Does rail have a good chance of becoming the most efficient means of transport in Poland? What actions should be taken to make this happen?
Dr. Jakub Majewski, President of the ProKolej Foundation: Currently, the Polish railway sector is implementing the largest investment program of the 21st century. The very large scale of planned railway investments means that the industry has a unique opportunity for development and increased competitiveness. However, these funds must be used wisely. Because if this fails, the impression will remain that no matter how much we invest in tracks, the effect will be very limited. Therefore, investments cannot be an end in themselves. They must guarantee the recovery of competitiveness in relation to other modes of transport. Is this possible? Of course! Let’s look at the railways in Western European countries. There are no EU funds there, but that does not mean there are no investments. On the contrary, one often hears about opening new lines and expanding stations because the capacity of the existing infrastructure is insufficient. The same applies to investments in rolling stock. But the most important thing is that a modern, organized, and efficient railway is well-perceived by the public and politicians. This makes it easier to find support for it in state budgets.
We must prove that in Poland, the railway is needed and can be profitable, and that it is worth investing in it from all available sources. Just as in metropolitan areas, where motorization has exhausted its development potential and it is impossible to transport people or goods by car, and where an alternative in the form of rail transport is needed, the same applies to port services. As the tonnage of container ships increases, transshipments grow and accumulate, and trucks—even those using highways—are unable to pick them up quickly enough. Here, investing in rail transport also proves necessary. Where rail provides a real alternative to congested roads, funds and understanding for its development are found. And no one perceives this as a whim of EU policy.