Poland Unveils 610 Billion Złoty Rail Expansion Plan Through 2050

The Polish government has announced the Integrated Railway Network (ZSK), a massive infrastructure project to build 4,700 kilometers of new lines and modernize existing tracks by 2050 for 610 billion złoty.

A Massive Infrastructure Investment

Poland plans to construct a network of railway “highways” consisting of 4,700 kilometers of new lines, including 2,700 kilometers of high-speed rail. According to government plenipotentiary Maciej Lasek, this project aims to eliminate gaps in the current rail network and better connect small and medium-sized cities.

The program, dubbed the Integrated Railway Network (ZSK), is the result of 18 months of analysis covering 8,000 kilometers of potential corridors. The government aims to secure funding through a new Railway Fund to be established this autumn, which will allow for credit-based financing to boost available resources.

Implementation and Phased Development

The project is divided into two main parts: 410 billion złoty for new lines and 200 billion złoty for the modernization of 5,600 kilometers of existing infrastructure. The first phase, slated for completion by 2035, includes the construction of 1,000 kilometers of new track, highlighted by the “Y” line—the first high-speed connection in Central and Eastern Europe—which will reduce travel time from Warsaw to Wrocław to 100 minutes.

Responsibility for the expansion is split between the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) company, which will build the new routes, and PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe, which will handle the modernization of current infrastructure.

Network Goals and Performance Targets

By 2050, the government expects the network to serve 720 million passengers, up from the current 500 million. Beyond passenger transit, the infrastructure is designed to significantly improve freight capacity. Nineteen new main lines are planned, including extensions toward the Czech Republic and Germany, as well as a “CMK-North” line that aims to cut the Warsaw to Gdańsk journey to 100 minutes.

Project designers emphasize that the ZSK is based on modern demographic and transport data rather than arbitrary planning. Plans for the Southern Mainline include speeds of up to 350 km/h, with the goal of connecting Warsaw and Kraków in 90 minutes.