Passenger transport in Poland of today

Newag Impuls train of Koleje Dolnośląskie

Surveys regarding passenger transport clearly show that interest in railway transport has been growing continuously. In 2019 nearly 336 million passengers were transported in Poland, which is 26 million more than in the previous year. Over the past five years the number of passengers increased by 25%. Transport service was more than 22 billion passenger-km and was by 1 billion passenger-km higher than in 2018. In 2019, the value of train service reached 170 million train-km. It was by 4.6 million train-km higher than in 2018.

Cooperation with other carriers

Without any doubt, one of the key issues determining the number of railway passengers is collaboration with bus carriers and public bus transport in selected cities. Local carriers normally recognise city tickets and the tickets of some long-distance transport operators can be used for city transport purposes over a specified time. This is the case with, for instance, the offers of PKP Intercity collaborating with a bus carrier POLBUS and of Łódź Metropolitan Railway cooperating with regional long-distance bus carriers.

The Common Ticket initiative launched in 2018 is also noteworthy. It allows buying one ticket that can be used on the trains operated by a number of selected carriers despite them offering different tickets and having individual sales offers. The initiative has been gradually implemented by most carriers. Another important aspect facilitating access of passengers to railway transport is the possibility of buying tickets through distribution channels other than a ticket office. Every year, an increased interest is observed in the possibility of buying electronic tickets or using ticket vending machines.

Periodic tickets are the most popular among passengers. More than half of all travels are based on such tickets. Passengers more and more eagerly use special offers, e.g. city cards that can also be used to travel by train. The largest percentage of passengers choosing periodic tickets and other tickets was recorded by SKM Warszawa (87%) and Koleje Mazowieckie (77%).

Poznań Metropolitan Railway

The growing interest in railways is also a result of modernisation of the rolling stock, improvement in railway station infrastructure and availability of railway services in smaller localities. An excellent example can be the Poznań Metropolitan Railway launched in 2018 with its main objective being to create a system of regular railway connections throughout the Poznań metropolitan area. This initiative is a result of a partnership between local governments, a carrier, an infrastructure manager and other entities.

Poznań Metropolitan Railway (PKM) is one of the largest enterprises of such kind in Poland. The first five lines connected Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Jarocin, Nowy Tomyśl, Wągrowiec and Swarzędz with Poznań. Ultimately, in the capital city of Greater Poland the trains of PKM will stop at 13 stations and stops. In peak time they travel as often as every 30 minutes, facilitating commuting to school or work or travelling on another purpose. This is the first such a large enterprise of local governments. The range of the Poznań Metropolitan Railway will continue increasing to improve traffic inside and outside the metropolitan area. By 2021 connections will be launched from Gniezno, Kościan, Rogoźno, Wronki and Września.

Przewozy Regionalne

An increase in the number of passengers has also been observed for long-distance, regional and metropolitan carriers. In 2019 the largest number of passengers used the services of Przewozy Regionalne (POLREGIO brand), Koleje Mazowieckie, PKP Intercity and PKP SKM in Tri-City (more than 72% in total). The largest number of people, that is nearly 89 million, used the services of the railway carrier company Przewozy Regionalne. This is 7.7 million passengers more than a year before. This carrier plays an important role in regional railway traffic providing its services to smaller localities.

The new hall of the Main Railway Station in Poznań

PKP Intercity

It is also the main railway operator in voivodeships in which self-governed local railway companies were not formed. However, the largest increase in the number of travellers was noted for PKP Intercity. In the first six months of 2019 the carrier's services were used by 22.8 mln passengers, i.e. 1.3 million people more than in the analogous period in the previous year. In 2019, the number of passengers using the regional railway transport services was 284.2 million (22.5 million more than in 2018). More than 47 million passengers (increase by 2.6 million) travelled by interregional trains (passenger, fast and express trains). On the other hand, international and cross-border railway transport had 4.4 million users (increase by 400 thousand). Opening of Poland to the neighbouring countries and the development of a widely interpreted international integration has undoubtedly contributed to the continuing increase in the number of international and cross-border connections. PKP Intercity noted a significant increase in the number of passengers travelling by international trains. In 2018 it was 3144 thousand people. The increase was connected with launching new international connections in 2017/2018, and reclassification of selected international trains from EIC to IC category, which resulted in a significant decrease in ticket prices.

More and more passengers

In addition, the number of passengers on international and cross-border trains launched by Koleje Dolnośląskie, Przewozy Regionalne and Koleje Śląskie also went up. Next to PKP Intercity, international transport was also handled by other carriers such as: UBB (13%), Koleje Dolnośląskie (5%), Przewozy Regionalne (3%), and Leo Express (0.22%) and Koleje Śląskie (0.2 %). In 2018 and 2019 passenger carriers had a smaller number of traction units and wagons than in the previous years. It was connected with the ending life cycle of their rolling stock or with the process of modernisation of the vehicles. Restoring local railway infrastructure to operation increased the number of diesel traction units.

Onboard service crew of Koleje Małopolskie (Lesser Poland Railways)

Employment in the sector

As at the end of 2019, the sector of passenger transport provided jobs to 23 240 people. The analysis of data from 2014 shows that the level of employment has remained constant. The largest employers among companies providing regular (scheduled) passenger transport in 2019 were: PKP Intercity (36.6%), Przewozy Regionalne (28.9%) and Koleje Mazowieckie (12.4%). In total, those three entities employed nearly 78% of all people working for passenger carriers.