In 2019 almost 336 million passengers used the advantage of railway services. This is the best result of Polish railways in the 21st century. Almost all passengers carriers noted a rise in the number of passaengers. The biggest number, almost 89 million passengers, was achieved by POLREGIO. Year 2019 was also the year of development of alternative ways of ticket sales. Passengers have started more often to use modern technology while planning their trips, which is why they enjoy buying tickets online or in ticket vending machines.
Last year also brought about a lot of investments. PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (national infrastructure manager) has introduced an investment plan with almost 220 projects of total value of around 10 billion PLN. Thanks to those works almost 2000 km of tracks, more than 700 crossings and almost 150 flyovers have been built or modernised. This has led to improved comfort of travel, enhanced safety on tracks and crossings as well as development of competition of freight transfers, due to - among others - the rise of average freight train speed.
Freight transport in 2019 has especially shown dynamic rise of intermodal transfers which amounted to 19.5 million tonnes of transfered goods. New companies have also emerged on the Polish market which offer rail freight services. Both factors signal big potential of this kind of business activity.
- Last year was very successful for railways. First and foremost one can observe rising popularity of railways among passengers. Of importance is also development of intermodal transport which in my opinion is the future of this branch of economy. All these satisfying results would not be possible without investments in both infrastructure as well as rolling stock. Only thanks to steady development the railways will be able to meet the expectations of passengers and clients - judges Mr. Ignacy Góra, Ph.D, the President of UTK. - We have already witnessed that this rising trend has been stopped by the COVID-19 epidemic. Passenger carriers have suffered the most because of it, whereas freight transport has not been affected that much - adds Mr. Góra.
In the published report one can find information on the entire Polish railway market. It contains detailed data and analyses on passenger and freight transport, infrastructure and rolling stock. For the first time there is a separate chapter devoted to the rising intermodal transport market. Data included in the report allows for keeping track on the trends and changes with regard to Polish railways.
This report was created based on the data submitted to UTK by the railway undertakings and forms a supplement as well as broadens the frequently published UTK's statistics, analyses and publications. Polish version of the report may be found here. English version will be published shortly.