PKP Intercity reports record passenger growth and rolls out heat‑wave ticket refunds
PKP Intercity said it carried 44.7 million passengers in the first half of 2026, an 11 % rise over the same period in 2025 and 45 % higher than in the first half of 2023. The Białystok‑Warsaw corridor led the surge, with travel on the route up 99 % over the past three years and a steady 16 % annual increase. A new, 17th train pair will be added to the timetable in December.
In response to an anticipated heat wave from 30 July to 9 August 2026, PKP Intercity introduced special measures. Passengers may cancel tickets bought no later than 29 July without any cancellation fee and receive a full refund. The policy applies to all domestic tickets and to international tickets to or from Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and Lithuania. The operator will also provide free drinking water on trains, mobile information staff at major stations and spare diesel locomotives to keep services running during extreme temperatures.
Entities: Białystok · PKP Intercity · Warsaw
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Passenger numbers on the Białystok‑Warsaw route increased 99 % over the past three years. (fcaf1e17-470c-459a-a9e5-1785b3096cc6)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The free‑refund policy covers domestic tickets and international tickets to or from Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and Lithuania. (cfe9be09-9378-4f4b-aa10-63c168c4e924)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A 17th daily train pair will be added to the Białystok‑Warsaw timetable in December 2026. (fcaf1e17-470c-459a-a9e5-1785b3096cc6)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] PKP Intercity carried 44.7 million passengers in the first half of 2026. (fcaf1e17-470c-459a-a9e5-1785b3096cc6)
- [● 2 SOURCES] PKP Intercity will allow free ticket refunds for journeys scheduled between 30 July and 9 August 2026 due to a heat wave. (3f36b6f4-de4a-4915-ac7c-46b9a43bae80)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] During the heat wave PKP Intercity will provide free water on trains and deploy mobile information staff at major stations. (3f36b6f4-de4a-4915-ac7c-46b9a43bae80)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The 44.7 million figure is 11 % higher than the same period in 2025 and 45 % higher than the first half of 2023. (fcaf1e17-470c-459a-a9e5-1785b3096cc6)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Refunds apply to tickets purchased no later than 29 July 2026 and are issued without any cancellation fee. (cfe9be09-9378-4f4b-aa10-63c168c4e924)