Polskie Linie Kolejowe marks 25 years of rail infrastructure development

Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PLK) is marking 25 years of operation since its statutory activities began on October 1, 2001. Originally established from the resources of the PKP SA Infrastructure Directorate, the company now manages approximately 19,000 kilometers of tracks, facilitating the daily movement of about 5,000 passenger and freight trains.

Over the past quarter-century, the Polish rail network has undergone significant modernization. Key milestones include a shift in 2011 where speed increases on more sections outweighed new restrictions, and 2014, when regular traffic first exceeded 160 km/h. Currently, trains reach speeds of up to 200 km/h on modernized sections. Future goals include increasing speeds to 250 km/h on the Central Rail Line to reduce travel times between Warsaw, Krakow, and Katowice.

Infrastructure improvements also focus on regional connectivity and major hubs, such as the modernization of the Katowice railway node. Additionally, rail services are being restored to various towns, such as the return of connections to Łomża in 2026 after a 33-year hiatus.