Poland, alongside nine other countries, has been a member of the European Union for 20 years. EU membership brought with it many investments, which also benefited Polish rail infrastructure. The 166 billion Polish złoty (27 billion euros) in investments have transformed Polish railways, says national rail operator PKP.
PKP reviewed the contribution of “huge funds” to the Polish rail network that the country received from the EU during its 20-year membership. “Poland made multi-billion złoty investments in railways that would not have been possible without EU support”, says the rail operator. “After twenty years, the Polish railway is in a completely different place.”
Poland received funding from various EU programmes, among which are the Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme, the Eastern Poland Operation Programme, the Connecting Europe Facility and sixteen more regional investment programmes.
Tangible results
“Thanks to financing from various EU programs, railway lines, stations and stops were modernised. New track sections and modern rail traffic control and safety systems were built”, says PKP. The EU investments, amounting to a total of 116 billion Polish złoty (nearly 27 billion euros), allowed for the construction of 17 thousand kilometres of railways in total. Moreover, Poland connected many new towns to the railway network. The funds also enabled improved infrastructure design that boosted safety.
PKP points out that EU funds have helped to improve rail access to seaports in Gdańsk, Gdynia, Szczecin and Świnoujście, enhancing freight transportation efficiency. Border crossings have also been upgraded to work more efficiently.
Lastly, important freight lines have been modernised throughout the past twenty years. PKP mentions the Chorzów Batory – Tczew and the Wrocław – Szczecin lines, as well as railway lines in Silesia, such as Toszek Północ – Rudziniec Gliwicki – Stare Koźle and Chybie – Żory – Rybnik – Nędza/Turze. Earlier this year, PKP announced another billion euro investment in Silesian rail infrastructure, of which 85 per cent will be financed by the EU.
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