Electrification of the Railway Network in Poland After 2004

.blurhash-client-img { display: none !important; }

Open Access

|Jun 2026

Figures & Tables

Impact		Cause
Benefits of electrification for	railway system	- reduced operating costs for carriers (easier maintenance of rolling stock and less susceptibility to breakdowns)- increased efficiency through better acceleration and deceleration capabilities- ability to operate at higher speeds and accommodate more trains
	carrier	- lower energy consumption (higher energy efficiency)- stable and continuous power source - eliminating the need to stop for refuelling
	environment	- reduction of air pollutant emissions (particulate matter, greenhouse gases and others) and noise pollution
	customers	- improving service quality (travel time, travel comfort)
Challenges and problems	high initial capital costs	- construction of overhead line installations and power substations- electrification of existing lines may require their reconstruction, especially within engineering structures (bridges, viaducts, tunnels) in order to install overhead catenary while maintaining the applicable railway gauge- the need to expand the power grid to supply energy to traction substations
	infrastructure maintenance costs	- the need for regular maintenance of equipment such as transformers and converters
	dependence on electricity supply	- the need to ensure continuity of electricity supply for traction purposes- environmental benefits may vary depending on how electricity is generated
	tailored to transport requirements	- electrification is economically justifiable on high-traffic routes

Railway network operator	Length (km)	Percentage of network
Total	12,251	62.3
PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.	12,150	64.2
Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa Sp. z o.o.^*	34.5	91.6
PKP Szybka Kolej Miejska w Trójmieście Sp. z o.o.^*	32.4	100.0
Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna S.A.	18.3	100.0
Jastrzębska Spółka Kolejowa Sp. z o.o.	10.2	25.1
PMT Linie Kolejowe Sp. z o.o.	1.8	4.5
Infra Silesia S.A.	1.7	5.9
Other managers	2.1	no data

Traction power systems	Electrification level of railway network in 2023
Traction power systems	75.0–100%	50.0–74.9%	25.0–49.9%	1.0–24.9%
1.5 kV DC	–	–	–	Ireland^b
3 kV DC	–	Poland, Slovenia	–	Latvia^b, Estonia^b
15 kV.16.7 Hz AC	Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Sweden^a	Austria^a, Germany^a	–	–
25 kV 50 Hz AC	Luxembourg	Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland^a^b, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina	Hungary, Greece, Croatia, Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia	Lithuania^b
3 kV DC25 kV 50 Hz AC	Belgium^a	Italy^a, Portugal^b, Spain^a^b, Ukraine^b	Slovakia, Czechia,	–
1.5/1.7 kV DC25 kV 50 Hz AC	–	Netherlands^a, France^a	Denmark^a	–