photo: Janusz Jakubowski / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr/EN57-1773, Koleje Mazowieckie, Warszawa Zachodnia
For years, Poland’s grand rail vision looked like a wheel with Warsaw at its hub. Now planners say the next chapter will stitch regions to each other, not just to the capital, adding more than 2,000 km of new lines and resetting how the country moves.
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According to the Global Railway Review, Poland’s Integrated Railway Network (ZSK), led by CPK with PLK under the Polish Infrastructure Ministry, has shifted from public consultation to a detailed analysis of roughly ten future network scenarios. As reported by railways.net, the plan aims to deliver 1,000 km by 2035, with the remainder built after that date, taking the national network to around 20,000 km by 2035. In an official update, CPK confirmed that the approach goes beyond the earlier "spokes" model from Warsaw, prioritizing cross-regional links and EU-facing corridors.
From ‘spokes’ to cross-regional links
The new blueprint, described by Global Railway Review, moves Poland past a monocentric design towards corridors that reflect real travel patterns between regions. Major schemes cited by CPK include the Y line Warsaw–CPK–Łódź–Poznań/Wrocław, cross-border links such as Katowice–Ostrava, and upgrades like Rail Baltica (Ełk–Trakiszki). The analysis tests compatibility with the existing PLK network, so new high-speed, long-distance, and regional layers can interlock rather than compete.
"ZSK is a project that unites rather than divides. The previous monocentric ‘spokes’ model would not have been optimal for Poland. What we need are more cross-regional connections that reflect the way people actually live and travel," said Maciej Lasek, Government Plenipotentiary for CPK.
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What gets built by 2035
Per Global Railway Review, at least 2,000 km of new lines are planned in total, with about 1,000 km to open by 2035, making it the target that all sub-regional and larger cities should be rail-connected by that date, widening access beyond Warsaw. Currently, around 8,000 km of potential routes are under study before final choices are made.
"Regions need connections to each other, not just to Warsaw. Our analyses show at least 2,000 km of new lines are required – half of them by 2035," said Deputy Infrastructure Minister Piotr Malepszak.
Who was consulted, and what’s next
The consultation phase reached all 16 regional capitals, drawing in over 700 participants, including local authorities, operators, universities, logistics, and defence bodies. For the first time, government think tanks OSW and IRMiR joined the process. The work now moves into technical testing with PLK to ensure seamless integration with today’s network.
"We developed several scenarios through wide consultations. Now they are being tested in detail, and we are working closely with PLK to ensure compatibility with the existing network," said Piotr Rachwalski, CPK Board Member for Railway Investments.
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Global Railway Review reports that final recommendations are due in Q1 2026, while CPK outlines milestone dates for the wider multi-modal hub: terminal construction start in 2026 (deep foundation piling), underground station and tunnel by 2029, and airport opening by end-2032, alongside the first high-speed rail section between Warsaw and Łódź.
"This project is not about cancelling existing investments… it is about building on them to create a coherent, modern and resilient rail network for Poland and Europe," stressed Minister Piotr Malepszak.