Polish infrastructure manager: Rail Baltica is already operational in Poland

Poland’s railway infrastructure comprises over 18,000 km of track, with the majority being European standard gauge (1435 mm). The 1520 mm gauge track is primarily located along the borders with Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia (Kaliningrad). The European Rail Baltica route in Poland spans almost 370 km. To date, Polish infrastructure manager PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. has rebuilt and modernized all stations and passenger stops on the Warszawa Rembertów-Białystok station, as well as the Ełk station.

In January 2025, Polskie Linie Kolejowe has initiated the largest tender in the history of Polish rail investment to modernize the 96-km line from Białystok to Ełk, with estimated total cost of 1.4 billion EUR. 

The triple impact of infrastructure improvements

According to Maciej Kaczorek, Member of the Management Board of Polskie Linie Kolejowe, responsible for strategy and development, the next section from Elk to the Lithuanian-Polish border is the most complex section of Rail Baltica in Poland.

“As in the Baltics, section from Elk to Lithuanian border is a greenfield project. We will construct a new electrified double-track railway line designed for speeds of up to 250 km/h. We have a financing secured for the ongoing design documentation phase from the EU financing and national budget.

We view Rail Baltica on three levels: at the international level within the EU, as the project will connect countries and provide freight and intermodal opportunities; at the level of regional development and national significance; and from the perspective of military mobility, which has gained importance in recent years,” said Kaczorek.

Preparations for the modernization of the Ełk-Trakiszki section, which is closest to the Lithuanian border, are underway, and an environmental impact assessment is being conducted.

“We are coordinating with the Polish infrastructure manager to ensure the smooth integration of the line. Naturally, if one country completes its section while the other is still under construction, trains will not yet run on the new track. Therefore, it is essential to synchronize our efforts and collaborate closely,” said Vytis Žalimas, CEO of LTG Infra, the company implementing Rail Baltica in Lithuania.

The public desires more high-speed railways

Modernization of the Warsaw-Ełk railway line, constructed in the mid-19th century, is one of the EU’s flagship projects among Poland’s infrastructure, as well as the part of Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Modernizing the infrastructure in the northeastern part of Poland is also desired at the regional level. There are 24 trains daily from Warsaw, including the LTG Link route to Vilnius. 

In 2014, high-speed Pendolino train operations were launched in Poland. According to Krzysztof Krasowski, Director of the Products and Timetable Office at PKP Intercity S.A., the introduction of high-speed train services has dispelled doubts about the need for such infrastructure.

“The question then became how quickly we can expand the network further. Rail Baltica is not only being developed in the Baltic States; the first 3 sections of modernized Rail Baltica line have been completed in Poland and are in use. We are in close contact with LTG Link to make the Vilnius-Warsaw route faster, more comfortable, and more attractive to train travelers,” said Krasowski.

Removing level crossings will increase speed

The next stage of the modernization of the Polish section of Rail Baltica will be the railway line on the Białystok-Ełk section. The works will include the full modernization of the railway line together with the construction of a second track, thanks to which passengers will be able to cover the distance 35 minutes faster, in just 55 minutes, as trains will run at the speed of 200 km/h. 

The safety of passengers will be improved by increasing the efficiency of rail traffic control (modern computerized railway control devices) and the construction of road viaducts replacing the eliminated level crossings. Construction works will begin after the announced tender for construction works is resolved and the Agreement with the Contractor is signed.

The modernized Białystok railway station is one of the five major railway stations in Poland, serving 2.7 million passengers annually. Lately it was equipped with a new local railway traffic control center including station CCTV.

The Elk railroad station has also been modernized: tracks with a total length of 40 km have been built and prepared to accommodate more freight trains. Safety has been improved by eliminating one level crossings and building overpasses and crossings. The station has been certified by the European Union Railway Agency as meeting European standards.

 

About Rail Baltica 

Rail Baltica is one of Europe's largest high-speed infrastructure projects, aiming to establish a modern and sustainable rail link that connects the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania with the European rail network. It is also a part of the trans-European transport corridor.

Rail Baltica will be a fully electrified, double-track railway with a standard gauge of 1435 mm and will be equipped with ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) and designed to meet European standards. With a design speed of 249 km/h, Rail Baltica will significantly reduce travel times between the Baltic States and major European cities. It will serve as a modern infrastructure for passenger, freight, and military mobility, promoting accessibility and facilitating business, tourism, and cultural exchange. Additionally, the project will enhance the Baltic region's position as a vital transit hub, fostering stronger trade connections and promoting regional cooperation.

About RB Rail AS 

RB Rail AS is a multinational joint venture of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania established to lead and coordinate the implementation of the Rail Baltica Global Project, the first infrastructure development project of this scale in the Baltic region. More about Rail Baltica global project: www.railbaltica.org