From June to the end of August 2017, over 1.3 million more people used PKP Intercity services compared to last year’s summer season. These are the best holidays in terms of the number of passengers carried in 7 years. Travelers most often chose connections on the route from Krakow and the Tri-City to Warsaw. Tourist destinations, such as Kołobrzeg, Koszalin, Zakopane, or Krynica-Zdrój, were also very popular.
On holiday by PKP Intercity train
During this year’s holidays, almost 12.5 million people chose to travel by PKP Intercity trains. In total, from June to the end of August, 12% more people used the carrier’s services than in the same period last year. In June, July, and August, compared to 2016, the number of passengers increased by 19% (over 3.8 million people), 10%, and 7% (in both cases over 4.3 million people), respectively. Many factors contributed to the good result, such as attractive ticket offers and new travel destinations.
– PKP Intercity’s results are optimistic. They prove that travelers are returning to the railway. They use it not only on the way to holiday resorts but also for trips throughout the year. This is the result of the carrier’s efforts to provide attractive travel offers, an example of which is the recently introduced Traveler’s Package, as well as the care for raising the standard of rolling stock – emphasizes Andrzej Bittel, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Construction.
PKP Intercity is constantly recording an increase in the number of passengers carried. In total, from January to the end of August 2017, almost 29 million passengers traveled on board the carrier’s trains. This means an increase of over 13% compared to the same period last year. The carrier maintains an upward trend in the number of passengers carried, with a similar level of operational work compared to the same period last year.
– These are the best holidays at PKP Intercity in 7 years in terms of the number of passengers carried. We are very happy that every year more and more people choose to travel by our trains. Compared to the previous year, almost 30% more families used PKP Intercity services – emphasizes Marek Chraniuk, CEO of PKP Intercity. – We also notice an increase in trips by seniors – 16% and students – 9%. More and more people are also buying tickets online.
To the Tri-City, Kołobrzeg, or Zakopane
Most travelers, just like in the previous year, chose connections on the route from Krakow and the Tri-City to Warsaw. During the holidays, a total of over 618,000 passengers traveled from Krakow to the capital, and over 533,000 from the Tri-City. In both cases, the increase in the number of travelers remained at the level of 6%. The connection from Warsaw to Białystok was also very popular, chosen by over 236,000 people, which is 48% more than during last year’s holidays. PKP Intercity also recorded an increase in the number of passengers carried on routes from Krakow to Przemyśl (101% more than a year ago) and Rzeszów (70% more) or from Warsaw to Olsztyn (24% more).
Among holiday destinations, passengers most willingly chose routes to Kołobrzeg (over 292,000), Koszalin (over 220,000), or Zakopane (over 130,000). On the other hand, the carrier recorded the largest increase in the case of seasonal connections to Wisła (41%), Krynica-Zdrój (31%), as well as Władysławowo and Zakopane (29% each).
New destinations not only during the holidays
During the summer season, PKP Intercity launched nearly 100 seasonal trains to the most popular mountain and seaside resorts. People traveling to, among others, the Silesian Beskids, Żywiec, and Zwardoń, as well as Kudowa-Zdrój or Szklarska Poręba, could take advantage of additional connections. A novelty was the connection from Łódź to Giżycko, where the TLK Niegocin train ran, providing travelers with access to Warmia and Masuria. Since this year’s holidays, travelers have also gained additional connections in the eastern direction. An additional pair of Przemyśl – Lviv – Kyiv trains is available to those planning a trip to Ukraine, as well as a train running from Chełm to Kovel and Zdolbuniv. Thanks to convenient connections, travelers from Warsaw and Lublin (in the case of the train to Chełm) or from Krakow and Wrocław (traveling to Kyiv) can use international trains.
The passenger in the center of attention
The safety of travel on PKP Intercity trains is overseen by the Customer Support Center and dispatch, which react in cases of difficulties during the journey. Employees are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During the holiday season, during adverse weather conditions, as well as unforeseen situations, the Customer Support Center issued over 119,000 refreshments and over 61,000 drinks. At the same time, replacement transport by taxi was planned for 280 travelers, and accommodation in a hotel was organized for 22 people. During the holidays, travelers could use the help of mobile informants who were on duty at the largest railway stations in the country, e.g., in Gdynia, Krakow, or Wrocław, but also in Międzyzdroje, Kołobrzeg, and Władysławowo. Mobile informants remained at the disposal of travelers, among others, during the first days of the holidays (June 23-24, 26), the long August weekend (August 11-15), or the last weekend of the summer season (August 30 – September 4). At the same time, during the holidays, informants were on duty at the Kołobrzeg station every week, while in Międzyzdroje and Władysławowo – every two weeks.