Railways in

Poland

A train on the Bieszczady Forest Railway

In the mid 19th century, the territory that would form present day Poland was divided between the Empires of Austria, Russia and Prussia. Construction work started in 1835 on a line from Warszawa to Kraków, lying mainly in the Russian Empire. However, financial difficulties meant that the first operational railway was in Prussia: in 1852 a line opened between Breslau (present day Wrocław) to Ohlau (present day Oława), the first section of a line to the border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire near Kraków.

The first railways in the territory were built to standard gauge (1435mm); however, in 1862 a new line opened to Warsawa from Lentvaris in present day Lithuania, the final section of a line from Sankt-Peterburg. As the line was entirely within the Russian Empire at the time, it was built to the Russian standard gauge of 1520mm.

Subsequent development was to a mixture of these gauges (as well as numerous narrow gauge lines in rural areas). Almost all mainline railways suffered extensive damage during the Second World War. As part of reconstruction, all the former 1520mm gauge lines within the newly drawn borders of Poland were regauged to 1435mm, with just a few short cross border lines to facilitate freight interchange with the USSR, which at that time included Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine.

In the 1970s, a new 1520mm gauge line was constructed from an existing interchange with Soviet railways at Hrubieszów to Sławków, near Katowice. The main purpose of this new line, the LHS, was the transport of iron ore from mines near Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, to the massive steelworks at Katowice. The line remains in use to the present day, now under the management of PHP.

By the early 21st century, Poland had numerous rail border crossings with Germany, Czechia, and Slovakia, all of 1435mm gauge.

There are several traffic interchanges with Ukraine:

• The 1520mm gauge LHS crosses the border by a bridge over the River Bug. In addition to through traffic to the Katowice area there are facilities for transhipment to the 1435mm gauge network at Hrubieszów.
• A 1520mm gauge line extends from Mostyska, Ukraine, to freight interchange yards near Przemyśl, and to Przemyśl Główny station for passenger traffic. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the 1435mm gauge has been extended across the border to Mostyska, allowing freight transhipment to take place there. It is planned to extend the 1435mm gauge further into Ukraine.
• There is a dual gauge line between Yahodyn, Ukraine, and Dorohusk, with transhipment facilities at both locations, although at present these are little used. The 1520mm gauge runs parallel to the 1435mm gauge railway as far as Chełm, where there are transloading facilities and gauge changing facilities for suitably equipped passenger trains. The 1520mm gauge continues to Zawadówka, serving an oil terminal.
• A 1520mm gauge line from Rava-Ruska, Ukraine, runs to Werchata, where there are transhipment facilities.
• Closed 1435mm gauge links between Starzhava, Ukraine, and Krościenko, and between Nizhankovychy, Ukraine, and Malhowice were reopened in 2023.

There are four rail border crossings with Belarus:

• A dual gauge crossing between Brest, Belarus, and Terespol, with transhipment facilities on both sides of the border, and gauge changing facilities for suitably equipped passenger trains in Brest. International passenger services ceased in 2020 as a precaution against the Covid-19 pandemic, and never resumed.
• A 1435mm gauge line runs from Czeremcha to Vysokaye, Belarus, and continues parallel to a 1435mm gauge line from there to Brest, where there are transhipment facilities. Freight only.
• A dual gauge line connects Svislač, Belarus, to various former logging locations in the Białowieża Forest. Logging in the area has been much reduced, but freight activity has been revived with the construction of a new transhipment facility at Svislač. there is no passenger service.
• A dual gauge line runs between Hrodna, Belarus, and Sokółka, with transhipment facilities in both countries. International passenger services ceased in 2020 as a precaution against the Covid-19 pandemic, and never resumed.

There is a single 1435mm gauge border crossing with Lithuania, from Trakiszki in northern Poland to Mockava, Lithuania. Transhipment to 1520mm gauge takes place at Mockava, but ultimately the 1435mm gauge will be extended to form part of the Rail Baltica scheme. Passenger and freight services operate.

There were at one time numerous border crossings with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, but by 2022, this had been reduced to two. The crossings were closed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and were completely dismantled in 2025.

In 2023, construction started on the Port Polska project, which is planned to include a new international airport, together with a 480km network of high speed rail lines connecting the airport with Warszawa, Łódź, Poznań, and Wrocław.

Also in 2023, a feasibility study was initiated for a new high speed railway from Warszawa to Lviv and Kyiv in Ukraine. It would cross the Ukrainian border near Dorohusk.

National Railways

• PKP Group includes the following companies:
  • PKP Intercity national and international passenger train services
  • SKM local passenger train services on a line between Słupsk and Tczew via Gdańsk (Site in Polish)
  • PKP Cargo freight operator
  • LHS freight operations on the Russian gauge line running from the Ukrainian border near Hrubieszów to Sławków, near Boukowno
  • PLK infrastucture company, including management and timetabling of the national network
• Port Polska new airport with high speed rail links

Standard Gauge Passenger Operators

• Arriva regional passenger operator in various parts of the country
• Koleje Dolnośląskie regional passenger train operator in the Lower Silesia area
• Koleje Małopolskie regional passenger train operator in the Kraków area
• Koleje Mazowieckie regional passenger train operator in the Warszawa area
• Koleje Śląskie regional passenger train operator in the Katowice area
• Koleje Wielkopolskie regional passenger train operator in the Poznań and Lezno areas (Site in Polish)
• Leo Express passenger operator with services between Czechia and destinations in Poland
• Łódzka Kolej Aglomeracyjna local and commuter passenger train operator in the Łódź area (Site in Polish)
• Polregio regional passenger operator in many parts of the country, including international services to Medzilaborce in Slovakia (Site in Polish)
• Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna independent passenger railway serving Gdańsk, Gdynia and Lech Wałęsa Airport (Site in Polish)
• Poznańska Kolej Metropolitalna local and commuter passenger train operator in the Poznań area (Site in Polish)
• NEB German regional passenger operator with an international sevice between Berlin and Kostrzyn nad Odrą (Site in German)
• Regiojet Czech passenger operator with services between Praha, Czechia and destinations in Poland
• UBB German local passenger train operator on the island of Usedom, whose line extends into Poland for a short distance to reach Świnoujście (Swinemünde). There is no direct connection with the remainder of the Polish network

Standard Gauge Freight Operators

• Bahnoperator freight operator
• Bogdanka coal mining operation east of Lublin with its own railway connecting to the national network at Jaszczów (Site contains little information relating to railway)
• Captrain Polska freight operator
• CD Cargo Poland freight operator
• CTL Logistics freight operator. Also responsible for about 50km of standard gauge infrastructure in the mining area around Mysłowice
• DB Cargo freight operator. Also responsible for about 20km of standard gauge infrastructure in the Warszawa area
• Freightliner PL freight operator
• JSK freight operator on the Infra Silesia network in the mining area around Rybnik, owned by the coal mining company JSW and serving their mines (JSK site in Polish)
• Kolej Bałtycka freight operator and locomotive hire
• Kopalnia Piasku Kotlarnia sand quarrying operation with an extensive private standard gauge rail network in the area to the west of Katowice. Also licensed to operate freight trains on the national network (Site in Polish)
• Laude.pl freight operator
• LTE freight operator
• Orlen Kolej freight operator (Site in Polish)
• OT Logistics freight operator (Site in Polish)
• Pol-Miedź Trans freight operator. A subsidiary, PMT Linie Kolejowe, is responsible for the infrastructure of about 120km of mineral lines and sidings
• Rail Cargo Carrier - Poland freight operator (Site in Polish)
• Silva LS freight operator (Site in Polish)
• SKPL Cargo freight operator (Site in Polish, link for English language version not secure, information about freight operation difficult to find)
• ZE PAK lignite mining and power generation company with a standard gauge electrified private railway connecting mines to the Pątnów II power generating stations near Konin. There is a non-electrified connection to the national network (Site contains no information relating to rail operation)

Tourist and Museum Railways

The following abbreviations apply to narrow gauge railways:
KD = Kolej Dojazdowa (Local Railway)
KP = Kolejka Parkowa (Park Railway)
KW = Kolej Wąskotorowa (Narrow Gauge Railway) or Koleje Wąskotorowe (Narrow Gauge Railways)

• Wolsztyn Roundhouse steam hauled passenger services on the national network. Regular services operate during spring and summer: Wolsztyn to Zbąszynek (29km), Mondays to Fridays; Wolsztyn to Poznań (79km), Saturdays. A few other, mainly short distance, journeys operate at other times of the year.
• Bieszczadzka Kolejka Leśna (Bieszczady Forest Railway) 750mm gauge tourist line. Majdan to Balnica (9km). Diesel hauled service on the whole line, or steam hauled on the section between Majdan and Solinka. Operates most days of the week, May to October (Site in Polish)
• Ełcka KW tourist line between Ełk and Sypitki, 15km, 750mm gauge. Steam or diesel hauled. Operates most weekends and some weekdays, May to September, also by private charter (Site in Polish)
• Gnieźnieńską KW tourist line between Gniezno and Jelonek. About 4km, 750mm gauge, diesel hauled. Ceased regular operation in 2019 and has since been operating on a few days each summer over a portion of the line, pending reconstruction of the whole line (No website located at present)
• Górnośląskie KW tourist and commuter line between Bytom and Tarnowskie Góry. 11.6km, 785mm gauge. Steam or diesel hauled. Operates weekends and many weekdays, May to October, on a few days during the year, or by private charter (Site in Polish)
• Hel Museum of Coastal Defence two 600mm gauge lines conveying passengers from the main museum buildings: about 300m to the combat firing range, and about 70m to the railway museum. Diesel hauled using former military locomotives. Operates daily when the museum is open from late March to October (Site mainly in Polish with some information in English and other languages)
• KW w Krośniewicach project, based at the former station in Krośniewice, to reopen all or part of the 15km, 750mm gauge, line from Ostrów to Miłosna (Facebook page mainly in Polish)
• KP Maltanka tourist railway in Malta Lake Park, Poznan. Line about 3.5km in length, 600mm gauge. Usually hauled by steam outline diesel locomotives, occsionally by steam locomotive. Operates daily throughout the year
• KP w Cichowie miniature railway in Cichowo, near Krzywiń. Line about 280m in length, 241mm gauge, diesel hauled. Operates daily throughout the year (Facebook page mainly in Polish)
• Kolejowy Park Rozrywki railway theme park in Ogrodzieniec, featuring a 184mm gauge line about 800m in length, steam, diesel, or battery electric hauled. Park admission free, simply pay for rides. Open every day, May to October (Site in Polish)
• KW Piaseczno-Tarczyn-Grójec tourist line between Piaseczno and Tarczyn, 15km, 1000mm gauge. Steam or diesel hauled. Operates weekends, late March to September, and on a few other days of the year (Site in Polish)
• KW Rogów – Rawa – Biała tourist line between Rogów and Biała Rawska, 49km, 750mm gauge. Currently operated in two sections: Rogów - Jeżów (8km) and Rawa Mazowiecka - Biała Rawska (19km). Posible future opening of the entire line. Steam or diesel hauled. Operates weekends, May to September, on a few other days during the year (Site in Polish)
• KW w Rudach from the museum at Rudy to Rybnik Stodoły (3km) or Stanica (4km). 750mm gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Operates both routes on Sundays and public holidays throughout the year, also to Rybnik only on Saturdays throughout the year and most weekdays during the summer (Site in Polish)
• Kościerzyna Region Railway Museum in Kościerzyna offers rides by hand powered track car on a short section of standard gauge line, also a 241mm gauge miniature railway about 130m in length. Museum open Tuesdays to Sundays throughout the year, miniature railway operates April to October (Site in Polish)
• Koszalińska KW tourist line between Koszalin and Rosnowo. 20km, 1000mm gauge. Steam or diesel hauled or diesel railcar. Operates weekends and many other days, May to September, or by private charter (Site in Polish)
• Krośnice KW tourist line in the park and palace gronnds of Krośnice. Line about 3km in length, 750mm gauge. Usually steam hauled. Operates most weekends and public holidays, May to September (Site in Polish)
• Nadwiślańska KW tourist line based in Karczmiska. 750mm gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Trains run on Sundays and some weekdays, May to October, also by private hire, on the following routes:
  • Karczmiska to Poniatowa, about 10km
  • Karczmiska to Opole Lubelskie, about 10km, roughly half of which is shared with the route to Poniatowa
  • Karczmiska to Polanówka, about 5km
  (Site mainly in Polish, with some information in English)
• Namordska KW tourist line between Gryfice and Pogorzelica, operated in 2 sections, Gryfice to Trzęsacz (30km) and Trzęsacz to Pogorzelica (10km). 1000mm gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Operates daily, late April to early October, and on a few other days during the year
• Przeworska KW tourist service between Przeworsk and Dynów (46km) on a line owned by SKPL. 750mm gauge, steam or diesel hauled. Operates Sundays and various other days, May to September, or by private hire (Site in Polish)
• Retro Express Bieszczady diesel hauled excursion train using historic equipment operating on standard gauge PKP lines in the mountainous area around Zagórz, with some trips extending into Slovakia. Operates various days during the summer (Site in Polish with autotranslation to English)
• SKPL operator of several lines:
  • Kaliska KD Goliszew to Zbiersk, 750mm gauge, 10km. Tourist passenger services operate most weekends during the summer, steam or diesel hauled. a section between Opatówek and Goliszew is currently out of service
  • Przeworska KD Przeworsk to Dynów, 750mm gauge, 46km. Local freight services. Tourist services operated by Przeworska KW, see above
  • Śmigielska KD Stare Bojanowo to Śniaty, 750mm gauge, 17km. Local freight services
  • Pleszewska Kolej Lokalna Pleszew Wąskotorowy (adjacent to PKP station) to Pleszew Miasto, standard gauge, 4km. Local passenger commuter trains, diesel railcar operated, operates daily thtoughout the year
  Diesel hauled tourist trains may be chartered on any of the narrow gauge lines throughout the year; and passenger cars may be added to regular freight trains on the Kaliska line (Site in Polish, links for English and German versions not functional when last checked)
• Sochaczew KW museum line between Sochaczew and Wilcze Tułowskie. 18km, 750mm gauge. Diesel hauled or diesel railcars. Operates daily, late April to October, and by private charter (Site in Polish)
• Średzka Kolej Powiatowa tourist line between Środa and Zaniemyśl. 14km, 750mm gauge. Steam or diesel hauled. Operates Sundays, May to early October, Wednesdays in May and June, Saturdays in July and August, and on a few other days for special events or by private charter (Site in Polish)
• Starachowicka KW 750mm gauge tourist line in two sections: Starachowice to Lipie (6km), and Iłża to Marcule Nadleśnictwo (7km). Not currently operating. No date given for resumption of services (Site in Polish)
• Świętokrzyska KW tourist line between Jędrzejów and Motkowice, 17km, 750mm gauge. Diesel hauled. Operates Sundays, May to September (Site in Polish)
• Zabytkowa Kopalnia Srebra the open air museum at the Historic Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry has a 184mm gauge miniature railway about 0.5km in length. Operates daily when the museum is open (Site in Polish)
• TWKP Białośliwie to Pobórka Wielka, 5km, 600mm gauge. Operates most weekends. Diesel hauled with steam outline locomotive (Facebook page in Polish)
• Wąskotorowe Kolejki Leśne Hajnówka to Topiło, in Białowieza National Park. 11km, 600mm gauge. Diesel hauled. Operates 1 to 4 days each week, May to September (English version of website mostly complete, but timetable information in Polish only)
• Wigierska KW Płociczno Tartak to Krusznik, 10km on a 600mm gauge former forestry railway. Diesel hauled. Operates daily, May to September, at other times of year by private charter (Site in Polish)
• Żnińska KW Żnin to Gąsawa, 12km, 600mm gauge. Usually diesel hauled, steam services for special events. Operates Mondays to Fridays, May and June, Wednesdays to Sundays, July and August, on a few other days each year, or by private charter (Site in Polish)
• Żuławska KD tourist and commuter line, Sztutowo to Prawy Brzeg Wisły, 44km, 750mm gauge. Diesel hauled or railcars. Operates weekends May to September, daily June to August, on a few other days during the year, or by private charter (Site in Polish)

Mountain Funiculars

• PKL (Polish Cable Railways) operator of cable railways including 3 funiculars: at Góra Parkowa, Góra Żar and Gubałówka

Drezyny

Hand, pedal or motor powered trolleys for hire on sections of old railway line.

• drezyny.pl Kolbudy to Niestępowo, 8km, trips starting and ending at the intermediate station of Łapin (Site in Polish)
• Drezyny Regulice Puszcza Dulowska to Alwernia Spalona, 6.5km, or shorter journeys
• Drezyny Rowerowe Uherce Mineralne to Stefkowa, 6km, or shorter journeys
• Grodziska Kolej Drezynowa Ujazd (Grodzisk Wielkopolski) to Plastowo, 6.5km. A longer journey from Ujazd to Piramidy Wielkopolskie, or an alternative route from Ujazd to Grodzisk are available by prior arrangement (Site in Polish)
• Karkonoskie Drezyny Ręczne Karpacz. A short line from the station (No website located at present)
• Nadwiślańska KW various options on routes out of Karczmiska, when tourist passenger services are not operating on the lines: to Poniatowa, about 10km; to Opole Lubelskie, about 10km; to Hermitry, about 6km; or Polanówka, about 5km (Site mainly in Polish, with some information in English)

Metros, Trams and Urban railways

• Warszawa (Warsaw)
  • SKM local train services
  • WKD independent local railway between the city and Grodzisk, with a branch to Milanówek (Site in Polish)
  • Metro (Site in Polish)
  • Trams (Site in Polish)
  • ZTM municipal transport department with map and timetable info for all public transport
• Bydgoszcz trams (Site in Polish)
• Częstochowa trams (Site in Polish)
• Elbląg trams (Site in Polish)
• Gdańsk trams (Site in Polish)
• Gdynia Kamienna Góra funicular (No website located at present)
• Gorzów trams (Site in Polish)
• Grudziądz trams (Site in Polish)
• Kraków
  • Trams (Site in Polish)
  • Historic tourist trams
• Łódź trams
• Mrozy horse drawn tourist tram (Site in Polish)
• Olsztyn trams (Site in Polish)
• Poznan trams, including historic tourist trams (Detailed information regarding tourist trams in Polish only)
• Tramwaje Śląskie trams in Katowice and surrounding townships (Site in Polish)
• Szczecin trams
• Toruń trams (Site in Polish)
• Wrocław trams

Railway Scientific & Technical Centre

Research laboratories and test facilities located in Warszawa, with a test track at Węglewo, near Żmigród.

• Instytut Kolejnictwa (Site in Polish, English version under construction when last checked)

Ostróda - Elbląg Canal

The picture above clearly illustrates why a canal is of interest on a railway page. In a stretch of less than 9km, the canal descends over 100m to the valley of the Elbląg River, by means of five inclined planes which involve floating the ships into a cradle and transporting them overland by a water powered, cable hauled railway. The canal, with its inclines, opened in 1860, and remains in use to this day carrying both passenger and freight traffic. It is believed that the inclines are the only ones of their type currently in operation anywhere in the world. Boat trips using the slipways are available daily, late April to September

• Żegluga Ostródzko - Elbląska