Polish railway industry appeals for urgent Railway Fund reform

Polish railway industry organizations, including the Railway Business Forum and the Chamber of Land Transport, have issued an open letter to Prime Minister Donald Tusk appealing for the immediate reform of the Railway Fund (Fundusz Kolejowy). The industry is warning that the reform, intended to provide stable and flexible financing for infrastructure, may be delayed by one year.

The proposed reform aims to increase the fund's value to approximately 10 billion PLN annually, primarily through a fuel fee funded by excise tax adjustments. This would provide a level of investment stability comparable to the road sector. However, the Ministry of Finance has recommended postponing the reform due to market volatility caused by the war in the Middle East and rising fuel prices, alongside government measures to lower fuel costs.

Industry leaders warn that delaying the reform could lead to significant economic consequences, including market instability for railway construction and disruptions to long-term infrastructure projects, such as the Integrated Railway Network project. The current fund, valued at roughly 2 billion PLN, is considered insufficient to stabilize the market against cyclical fluctuations.