POLAND: Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodship has awarded Arriva a four-year competitively tendered contract to operate regional passenger services on two lines which are to reopen in December 2030 to connect communities which currently lack rail access.
The €5m contract signed on July 21 covers the Rypin – Kretki – Brodnica and Wierzchucin – Laskowice Pomorskie lines, which are currently being rehabilitated by infrastructure manager PKP PLP. Arriva said these would be the first services on the Brodnica – Rypin line in 26 years, while the Wierzchucin – Laskowice Pomorskie line is being reactivated after five years.
There will be a minimum of six return trains per day on each route, with the services totalling 320 000 train-km/year. Cheap promotional fares will be offered for the first month of service, with discounted fares for people over 65 for the full contract term.
The voivodship has allocated 15m złoty for the operation of connections on the Laskowice Pomorskie – Wierzchucin route, where there is the possibility of extending services to Grudziądz and Chojnice, and 13m złoty for the operation of Brodnica – Rypin route which could be extended to Grudziądz and Toruń. It is in talks with Mazowieckie to extend the Brodnica – Rypin route to Sierpc.
‘The most important thing in these connections is the travel time’, said Deputy Marshal of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Aneta Jędrzejewska. ‘The line between Laskowice Pomorskie and Wierzchucin will be covered by comfortable and air-conditioned trains in 33 min, 6 min shorter than by car. The Rypin to Brodnica route will be covered by the train in 23 min, a dozen or so minutes faster than the bus.’
Rolling stock
The voivodship requires modern trains with air-conditioning, an accessible toilet and space for at least four bicycles.
Arriva said it would source rolling stock from its European network, ‘demonstrating the benefits of operating at scale across 11 countries’.
Regional rail flourishes
‘Regional rail connections serve primarily the residents of our voivodship, who can safely and comfortably get to work, school and leisure’, said Marshal Piotr Całbecki. ‘Every year we expand our transport offer. Rail transport organised by the regional government is flourishing. We have built the trust of passengers, as evidenced by the numbers, with punctuality and consistency in maintaining the timetable. Eight million passengers have already travelled on our trains.’
Arriva said it currently operates more than three million train-km/year in Kujawsko-Pomorskie, around half of the regional rail services in the voivodship which the company said is ‘recognised for its progressive transport policy’. The latest contract ‘reflects a broader trend of market liberalisation in European public transport’ which Arriva is embracing as part of its growth strategy.
‘We are proud to play an active role in restoring critical transport links for local communities and enabling greater access to rail services’, said Sian Leydon, Managing Director for Mainland Europe at Arriva Group. ‘The region’s commitment to competitive procurement and long-term regional development aligns perfectly with our ambition to deliver more connected, reliable transport across Europe.’
- Learn more: a detailed overview of rail investment in and around Polish cities and a case study of rural rail investment in the south of the country will appear in the September issue of Railway Gazette International and via our subscriber offering, Insights.
