Last update for this page: 18 February 2008.
State railway system: Polskie Koleje Panstwowe (PKP)
Language: Polish
Currency: Złoty
UIC code: 51
Timetable: Sieciowy Rozkład Jazdy Pociągów, published annually. The current edition runs from 9 December 2007 to 13 December 2008 and costs 47.43zł. It contains an International section listed by train rather than in tables, and the privately operated narrow gauge passenger services are again not included. Many amendments are issued during it’s validity so travellers are strongly advised to check timetable timings on the updated electronic version available in English at www.rozklad.pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en.
Timetable Maps: A separate map with enlargements of the Warszawa and Katowice areas comes with the timetable showing principal stations and it distinguishes electrified, narrow-gauge and broad-gauge lines plus rivers, canals and lakes. There are also map inserts every one hundred tables in the timetable and although both maps have been updated with 2008 changes, some lines and curves with no service for a number of years are still shown.
Gauge: The main line network is Standard. There is a lengthy 1520mm gauge freight-only privatised "Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa" (Broad-Gauge Steel Line) between Sławków near Katowice and Vladimir in Ukraine but this is not shown on any timetable map. The LHS has a separate website http://lhs.pl/ which includes interactive maps and photographs. This line was formerly part of PKP and known as the "Steel and Sulphur Railway". Other broad gauge tracks cross into Poland on other routes from the Ukraine, plus Belarus and Kaliningrad.
Electrification: Main line electrification is 3 kV dc.
Rule of the road: Right.
Other Railways:
The last PKP operated Narrow Gauge scheduled passenger trains ran in July 2001, but a private Company SKPL, [Stowarzyszenie Kolejowych Przewozów Lokalnych] offer regular services on former tables part 306, part 308, 309 and part 353. Timetables are at www.skpl.kalisz.pl/rjp.shtml. Many other former PKP narrow gauge lines have transferred to private or local authority ownership purely for tourist services. The DB subsidiary Usedomer Bäderbahn network is constructing an extension from Seebad Ahlbeck Grenze into Poland on a reinstated formation towards Swinoujscie and it is expected to open in April 2008. A stage 2 to extend further to Garz Airport back across the border into Germany is also planned, but there will be no physical connection to the Polish network as it is on the opposite side of the River Odra from Swinoujscie PKP.
See Gauge (above) for details of the "Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa" (Broad-Gauge Steel Line).
Tourist Lines: A number of ex PKP narrow gauge lines offer tourist or charter services. Those believed to be operating to various degrees are 116 between Pinczow and Jedrzejow, 118 Strachowice Wschod - Lipie, 119 Przeworsk – Dynów, 167 Bytom – Miasteczko Śląskie, 169 Stanice - Rudy - Stodoly, 305 from Opatowek, 319 Środa – Zaniemyśl, 376 Gryfice - Pogorzelica, 391 Gniezno – Anastazawo, 457 from Nowy Dwór Gdański, 463 from Znin, 550a from Nałęczów, 611 from Piotrókow Trybunalski, 619 from Sochaczew, 622 Rogow - Biala Rawska, 623 Piaseczno – Tarczyn & 624 from Elk. Ex Forestry Railways at Cisna, Czarna Białostocka, Hajnowka and Płociczno also offer tourist services. Others where ownership of ex PKP lines is believed to have been transferred include 378 from Stargard Szczecinski, 378a from Trabki to Insko and 462 from Białośiwie. This list is suspected to be incomplete so any further information would be welcomed.
Metro: Warszawa www.metro.waw.pl. A four station north-western suburb extension from Marymont to Młociny is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2008 with construction of a East - West line with two branches on the east side of the city planned to start later in 2008. The proposed route is already shown on the website system map, with possibly a third short line to the south-east inner suburbs to come later.
Trams: Bydgoszcz, Częstochowa, Elbląg, Gdańsk, Gorzów, Grudziądz, Katowice area including Gliwice, Kraków, Łódź, Poznań, Szczecin, Toruń, Warszawa, Wrocław.
The extension of Schengen border crossing arrangements with effect from 1 January 2008 is hoped to lead to early reinstatement of cross border rail services with the Czech Republic and Germany. PKP/CD/ZSR locomotives are already working further into neighbouring countries, for example the passenger loco changes at Petrovice u Karvine on the main line to and from Katowice/Krakow have been relocated to Bohumin in the Czech Republic.
Some Regional Authorities are investing in new or second hand Railbuses/EMU’s and the potential list of reopenings being discussed is believed to be :-
Passenger services are also proposed on previously freight only lines:
and with Poland being joint hosts of the 2012 European Football Championships with the Ukraine, plans connecting other Regional Airports to the PKP network are under discussion, as is a temporary passenger service on the Broad gauge LHS.
The long rumoured “Y” of new High Speed Lines connecting Warsaw, Łodz and Kalisz with Poznan and Wroclaw is believed to be slowly heading towards tendering by 2008.
Changes with the timetable commencing 9 December 2007:
Scheduled steam services in year commencing 9 December 2007:
The world famous daily scheduled steam services on Tables 328 and 332 from Wolsztyn continue and these are identified in the timetable by Pictograms. However, they are subject to short notice change with up to date details and daily reports on a locally run website in Polish and German on www.parowozy.com.pl/fahrplan.htm. It should be noted that steam is replaced by diesels for July and August.
Steam engine Pictograms appear elsewhere in the timetable on specified dates on 120 on a circuit round Krakow, [see PL08/14 ], from the steam museum at Chabówka on 135 to Zakopane and 136 to Dobra k. Limanowa, from Wolsztyn via 330 to Wrocław and 340 for the annual train from Poznan to Kołobrzeg on 31 May 2008 [no longer continuing onto the non-passenger Harbour branch] and the Jazz festival train to Zakrzewo Złotowskie on table 426 on 12/13 July 2008. In 2008, timetabled services from Gdynia reappear, running on 400 on five dates and 440 on six dates, continuing onto 424 & 429 on two days.
Changes during the 2007 timetable period:
Closures
Re-openings
Other significant changes
Changes during 2006 timetable period:
Closures
Re-openings
Other significant changes
The funding of local services has transferred to Regional Authorities and PKP Przewozy Regionalne would appear to have had difficulties agreeing subsidy payments with many. This followed a shortfall in 2005 between the Zł 384M paid by the Regions and Zł 800M PKP PR operating costs and PKP doubling their charges to recover this 50% loss, publicly stating debts cannot continue as it endangers EU funding for new lines and infrastructure. Some Regions are still pro-Rail to the extent of re-opening closed lines and paying for new stock, but others allow cuts to proceed when contracts lapse.
Commencing with the 2000/01 timetable, a note G, translating as "trains run until further notice only" appeared against many trains. The intention was to indicate a possible train withdrawal which may lead to a service reduction, or all trains on a particular section or a complete table withdrawal, and in many cases a line closure followed. Unfortunately there has been no consistency in later timetables as some services were withdrawn without ever being marked “G” and others changed from “G” to non “G” or vice-versa from year to year. In 2005, “G” almost disappeared and “F”, “runs when advertised or required” appeared in it’s place to indicate at that time that withdrawal was planned for an unknown date after the timetable went to press. Again no consistency followed, as in 2006 “G” markings reappeared in droves to indicate trains where subsidies had only been provided in most cases until 31 March 2006. Service reductions did occur but not to the extent indicated, and there is a significantly reduced use of “F” and “G” from 2007.
As a guide to travellers, the following tables have at some point had their complete service marked “G” so are considered to be the lines most under threat of closure:-
| 106 [part] | Koniecpol – Starzyny (Kozlow) |
| 114 | Tomasźow Mazowiecki – Skarźysko Kamienna |
| 123 | Jarosław – Hrebenne |
| 125 | Tarnobrzeg – Dębica |
| 132 | Rzeszów – Jasło |
| 133 | Nowy Zagórz – Krościenko – Hirov (Ukraine) |
| 134 | Zagórz – Łupków |
| 137 | Sucha Beskidszka – Zywiec |
| 139 | Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Lanckorona – Wadowice |
| 141 | Skawina – Oswiecim |
| 170 | Fosowskie – Tarnowskie Gory |
| 173 | Czestochowa – Chorzow Siemkowice |
| 201 | Opole – Kluczbork |
| 202 | Opole – Nysa |
| 230 | Klodsko Gl – Kudowa Zdroj |
| 235 | Legnica – Jaworzyna Śląska – Kedzierzyn Kozle |
| 245 | Klodsko Gł. - Wałbrzych Gł |
| 250 | Jelenia Góra – Lwówek Śląski |
| 255 | Lubań Śląski – Wegliniec |
| 267 | Legnica – Rudna Gwizdanow |
| 315 | Herby Nowe – Zdunska Wola Karsznica/Zdunska Wola – Inowroclaw |
| 320 | Herby Nowe – Weiluń Dabrowa |
| 321 | Gniezno – Jarocin – Krotoszyn – Grabowno Wielkie |
| 323 | Kąkolewo – Jarocin |
| 343 | Zbąszynek – Międzyrzecz |
| 350 | Ostrow – Krotoszyn |
| 350 | Leszno – Głogów |
| 356 | Zielona Gora – Zary |
| 372 | Wysoka Kamienska - Kamien Pomorski |
| 375 | Kołobrzeg – Goleniów |
| 384 | Sławno – Darłowo |
| 385 | Chojnice – Szczecinek – Runowo Pomorskie |
| 410 | Torun Wschodni - Lipno – Sierpc – Nasielsk |
| 418 | Kutno – Płock |
| 424 | Chojnice – Kościerzyna |
| 429 | Laskowice Pomorskie – Szlachta – Czersk - Bąk |
| 429 | Szlachta – Lipowa Tucholska |
| 431 | Wierzchuchin - Laskowice Pomorskie – Grudziądz – Jablonowo Pomorskie – Działdowo |
| 440 | Wierzchuchin – Kościerzyna |
| 451 | Lębork – Łeba |
| 503 | Gutkowo – Braniewo |
| 505 | Braniewo – Bogaczewo |
| 514 | Czerwonka – Ełk |
| 515 | Szczytno – Pisz |
| 530 | Kuźnica Białostocka – Grodno [Belarus] |
| 543 | Czeremcha – Białystock |
| 543 | Czeremcha – Vysokolitovsk [Belarus] |
| 553 | Lukow – Deblin |
| 555 | Lublin – Stalowa Wola Rozwadow |
| 556 | Stalowa Wola Pld. – Zwierzyniec |
The majority of the above lines have appeared on proposed closure lists as the Ministry of Infrastructure have previously quoted a figure of 6000 km of infrastructure "which is not viable and should be taken out of use or given to other bodies".
For details of older changes dating back to the year 2000 go here.
Corridor Trains: None.
Special Notes:
Some observations on PKP timetable notations:
| (A) | Working days except Saturdays i.e. SsuX |
| (B) | daily except Saturdays, i.e. SX |
| (C) | Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, i.e. SSuO |
| (D) | Mondays to Fridays except holidays, i.e. SSuX |
| (E) | Mondays to Saturdays except holidays, i.e. SuX |
| (F) | runs when advertised or required |
| (G) | runs until further notice |
| Codziennie | Daily |
| Do | until or to |
| do odwołania | until further notice |
| Gł., Główny | main station |
| I | And |
| Kursuje | Runs |
| Od | from or since |
| Oprocz | Except |
| Oraz | As well as |
| p (przyjad) | Arrive |
| po, z, ze | from or after |
| po ogłoszeniu | [from] when advertised |
| p.odg. | (posterunek odgałęzny) junction |
| Poza tym | Besides |
| Przez | Via |
| Swiat | Holidays |
| W | On |
| Wąsk. | (wąskotorowa) narrow gauge |
| Na odcinku ……. ruch pociagów zawieszony do odwołania | On the section…. no scheduled trains until further notice |
Train numbers prefixed A are worked by bus.
Fully updated 17 February 2008. Subsequent amendments: none.
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