photo: Petr Štefek, CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons/Locomotives M62M-010, M62M-011 and M62-3513, Rail Polska depot, Włosienica, Poland
Rail Polska, one of Poland's best-known private freight rail operators, has found itself at the centre of growing concerns about the health of the country's rail freight market. Just days after launching restructuring proceedings to stabilise its finances, the company appeared in Poland's National Debtors Register following the submission of a bankruptcy petition.
The development does not mean Rail Polska has gone bankrupt. However, it is another sign of the increasingly difficult environment facing freight operators as falling transport volumes and weak economic conditions continue to weigh on the sector.
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Two Processes Running in Parallel
According to information published in Poland's National Debtors Register, the District Court for Kraków-Śródmieście has recorded a bankruptcy petition submitted by Rail Polska on 6 June. The notice was officially published two days later.
While the registration has attracted attention across the rail industry, it is important to note that the court has not declared the company insolvent. At the same time, Rail Polska remains engaged in restructuring proceedings designed to reach an agreement with creditors and avoid a more severe outcome.
Earlier this month, the company announced the start of a simplified restructuring procedure under the supervision of Filipiak Restrukturyzacja. At the time, Rail Polska stressed that its priority was to complete the process in a way that protects creditors' rights while allowing the business to continue operating and serving customers. For now, both processes are moving forward simultaneously, leaving questions about the company's long-term future unanswered.
A Reflection of Wider Problems in Rail Freight
Rail Polska's difficulties are not occurring in isolation. Across Poland, rail freight operators have been grappling with a prolonged slowdown driven by weaker industrial demand, declining cargo volumes and mounting cost pressures.
According to figures cited by Rynek Kolejowy, railways transported almost 16.4 million tonnes of freight in February 2026, compared with approximately 16.7 million tonnes during the same month a year earlier. Although the decline may appear relatively small, industry representatives have repeatedly warned that even modest volume losses can significantly impact profitability in an already challenging market.
Over the past two years, concerns about the financial condition of freight operators have become increasingly visible. Much of the public attention has focused on the problems facing PKP Cargo, but the challenges extend far beyond Poland's largest freight carrier. Smaller and medium-sized operators are also feeling the effects of reduced demand and a more competitive market environment.
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More Than Twenty-Five Years on the Market
Rail Polska has been active in the Polish rail freight industry since 1999, when it was established in Warsaw as part of the Rail World group.
The company expanded rapidly in the early 2000s through acquisitions and restructuring, eventually building a business that offers much more than traditional freight transport. Today, Rail Polska provides freight services, siding operations, intermodal terminal support, rolling stock leasing, maintenance, and logistics solutions.
Its fleet consists of roughly 50 locomotives and around 1,100 wagons, while its operations are concentrated primarily in Lower Silesia and southern Poland. For more than two decades, the company has been part of the growing private freight sector that emerged following the liberalisation of Poland's railway market.
The coming weeks are likely to prove crucial for Rail Polska. If restructuring negotiations with creditors succeed, the company could stabilise its financial position and continue operating. If not, the bankruptcy proceedings may take on greater significance.
Sources: Rynek Kolejowy, DlaHandlu.pl