Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
PKP CARGO S.A. has signed a letter of intent with Central Communication Port to help shape freight infrastructure planned under Poland’s Port of Poland programme, with a focus on rail capacity, intermodal transport and access to logistics terminals.
The agreement brings Poland’s largest rail freight operator into the early planning process for new railway lines, terminal facilities and supporting technical infrastructure. PKP Cargo is currently undergoing restructuring.
The cooperation is intended to ensure that freight requirements are considered alongside passenger transport and airport development before final infrastructure decisions are made.
Freight enters the planning process
The Port of Poland programme is commonly associated with a new central airport and high speed passenger rail connections. The involvement of PKP Cargo broadens the project’s scope by placing freight transport requirements closer to the centre of the planning process.
Under the letter of intent, PKP Cargo will contribute operational experience and market knowledge to discussions covering railway design, terminal access, network capacity and the movement of intermodal cargo.
For freight operators, decisions made at the design stage can determine whether a terminal becomes an efficient gateway or a future bottleneck. A rail connection may look adequate on a map, but limited siding lengths, insufficient handling areas or poor access to main corridors can restrict the volume and type of cargo that can be moved.
The parties said early cooperation could support the development of infrastructure that reflects actual market demand rather than requiring costly changes after construction.
Intermodal growth in focus
PKP Cargo identified intermodal transport as one of the main areas that could benefit from the cooperation. Improved links between rail lines, logistics terminals and other transport modes could increase the competitiveness of freight services and reduce pressure on Poland’s road network.
The planned infrastructure could also improve domestic supply chain resilience by creating additional capacity and more efficient routes for goods moving between industrial regions, ports, terminals and distribution centres.
The letter does not set out specific investment values, freight volumes or construction schedules. It establishes a framework for dialogue while the Port of Poland programme continues through its planning and development stages.
PKP Cargo seeks operational role
Zbigniew Prus, president of the management board of PKP Cargo, said the programme was one of Poland’s most important infrastructure investments.
“It is crucial for PKP Cargo to provide appropriate conditions for the development of rail freight transport, in particular intermodal transport, already at the planning stage,” Prus said.
He added that the agreement creates space to develop solutions that could allow the logistics market and the wider economy to benefit from the investment.
For PKP Cargo, participation also offers an opportunity to influence infrastructure that could shape future freight flows across Poland. The operator said its involvement would support the creation of a modern logistics system and strengthen the security of domestic supply chains.
