Polish officials clash over train speeds for the planned ‘Y’ line, with the government pushing for 320 km/h while predecessors favored 250 km/h.
Debate Over Train Speeds
The debate continues over the speed at which trains should operate on the planned “igrek” line from Warsaw through Łódź to Wrocław and Poznań. During the Infrastructure Defense Congress, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Piotr Malepszak and former government plenipotentiary for CPK Marcin Horała faced off with their arguments.
The previous government planned to purchase trains capable of 250 km/h. However, the current administration has determined that these would be too slow. It was decided that trains on the “igrek” line should reach speeds of at least 320 km/h, with a possibility of reaching even 350 km/h.
Tender Announcement and European Comparisons
PKP Intercity announced at the end of last year a tender for the purchase of at least 20 train sets that would meet these speed requirements. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has stated that Poland could have the fastest trains in Europe.
Currently, the fastest trains on the continent are TGVs in France, reaching 320 km/h. Spanish trains are only slightly slower, reaching 310 km/h, though their speed is expected to increase to 350 km/h in the coming years.
High-Speed Rail: Tracks Planned for 350 km/h
The infrastructure for the high-speed rail network is being planned to accommodate speeds of up to 350 km/h.
