Positioned by the Latvian Ministry of Transport as a success story, the deal for 89.4 million euros to acquire nine battery-powered electric trains looks absolutely pathetic compared to Poland. The Poles are not only building trains for themselves but also selling them to other countries. Now they have taken on the creation of modern high-speed trains of world-class standards, writes "Neatkarīga."
In Poland, new trains are being ordered with long waiting times in mind: rolling stock manufacturers are experiencing an unprecedented boom. As reported by the Polish economic portal wnp.pl, order schedules are booked until 2028–2029, regardless of the manufacturer or customer.
Order Boom
The largest client remains the operator "PKP Intercity," which has ordered 42 double-decker trains from Alstom and is investing in hybrid trains from Newag.
The railway industry in Poland is currently at its peak. Factories are operating at full capacity, and orders are scheduled for years ahead, writes wnp.pl.
As explained by expert and entrepreneur Adrian Oldak, it is practically impossible to order a train "for tomorrow" today — delivery times are very long, regardless of the manufacturer.
Recently, a contract was signed at the Alstom factory in Chorzów for the supply of 42 double-decker trains. Each of them can accommodate up to 550 passengers and is equipped with wide doors (about 140 cm) for quick boarding and alighting.
"PKP Intercity" is also investing in hybrid trains from Newag, which will be able to operate on both electrified lines and those without traction. As Oldak notes, there are still large cities in Poland served only by diesel trains — for example, Gorzów Wielkopolski.
In the first nine months of 2025, the company's revenues reached nearly 1.8 billion zlotys (approximately 430 million euros), and the stock price rose by 120% over the year.
Following the demand, investments are also increasing — Pesa, Stadler, and Newag are expanding their factories, while Alstom is regularly increasing its production capacity in Poland.
Focus on Speed
Poland is actively developing high-speed railways as well. "PKP Intercity" plans to invest in the acquisition of ultra-fast trains. Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak announced that the new trains will reach speeds of 320 to 350 km/h and will initially operate between Warsaw and Łódź.
"PKP Intercity" has announced a tender for the purchase of 20 such trains, with the possibility of increasing the order to 35. The first two are expected to be delivered within 60 months after the contract is signed, while the total delivery period may be extended to 110 months.
The procurement includes not only the trains but also maintenance services, as well as the design and construction of the corresponding depots. The procedure is being conducted in the form of a competitive dialogue in accordance with the Public Procurement Law.
As wnp.pl writes, nothing like this has been seen on Poland's rails before. This will be a "Christmas record" for "PKP Intercity."
Polish Manufacturers to Participate
The Infrastructure Minister noted that at the railway exhibition in Gdańsk last autumn, he, along with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, met with Polish train manufacturers and urged them to participate in the competition for the construction of high-speed trains.
"We asked the main question: are you ready to take on the challenge and participate in the project to build high-speed trains? The answer was positive. After that, "PKP Intercity" got involved and began consultations. As a result, we received confirmation that Polish companies would participate in the project in a consortium with organizations possessing the necessary technologies and experience," Klimczak said.
He emphasized that the government is focused not only on high-speed corridors but also on restoring regional routes, building new stations and stops. "The benefits of the railway should not only go to enthusiasts traveling between megacities but also to residents of small towns," the minister stated. He added that this would be a "historic procurement" aimed not only at acquiring rolling stock but also at involving Polish businesses in its maintenance and technical support.
Poland Has Not Built Such Trains Yet
Deputy Infrastructure Minister Piotr Malepszak acknowledged that Polish companies currently do not produce trains capable of reaching speeds above 250 km/h. "That’s why it is so important — and we have already taken the first steps in negotiations with partners — for Polish manufacturers to be able to participate in consortia and be interested in such a large project," he emphasized.
Malepszak added that high-speed trains are the safest form of rail transport. "If we look at the statistics from Japan, France, and other countries, everywhere trains exceed 300 km/h, the level of safety is maximally high," he noted.
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