For the financially troubled Polish freight railways, the way out could be to bet everything on intermodal transport. The market will decide whether this choice is a winning strategy or merely a desperate gamble. This situation is linked to the fact that the state-owned company PKP Cargo is in a precarious position, with some operators describing it as "near bankruptcy." The most evident proof is the company's decision to suspend almost a third of its workforce.
The new management team, appointed to tackle the crisis, has not only cut unproductive costs but also developed a new commercial strategy. They have identified the transport of semi-trailers as a market with significant potential, as demand has not only been unmet but even neglected. PKP Cargo's Director of Strategy and International Cooperation, Tomasz Mostowski, stated to the Polish press: "We see a great opportunity in the transport of semi-trailers; this is an untapped market. We are trying to involve the Ministry of Infrastructure in the creation of a national dedicated transport system, open to all interested carriers."
This project fits into PKP Cargo's long-term strategy, which is entirely focused on developing intermodal transport. At the end of 2023, the company opened a large terminal in Karsznice, central Poland, a crossroads of all national rail connections. Karsznice will not remain an isolated example, as the company is already looking for a site for another terminal. PKP Cargo's plan aligns perfectly with EU policies aimed at strengthening Ten-T freight corridors with new directives favoring the construction of intermodal terminals at the continental level.
The Polish strategy is not revolutionary, as it relies on rail for long-distance connections, leaving the first and last mile to road transport, a well-known and established model in other realities. However, it is the determination to carry out this plan that makes the difference. Nonetheless, PKP Cargo's business plan is based on an essential requirement: an agreement with the state government, which is being asked for financial subsidies for services and connections deemed non-commercial, meaning they do not pay for themselves through transport fees. This model is similar to what is defined as "universal service" in passenger transport.
Piermario Curti Sacchi
