From Freight to Defence: PKP Cargo Becomes Strategic Partner of Polish Armed Forces

PKP Cargo has become a strategic partner of Poland’s Ministry of National Defence. The new agreement will strengthen the rail transport of military equipment and expand logistics capabilities.

Poland’s national rail freight operator PKP Cargo and the Ministry of National Defence of Poland have signed an agreement establishing a new framework for railway transport cooperation in support of national defence. The document is intended to further strengthen transport and logistics capacities used by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, including ensuring an appropriate level of military mobility in a changing geopolitical environment.

The agreement provides for cooperation in the development of transport capacities related to the movement of military equipment and heavy vehicles. The parties also envisage the development and potential use of dual-use assets that can serve both civilian and military purposes.

"The objective is to ensure that military equipment, especially heavy equipment, can be transported rapidly so that we achieve a higher level of military mobility – the ability to move both our own and allied forces – at the highest possible standard, allowing us to reach wherever the military is needed in time to protect our territory, our values and all Polish citizens," said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence.

Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej i PKP Cargo zawarły porozumienie dotyczące kolejowego transportu wojskowego. Umowa ma zwiększyć zdolność szybkiego przerzutu sprzętu i żołnierzy, także wojsk sojuszniczych. //t.co/UxK9n0xSRu

— KRESY.PL (@KRESYPL) May 11, 2026

An Important Agreement for Transport and Security

The document also includes the possibility of using PKP Cargo’s terminal and siding infrastructure, as well as its traction assets, including locomotives capable of operating on non-electrified lines. The cooperation is expected to cover the development of transport and logistics potential for the needs of the Polish Armed Forces, the use of solutions related to security and communications, and measures enabling a rapid response in crisis situations.

"Today is a very important day for Polish railways, national security and transport logistics, including intermodal freight logistics. We have been waiting for this day for a long time because it marks the completion of something we have been working on for more than two and a half years. From today, PKP Cargo has become a strategic partner of the Ministry of National Defence and the Polish Armed Forces. It has earned their trust, something we have been striving for over the past two years. The company’s financial results are evidence of that," said Dariusz Klimczak, Poland’s Minister of Infrastructure.

Klimczak stressed that the agreement is particularly important because it provides a systematic and framework-based approach to cooperation between PKP Cargo, the Ministry of National Defence and the Polish Armed Forces in railway transport. The Ministry of National Defence has committed to working with PKP Cargo on initiatives related to the development of dual-use transport capacities, including potential investment projects that may be eligible for funding linked to national defence needs.

The cooperation may include projects related to the mobility of heavy military equipment and the provision of rail transport for military units both within Poland and abroad.

Strengthening Cooperation Between PKP Cargo and the Polish Armed Forces

Zbigniew Prus, Chief Executive Officer of PKP Cargo, noted that the company is the largest rail freight operator in Poland and the second-largest rail freight carrier in Europe.

"PKP Cargo stands out because it provides transport services across the entire territory of Poland. We have personnel, rolling stock and container terminals throughout the country, making us a leader in freight transport. This also enables us to provide transport services for the needs of the Polish Armed Forces," Prus pointed out.

According to representatives of Poland’s Ministry of Infrastructure, the agreement builds on existing thematic cooperation projects already carried out by PKP Cargo in support of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland. The new framework agreement elevates this cooperation to a higher level.

The agreement has been concluded for an indefinite period and may be terminated by either party with three months’ notice. It does not specify the financial value of commitments by either party, nor does it impose an obligation to conclude specific implementing contracts. Detailed projects, initiatives and settlements will be addressed through separate agreements in the future.

Commentary: In the Polish context, the agreement not only formalises practical cooperation but also provides greater transparency in the reporting of costs that may be counted as defence expenditure under NATO methodologies. The issue is being discussed in several Allied countries ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit.