Poland Unveils High-Speed Railway Plan to Cut Warsaw‑Olsztyn Trip to 75 Minutes

Poland's Integrated Rail Network (ZSK) programme, presented in June, includes a new high‑speed corridor called the Magistrala Warmińska. The line will connect Warsaw with the Tricity (Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot) via Olsztyn and Elbląg, using part of the existing line 9 and adding a four‑track exit from Warsaw, a realigned Legionowo‑Nasielsk section, a new branch at Mława toward Olsztyn, and a freshly built segment to Elbląg and onward to Gdańsk. Trains are planned to operate at speeds of at least 250 km/h.

The project aims to dramatically shorten travel times: Warsaw‑Olsztyn will drop from about 2 h 20 min to 75 min; Olsztyn‑Elbląg from 85 min to 35 min; Olsztyn‑Gdańsk from over 2 h 12 min to 60 min; and Warsaw‑Elbląg to 110 min. These improvements will enhance connectivity for the Warmia‑Masuria region, the Żuławy and northern Poland more broadly.

Overall, the ZSK plan envisions 4 700 km of new railway lines and the modernization of 5 900 km of existing tracks, boosting both passenger and freight capacity for the country.