Rail transport in Poland
Railway network in 2014
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Pendolino train in Kraków
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| Dates of operation | 22 May 1842–present |
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| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Electrification | 3 kV DC Overhead line |
| Length | 19,599 km (12,178.3 mi) |
The Polish railways network consists of around 19,599 kilometres (12,178 mi) of track as of 2008, of which the vast majority is electrified at 3 kV DC overhead.
Poland is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC): its UIC Country Code is 51.
Rail services are operated by a range of public and private rail operators. The nationally owned PKP Group operates the majority of rail services. In addition to PKP owned companies, there are a number of private cargo operators, as well as a number of independent passenger operators, owned predominantly by Voivodeship governments.
The network is generally electrified, and the vast majority was built before World War II by different rail companies when territory was part of other countries, including the Deutsche Reichsbahn and Russian Imperial State Railways or by the Communist authorities from 1946 onwards. Due to the average age of the network and lack of maintenance, many sections are limited to speeds below 160 km/h (99 mph) even on trunk lines. 2,568 km (1,596 mi) allow 160 km/h (99 mph) or more.
Since Poland's entry into the European Union in 2004, major financing has been made available by European financing institutions to improve both the Polish rail network and the rolling stock fleet. Up to June 2014, the European Investment Bank had provided loans totaling €1.9 billion for rail modernization projects in Poland. An additional €578 million had been provided through December 2013 to modernize 70 percent of PKP Intercity rolling stock. The €665 million purchase of twenty Alstom Pendolino high speed trains delivered in 2014 was financed in part by €342 million from the European Investment Bank.
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Wikipedia