The regulations in force in the European Union require a decision to grant open access or limited access to launch commercial rail connections. Such decisions are issued by the President of the Railway Transport Office. And so far it has done it reluctantly, which has resulted in a practical monopoly of state-owned carriers. Until this year, when the Czech, private RegioJet was allowed to fly and was successful in the Czech Republic, where it beat the state-owned competition.
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As stated in the letter from the President of the Office of Rail Transport, Ignacy Góra, to RegioJet, it is about providing explanations regarding connections that were to start on December 14 this year as part of the 2025/2026 annual timetable.
Read also: Competition on the railways in Poland is growing. The Czech carrier opens new connections
The regulator recalled that by decision of November 25, 2024, it granted RegioJet five-year open access on the Warsaw-Berlin route. On this section, the company should run one pair of trains a day on the Warszawa Wschodnia-Berlin Hbf-Warszawa Wschodnia route, within the section running through Poland. Carrier on this route should also launch five pairs of connections between Warsaw and Poznań a day.
UTK indicated that the carrier may limit rates only in the event of unpredictable eventsresulting from force majeure or the activities of the infrastructure manager.
Informing in advance
The Office emphasized that RegioJet was obliged to inform about any change in the frequency or dates of transport, as well as about circumstances that may result in the cessation of connections for at least six months, together with an appropriate position and justification.
The letter noted that the carrier had publicly announced the launch of Warsaw-Poznań connections from December 2025. RegioJet's provision of information about the cancellation of the routes “leads to a gross violation of the stability of the timetable” and complicates the planning of the offer to other carriers.
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The carrier has seven days to provide explanations. At the same time, the President of UTK reminded that in the event of a gross violation of the conditions, the decision on open access may be revoked.
Three instead of six Krakow-Warsaw connections
On Thursday, the Czech carrier RegioJet announced that it would start operating in Poland on December 14, i.e. with the entry into force of the new annual railway timetable, but with fewer journeys than originally announced. Instead of six pairs of trains on the Krakow-Warsaw route, there will be three connections a day, and more will be launched “gradually in the coming weeks”.
RegioJet also announced that from December 14 limits the scale of launch of its connections between Warsaw and Tricity.
This is not the first delay in introducing RegioJet trains in Poland. At the end of November, after announcing new connections, the carrier announced that the debut of the Warsaw-Poznań route has been postponed to February 1, 2026. Meanwhile, in September, the company announced six pairs of connections on this route in the new annual timetable.
Dispute with PKP Intercity
The development of RegioJet's operations in Poland takes place in the atmosphere of a dispute with PKP Intercity. At the beginning of November, the Czech industry portal Z dopravy published a statement from the company announcing a complaint to the European Commission.
RegioJet accuses Polish railway companies related to the PKP Group of, among others, obstructing the finalization of the purchase of the facility for over PLN 55 million, refusing to provide advertising space at stations and slowing down routes in timetables compared to PKP Intercity connections. The company also claims that PKP Intercity employees are prohibited from working for a competitive carrier.
In response, PKP Intercity emphasized that they operate transparently, in accordance with regulations and ethical standards.
