Poland's CMK railway reaches 250 km/h in speed tests

high-speed rail Pendolino CMK infrastructure modernization ETCS level 2

Polish railways are entering a new era of speed as Pendolino trains successfully reached 250 km/h during test runs on the Central Magistrala Kolejowa (CMK), also known as line no. 4. This milestone is part of an extensive modernization effort by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe to prepare the infrastructure for higher operational speeds.

The upgrades aim to reduce travel times between Warsaw and southern Poland, including Krakow and Katowice, by up to 25 minutes. Key technical improvements include the implementation of the GSM-R communication system and the ETCS level 2 control system, which are essential for continuous train supervision at high speeds.

The modernization of the CMK route involves approximately 1.8 billion PLN, funded by the national budget and European Union resources, including the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. While testing has already verified the capacity of engineering structures, regular scheduled services at 250 km/h are expected to begin as early as next year, with full regular operations planned for December 2027.