Poland railway safety reaches historic high with record low accident rate

The Office of Rail Transport (UTK) has released its 2025 report on railway traffic safety, indicating that Poland's rail network remains one of the safest transport systems in Europe. The accident indicator reached a historic low of 1.59, the lowest level since the UTK began monitoring this parameter.

In 2025, 622 accidents were recorded on lines and sidings, with only one classified as a serious accident. While the total number of accidents decreased by one compared to 2024, the distribution varied: accidents on main lines decreased by eight, while accidents on sidings increased by seven.

A significant portion of incidents—nearly 76%—involved third parties, meaning factors or individuals outside the railway system. There were 367 such events, primarily involving people crossing in unauthorized areas or accidents at level crossings. These third-party incidents resulted in 175 deaths, an increase of 11 compared to 2024, and 43 serious injuries.

UTK President Ignacy Góra emphasized that most fatalities and serious injuries stem from external factors. He noted that addressing these tragedies requires a combination of education, technical solutions, and effective law enforcement to combat risky behaviors and deliberate safety violations.