Poland’s state railway operator is planning to launch bus connections from remote locations to boost access to train stations. The project aims to address the longstanding problem of transport exclusion, which is estimated to affect millions of Poles.
Polskie Koleje Państwowe (PKP) intends to launch a subsidiary company, provisionally called PKP Autobus, that would provide the bus transit services.
The plans were previously outlined by infrastructure minister Andrzej Adamczyk at the European Economic Congress earlier this year, where he said that “combining rail transport with passenger transport” would help people who live in places where there are no train stations and infrequent bus or coach services.
Adamczyk said that the new company would consolidate existing state-owned coach companies, including Wrocław-based Polbus-PKS, PKS Polonus Warsaw, PKS Częstochowa, PKS in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, PKS Zielona Góra, Przedsiębiorstwo Przewóz Towarowych Powszechnej Komunikacji Samochodowej and WARS.
This week, in response to a question from an MP, deputy minister of state assets Maciej Małecki outlined that work is underway to establish the joint train-and-bus venture.
A due diligence study has been started to assess the “condition” and “potential” of the companies involved and their vehicles. This will then be used to “define a strategy for the further operation of these enterprises” and prepare a “final concept” for the project.
The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has in the past pledged to address the issue of transport exclusion. Ahead of the 2019 elections, PiS chairman Jarosław Kaczyński promised to restore bus connections that had in recent years been closed “everywhere, but mainly in the countryside and small towns”.
The idea of linking rail and bus transport was also raised by ministers last year. Rafał Zgorzelski, a member of PKP’s management board, mentioned a “bus division” to boost passenger numbers on trains by providing “first and last mile” transport, reports Polsat News.
In July this year, Zgorzelski said that 27 bus connections for train stations would be launched if Poland obtains reconstruction funds from the European Union for that purpose. A pilot programme would be launched in the central Świętokrzyskie province.
Main image credit: Jerzy Górecki/Pixabay
Maria Wilczek is deputy editor of Notes from Poland. She is a regular writer for The Times, The Economist and Al Jazeera English, and has also featured in Foreign Policy, Politico Europe, The Spectator and Gazeta Wyborcza.
