • 203 the SSuO Nysa - Głuchołazy Miasto was suspended after 13 April until 30 August
  • 235 the SSuO Nysa – Kamieniec Zabkowice was suspended after 11 April until 30 August
  • 381 Słupsk - Ustka Uroczysko were withdrawn after 22 March but resumed on the 27 June
  • 384 Sławno - Darłowo were withdrawn after 15 March, again resuming on 27 June
  • 612 the new for 2019/20 Warszawa Lotnisko Chopina direct to Łódź Fabryczna IC’s were suspended from 18 March ongoing

Normal alterations

  • 146a Chybie - Żory has had no service since 8 May but are shown to restart with just one pair on 31 October
  • 130 Stróże avoiding line only used in June FO and SuO.
  • 370 Services to/from Świnoujście Port were suspended from 14 March 2020 due to ongoing work adapting the adjacent Ferry Terminal for larger ships. Resumed on 29 August 2021.
  • 375 a joint PolREGIO and Lubuskie Province initiative ran a one pair summer Saturday passenger service from Zielona Góra to Lagów on the freight line from Toporów between 8 August and 12 September 2020. This was increased in 2021 to run SSuO from 26 June - 28 August 2021 with an additional two pairs from Zbąszynek
  • 503 from [Olsztyn -] Gutkowo to Braniewo has been bustituted for some time, allegedly for refurbishment work but Tenders were issued by section. When some Tenders were withdrawn by PKP PLK as estimates where exceeded, with no date for resumption of train services the Marshall's Office stopped funding the replacement buses. These were withdrawn from 1 April 2020 with not even a line PDF in the June 2020 Timetable Adjustment. On 25 June 2020 a tender for renewal of a middle part from Dobre Miasto - Orneta [2020/21] was awarded, so as Orneta – Pieniężno [2022/23] had been awarded earlier and allegedly no work is required to reopen Pieniężno to Braniewo as trains could run at 50 kmh, once a Contractor was selected for Gutkowo to Dobre Miasto in December 2020 [work in 2021/22] this meant the whole line can eventually be re-opened.
  • 555 the Lublin - Rzeszow services resumed running via the Stalowa Wola avoiding curve from 15 March 2020 when a new station named Stalowa Wola Charzewice opened on the curve
  • Electrification between Węgliniec and Zgorzelec was completed in time for the December 2019 timetable change. Related to this some DB services were extended cross border to Zgorzelec [but note Görlitz to Zgorzelec is not electrified] and the one train using the Zgorzelec avoiding curve ceased
  • 130 Muszyna to Plaveč in Slovakia service will run SSuO in winter for the first time in many years from 28 December 2019 to 23 February 2020. The 2020 summer dates were from 27 June to 6 September
  • a 5.9km section of long closed line 341 between Dzierżoniów Ślaski and Bielawa Zachodnia reopened on 15 December 2019 as Table 234
  • 267 Beyond Lubin Górniczy to Rudna Gwizdanów reopened on 15 December 2019
  • 350 part Głogów to Leszno reopened on 15 December 2019
  • 381 Słupsk to Ustka. An extension one stop beyond Ustka on the former route to Sławno and closer to the Baltic coast to Ustka Uroczysko opened on 15 December 2019. The branch also has a timetabled year round service for the first time in many years.
  • long promised work on upgrading the tracks through Warszawa Centralna commenced resulting in diversion of the hourly Legionowo Piaski to Warszawa Lotnisko Chopina service via Warszawa Gdańska and Warszawa Zachodnia Peron 8 until 26 September 2020, and then again from 13 November 2020
  • IC trains to Warszawa Lotnisko Chopina direct to/from Łódź Fabryczna commenced on 15 December 2019 that use previously freight only lines 510 to Warszawa Golabki and 19 to Piastow but were suspended later in the year due to Covid-19.

Changes during the Timetable Period commencing 9 December 2018

  • 247 The cross border service from Sędlisław to Trutnov in the Czech Republic went from 4 pairs SSuO to 1 pair daily on 2 September 2019.
  • 126/555 Lublin to Stalowa Wola Rozwadów reopened on 1 September 2019 after an electrification work closure although Electric services did not commence. As the Lublin - Tarnobrzeg - Rzeszów services were diverted to run via Stalowa Wola Rozwadów this meant no services had run via curve 565 from Stalowa Wola Towarowy – Pilchów since 1 March 2018. The curve use resumed later, see 2019 entry
  • 130 a summer only weekends cross border service from Muszyna to Plaveč in Slovakia resumed from 29 June to 1 September 2019
  • Ex part 541 a weekend service from Hajnówka and Siemianówka commenced, running between 28th June - 31st August.
  • 550 the daytime Ukrainian operated Broad Gauge DMU pair from Kovel to Chełm was cut back to Dorohusk on 9 June and has not run since 18 June 2019 [see Cross Borders]
  • 267 Legnica to Lubin Górniczy reopened on 9 June 2019
  • 554 The reinstated 1.5km Rejowiec avoiding curve reopened to passenger services on 9 June 2019.
  • 540 the 3.5km separate westbound line on the north side of the now derelict yard at Biała Podlaska Rozrzadowa between km 173.7 and 177.2 closed on 9 March 2019. Doubling on the south side is due to complete in August 2020
  • 131 Gorlice branch has services again
  • 146 a weekend only Gliwice – Wisla booked via Zabrze Makoszowy Kopalna West to south, Gieraltowice to Lesczczyny [Line 148]. To note this SSuO pair also travel via PSUL entries Żory – Chybie and the Chybie west curve.
  • 160/220 Kędzierzyn-Koźle avoiding line came into passenger use
  • 200a The overnight pair via the Zduńska Wola East to North curve no longer run but daytime use resumed later in the year
  • 216 Wrocław Nadodrze to Wrocław Wojnow temporarily closed again. Reopening through to Jelcz is a possibility for 2021.
  • 355 no use scheduled for the Rzepin avoiding line
  • 355/300 there are new Szczecin - Warszawa services via the small connection at the east end of Rzepin station
  • 368 Pair booked to/from Szczecin-Gumience via Szczecin Wzgórze Hetmańskie and Szczecin Pomorzany according to the JP map
  • 384 Sławno - Darłowo that had been seasonal has a limited all year round service
  • 601 Żakowice Południowe – p.odg. Zieleń – Koluszki is back in use

Changes during the Timetable Period commencing 10 December 2017

  • the 27km line 52 from Lewki - Hajnówka reopened to freight in 2018, but passenger services did not commence until 1 January 2021. Old maps show a triangle at the Lewki end but only the curve to/from Białystok is reinstated.
  • Line 73 The long closed (Kielce) - Sitkówka Nowiny - Busko-Zdrój branch reopened with two Regio train pairs SSuO 30 June & 2 September 2018.
  • 321 Gniezno – Września - Jarocin reopened to passenger services on 10 June 2018.
  • A seasonal service commenced 3 April covering the cross border line from Mieroszów PKP to Meziměstí ČD which will run until 2 September 2018 operated by Koleje Dolnośląskie (KD).
  • 115 A Daily TLK pair via Sandomierz to Grębów from the new TT [also via the Skarżysko Kamienna avoider that commenced a short while before]
  • 135 The Kraków Plaszów avoiding curve opened 10 December 2017
  • 151 The Praha - Kraków daytime train resumed running all year with the new TT
  • 431a Laskowice Pom. – Wierzchucin service revised from one train in one direction to a pair FSuO
  • 554 Zamość Wschód – Hrubieszów Miasto reopened with the new TT with a daily TLK

Changes during the Timetable Period commencing 11 December 2016

  • 134 the limited SSuO services to Lupków were extended cross border to reopen the 18km line to Medzilaborce in Slovakia between 1 July - 3 September 2017
  • 384 the Darłowo branch reopened on 24 June for the Summer with four train pairs SSuX and six train pairs SSuO
  • 175 The limited services beyond Zawadzkie to Kielcza were withdrawn on 23 June 2017
  • 550 a daytime Ukrainian operated Broad Gauge EMU pair from Kovel to Chełm commenced on 12 June 2017
  • 300 Parts of the main line from Poznan to Warszawa will be shut from 11 June 2017 continuously until June 2019: Podstolice [west junction for Wrzesnia] – Konin between June 17 - July 18, Konin – Kutno July & August 18, Konin – Zamków [Junction west of Kłodawa] August 18 - June 19. There are diversions either via Gniezno, the Inowrocław avoider and 315, or via 320, the Ostrów Wielkopolski avoider and Zdunska Wola
  • Warsaw Zachodnia P8 to Warsaw Gdanska was closed for six months from 11 June 2017 due to upgrade works
  • 100/113 The Warszawa - Radom pair that for a period ran via the CMK & Idzikowice resumed their normal route via 605 on 11 June 2017
  • 551a Łuków – Parczew Kolejowa – [Lublin] reopened from 11 June 2017 for numerous diverted TLK's as Deblin to Lublin is closed for engineering work with Posters suggesting this will last until "the end of 2019". Note all Deblin avoider services are then diverted to terminate at Deblin.
  • the new avoiding curve and station at Sucha Beskidzka Rynek opened on 11 June 2017.
  • 126 A weekend only pair from Rzeszów to Sandomierz reopened the section from Tanobrzeg to Sandomierz on 11 June 2017
  • 328/332 the reintroduction of the daily scheduled steam service from Wolsztyn was delayed from the planned 12th March until 15th May 2017 due to issues with the coaching stock with two pairs between Wolsztyn and Leszno SSuX, 2 pairs Wolsztyn - Poznan SSuO. However due to engineering work on both routes they were revised to be between Wolsztyn and Zbaszynek from 16th July but resumed as planned wef 1 September 2017. Details are on the Wolsztyn Experience website
  • 216 From 10 April 2017 an 8km section of freight line 292 reopened with a SSuX service from Wrocław Nadodrze to Wrocław Wojnow. This is part way to Jelcz Laskowice on table 215 and is unusual as it is 100% Subsidised by the City of Wroclaw. The first service was known to be short term for the track to be refurbished [with possibly onwards to Jelcz Laskowice also reopening] and apart from a four day service from 19 - 23 June, no trains ran between 15 June and 31 August 2017.
  • 115 Sandomierz - Grebów Closure on 10 December 2016
  • 122 a daytime Ukrainian operated Broad Gauge EMU pair from L’vov – Przemyśl was re-introduced starting on 23 December 2016
  • 137 Sucha Beskidzka - Zywiec: Reopening one pair on FSuO from 11 December 2016
  • 140 Dąbrowa Górnicza Ząbkowice – Jaworzno Szczakowa Closure on 10 December 2016
  • 141 Local services between Oświęcim, Skawina and Kraków were withdrawn again on 10 December 2016 after only resuming on 12 December 2015. Use by a night train pair continues, plus a daytime Praha - Kraków pair.
  • 166 Bytom - Gliwice Reopening but just 1 pair of overnights
  • 200a/315 Zdunska Wola east to north curve and 315 to Inowrocław in use by overnights from 11 December 2016
  • 250 Withdrawal of the weekends only train service with replacement buses Jelenia Gora to Lwówek Słąski and no service to Zebryzdowa. Even the buses were then withdrawn on 9 December 2017. Note the return service towards Wrocław ran on Sunday 11 December, the first day of the new Timetable period.
  • 321 Grabowno Wielkopolski - Krotoszyn Closure on 10 December 2016, allegedly for track repairs
  • 431a Laskowice Pom. – Wierzchucin Reopening with one train, i.e. not a pair a day SSuX which varied in time and direction during the TT year!
  • 520 podg Szymany - Wielbark Closure 24 December 2016
  • 601 Łódź Fabryczna - Łódź Widzew reopened on 11 December 2016 with the new Tunnel from Łódź Niciamiana and underground station at Fabryczna. No doubt linked with this reopening there are no services in 2017 via Łódź Olechów, so a closure on 10 December 2016
  • 606 KM withdrew the limited services off the Sochaszew line direct to/from Warszawa Gdanska so last train 9 December 2016
  • 609 The curve from Chotomów – Legionowo Piaski reopened to passengers 11 December 2016 as the limited services from Tłuszcz to Sierpc no longer double run via Warszawa Gdanska
  • 614 No TLK’s booked via Otwock so nothing from Warszawa Wschodnia via podg Warszawa Antoninów – podg Warszawa Gocławek. Closure 10 December 2016

Older Changes

For details of older changes dating back to the year 2001 see Poland - Older General Information.

Special Notes

Overview

The funding of local services has transferred to Regional Authorities, most are now pro-Rail to the extent of paying for new stock and re-opening lines, but a few have reduced funding and service cuts occur when contracts are renegotiated.

The previously shown lengthy listing of lines which had at some point been flagged as note “G”, "trains run until further notice only" or listed in a September 2012 Consultants Report Commissioned by PKP recommending drastic service cuts has been moved to Poland - Older General Information. As passenger numbers have increased since then, closures nowadays are more likely to be related to Regions being unwilling to commit to large maintenance expenditure on low frequency lines so a realistic guide to those that may become threatened would be those listed in the linked Other sparse services section of EGTRE pages on Poland.

See also