Polish train drivers protest railway safety with speed reductions

Train drivers in Poland conducted a protest action on Friday, September 12, following a fatal railway accident in Sokolniki. The Railway Drivers' Trade Union (ZZMK) instructed drivers to reduce speeds to 20 km/h at level crossings to protest inadequate safety measures at road-rail intersections.

The protest, which was originally scheduled to last the entire day, was shortened and concluded at 12:00 PM. The action caused significant disruptions to rail services across the country, including the Łódź region. PKP Intercity reported that nearly 90 percent of its trains operated before 10:00 AM experienced delays, with average delays reaching approximately 30 minutes.

Infrastructure Minister Piotr Malepszak noted that while the scale of the protest was smaller than initially anticipated, it still affected roughly 15 percent of all scheduled trains. The protest was triggered by a collision in Sokolniki involving a concrete mixer and an Intercity train, which resulted in one fatality and approximately 20 injuries.