Poland Bets Big on Sławków: EUR 1 Billion Investment to Boost Ukraine–EU Rail Link

Ukraine’s cargo may soon roll straight into the EU—no track change required. With a EUR 1 billion boost to the Sławków terminal, Poland is rewriting the logistics map of Europe, placing itself at the heart of East–West and North–South trade.

Poland is set to transform the Sławków terminal into a strategic hub for Ukraine-EU logistics, thanks to a planned EUR 1 billion investment aimed at doubling its handling capacity and expanding its role in post-war European supply chains.

As RAILTARGET recently reported, Polish state operator PKP Cargo has announced its withdrawal from the broad-gauge terminal in Sławków. The state is stepping in, with Poland’s Industrial Development Agency (ARP) taking over PKP Cargo’s share. Just a week later, Prime Minister Donald Tusk personally attended the signing of a key agreement between ARP and Euroterminal Sławków, marking a formal start to the terminal’s expansion.

A direct link from Ukraine to the EU

The Sławków terminal will undergo significant upgrades, including the construction of a second intermodal terminal with seven tracks. The first phase of the investment, valued at PLN 180 million (EUR 42.38 million), is scheduled for completion by 2027. New container-handling facilities will streamline intermodal transport from Ukraine and Asia into the EU, effectively bypassing traditional bottlenecks. The terminal's annual capacity is projected to rise from 285,000 TEU to 530,000 TEU.

Until now, PKP Cargo primarily handled building materials, steel, fertilisers, and intermodal containers with electronics, textiles, and foodstuffs at Sławków. The terminal also maintains connections with the ports of Gdańsk and Gdynia.

"Europe’s Largest Logistics Hub," Says Tusk

In his remarks, Prime Minister Tusk framed the expansion as a historic opportunity: "Expanding Euroterminal Sławków offers Poland a historic chance — we will create the largest logistics hub in Europe, a key bridge between East and West." He pointed out the importance of retaining Polish control over the project, noting that it ensures the country plays a central role in Ukraine’s reconstruction and global logistics chains. "This is not just about industry. It’s a national economic interest," Tusk said. "Here in Sławków, in Silesia, in Poland, we are building Europe’s largest logistics centre of its kind."

The terminal is a key endpoint of the broad-gauge railway extending into Poland, allowing trains from Ukraine to enter the EU without bogie exchange, greatly increasing operational efficiency. With Ukraine’s reconstruction expected to increase freight volumes, this development positions Poland as a logistics powerhouse in the region.

From East-West to North-South

Tusk also highlighted a strategic shift: "Today, the north–south axis between the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas is becoming more crucial than the traditional east–west route in terms of freight through Sławków." He added: "The Baltic and Adriatic are our two maritime windows to the world, and in between lies the continental heart: Sławków."

Currently, PKP Cargo holds a 9.31% stake in Euroterminal Sławków, valued at around EUR 4 million. The planned sale is part of a broader restructuring strategy, as the company seeks to sharpen its focus on managing complex logistics projects.

Source: PAP