Baltic Express and Beyond: PKP’s Alan Beroud on Cross-Border Rail, Cargo Reform, and Europe’s Freight Future

Alan Beroud, Chairman and CEO of the Polish PKP Group, was one of the keynote speakers at the 'Freight Transport in Europe: Sector and Market' panel discussion held at the European Economic Congress (EEC 2025) in Katowice. He provided RAILTARGET with an exclusive interview about the Baltic Express and the restructuring of PKP CARGO.

The first question concerns the joint project with the partner company České dráhy, which aims to bring the Czech Republic and Poland closer through passenger rail transport, connecting Prague with the Baltic Sea. This is your initiative—what is its significance?

We managed, together with the CEO of České dráhy, Michal Krapinec, to launch a project connecting the Baltics and the Czech Republic. We called it the Baltic Express, and we are both proud of it, as it brings something entirely new to Czech–Polish cooperation. We have now added sleeper cars to the night train sets. In this context, the modernisation of railway infrastructure is a key parameter in enabling prioritisation of both passenger and freight rail traffic on routes leading to the Baltic Sea. Railway infrastructure and its interoperability are crucial not only for the connection between the Czech Republic and Poland, but also from a pan-European perspective.

The second topic is the highly challenging restructuring of the rail freight operator PKP CARGO, which you are carrying out under court supervision. What are your priorities?

"Restructuring is a very difficult process. We need to adapt the company’s structure to the current rail freight market. The market is undergoing significant changes, especially a shift from bulk materials transport to intermodal freight. Not only PKP CARGO, but all other rail freight companies in Europe must adapt their corporate structures to this market shift. Business is transforming completely—it demands entirely new commercial approaches to clients and very different service delivery timelines. All European cargo companies face major challenges. PKP CARGO has already completed some initial adaptation processes in terms of structural change. Due to financial difficulties, our restructuring required very rapid process dynamics. We are continuing, and we believe that rail freight transport across Europe has a new future ahead of it."

Alan Beroud

Alan Beroud is Chairman of the Board and CEO of PKP GROUP. He previously worked in both the energy and railway sectors. Before being appointed director of PKP (on 29 March 2024), he successfully managed the rail company SKM (Warsaw Urban Railway – Szybka Kolej Miejska). He revitalised SKM both technically and financially, securing investment for 21 new trains worth EUR 26.8 million. He modernised the use of traction power and reformed staff training.

Previously, he worked for the major energy firm Rafako. For the state-owned company Gaz-System, he was responsible for the construction of the LNG terminal in the Baltic Sea, gas storage facilities in Wierzchowice, and oil and gas extraction projects in Lubiatów.

At the UIC (International Union of Railways) General Assembly in Lisbon in July 2024, he was elected its Chairman. He will serve until 31 December 2025 and plans to focus on the implementation of the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) and the introduction of an Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM) for ticketing.

Alan Beroud graduated from the University of Warsaw and studied energy technologies at the Silesian University of Technology. He holds a PhD from the IKEN Institute of Safety and Informatics in Krakow and an EMBA in energy engineering from George Washington University.