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Revolutionizing Poland's Rail Transport: Highlights from the 3rd Railway Development Congress

Revolutionizing Poland's Rail Transport: Highlights from the 3rd Railway Development Congress
photo: Ministerstwo Infrastruktury, gov.pl/Revolutionizing Poland's Rail Transport: Highlights from the 3rd Railway Development Congress
08 / 06 / 2023

The 3rd Railway Development Congress convened at the PGE National Stadium in Warsaw, with the theme centred on adapting rail transport to rapidly evolving market trends. One major focus was Poland's strategic location as a hub for trade and freight transport, which influences the country's economic development significantly.

PKP CARGO's Board Member for Trade, Jacek Rutkowski, underlined the need for improved infrastructure, collaborative efforts with ports, and a comprehensive network of terminals to fully utilize Poland's potential as a transhipment centre. The congress discussions also drew attention to disparities in the railway network across the 3SI, stressing the necessity to enhance the rail infrastructure to facilitate efficient north-south freight transport.

The ongoing war in Ukraine and its impact on rail transport was a major theme during the congress. Rutkowski mentioned that the war has significantly disrupted intermodal transport along the New Silk Road, a domain where PKP CARGO had previously led. This disruption has prompted the company to focus more on ports, given the predominance of container transport in the north-south direction. Consequently, there has been an uptick in traffic between the ports of the Adriatic Sea and the Tricity and Szczecin. PKP CARGO has also seen a shift in freight groups transported, with a marked increase in coal imports and Ukrainian grain emerging as a new cargo group.

Key participants also highlighted the indispensable role of railways in ensuring state security, especially in light of the situation in Ukraine. PKP CARGO has been active in supporting Ukraine by supplying equipment and fuel and ensuring the continued exportation of coal from ports. Marek Olkiewicz, PKP CARGO Board Member for Operations, detailed the company's efforts to uphold service continuity amid challenging circumstances. The Congress also stressed the need for Polish companies to play a part in Ukraine's reconstruction process. Finally, the discussion on the expansion of intermodal transport emphasized the requirement for building new container terminals, supported by EU funds, to bolster semi-trailer transport.

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