PKP Intercity seeks used German wagons to meet rising passenger demand

Polish railway operators are turning to used rolling stock and new designs to manage a significant surge in passenger numbers. PKP Intercity, which carried 89.2 million passengers in 2025, expects this figure to reach 96 million in 2026 and exceed 110 million annually in the following four years.

To address capacity shortages caused by delivery delays from manufacturers like Alstom, PKP Intercity is pursuing a “bridge action” strategy. After purchasing 50 used wagons from Deutsche Bahn for 22 million euros last year, the company is considering the purchase of an additional 96 vehicles. If successful, the operator will possess 146 used Deutsche Bahn wagons.

Simultaneously, regional and local operators are looking toward the future of high-capacity transport. Krzysztof Klimosz, president of Koleje Śląskie, noted that infrastructure and station capacities may face limits after 2030 due to the doubling of passenger volumes over the last five years. Consequently, local carriers are beginning discussions to develop common specifications for new double-decker trains to encourage manufacturers to prepare and homologate these models for the Polish market.