RegioJet’s abrupt withdrawal from the Polish domestic rail market has left approximately 100 employees without jobs or promised severance pay.
Recruitment Offensive and Unfulfilled Promises
RegioJet aggressively recruited in Poland, enticing train drivers and conductors with high salaries and substantial start-up bonuses, offering rates unavailable from domestic rail companies.
Drivers signing contracts in January 2026 could have received a total of 100,000 zł in bonuses within the first year—50,000 zł upfront, with further installments after completing the probationary period, six months, and one year of employment. Conductors were offered 50,000 zł, paid in four installments.
Sudden Withdrawal and Blame Game
On April 9, 2026, employees learned of RegioJet’s withdrawal from Poland via a letter from owner Radim Jančura, thanking them for their efforts.
Jančura attributed the decision to market conditions, citing “predatory pricing” from competitors, blocked access to infrastructure, and the end of a marketing campaign. PKP Intercity denied these claims, stating it has no authority over infrastructure access rules and that RegioJet’s withdrawal is a purely business decision.
Impact on Employees: No Pay, No Severance
The dispute between companies is secondary to the immediate concerns of the employees: lack of payment, lack of severance, and joblessness.
From May 3rd, at least 90% of RegioJet’s Polish workforce lost their jobs.
Employment Terms and Severance Entitlements
Severance pay depended on the employment contract. Employees with annual contracts received one month’s salary, while those on three-month probationary periods or freelance contracts received nothing.
RegioJet offered continued employment on routes in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria, with additional monthly pay, but this was impractical for most Polish workers.
Unfulfilled Bonus Payments
Drivers and conductors received bonus payments in installments, but RegioJet issued layoffs after the initial payments. Former employees report receiving only around 20,000 zł of the promised 100,000 zł.
Legal action may be required to recover the remaining bonuses, with no guarantee of success.
Difficulty Finding New Employment
Former RegioJet employees face difficulty returning to their previous employers, who view their departure as disloyalty.
Companies have also invested in training replacements during RegioJet’s eight months of operation, making re-hiring less appealing.
Situation for Train Conductors is More Dire
Train drivers have a stronger position in the job market due to ongoing retirements and a shortage of qualified candidates.
The training to become a train conductor is shorter and cheaper, meaning former employers have already trained replacements, making it harder for former RegioJet conductors to find new positions.
