PKP - Articles and news items

Constructing and launching high-speed lines in Poland

Issue 2 2010 / 4 April 2010 / Jan Raczyński, Director of High-Speed Lines Office, PKP Polish Railway Lines

In recent years there has been considerable growth in high-speed rail. In many countries, the development of a high-speed rail system plays a key role in economic development and it is treated as an element to improve prosperity considering the great value of public procurement and increased attractiveness of the regions to which it reaches. New high-speed lines projects have not only been rising in Europe and Japan, but also in the United States, South Korea, China, Taiwan and Iran.

This rapidly expanding new transport mode is often described as the ‘transport mode of the future’ for a number of reasons. As well as improving rail services, promoting the modern image they seek to convey and yielding greater customer satisfaction, high-speed trains also play a key role in achieving territory integration and helping to create socio-economically balanced societies. This highly efficient transport mode makes significant demands in terms of investment, technology, industry, the environment and its political and social aspects. (more…)

Social responsibility of the investor

Issue 5 2008, Past issues / 27 September 2008 / Krzysztof Celinski, President of the Board, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA

For over half a century, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been an element of strategy of each business entity who wishes to be perceived as a reliable and stable element of economy and society. PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA, the administrator of the railway infrastructure in Poland, observes the CSR principles both in its current activities and strategic planning for coming stages.

There are several factors which are peculiar to PKP PLK SA’s activities and have a decisive effect on our economic behaviour, adhering to the law and ethical rules, and functioning in society which is to say on every element of CSR.

Firstly, we are a joint stock company and therefore we operate on a commercial basis. It means that our financial activity follows the rules of commercial law. This is a significant difference as compared with the period before 2000, when the railway transport in Poland was state-owned.

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The PKP family is working in harmony

Issue 3 2008, Past issues / 28 May 2008 / Mr. Robert Kuczynski, Head of Social Communication and Marketing Department, PKP Group

The PKP Group was established in 2001, as a result of a restructuring programme of the State-Owned Enterprise, Polish State Railways. The reform was aimed at the separation of railway operating activity and the management of railway lines as well as to set up independent commercial entries. The PKP Group is now made up of a mother company, PKP S.A., and a number of subsidiary companies.

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Performance of Poland’s operational programme

Issue 6 2007, Past issues / 26 November 2007 / Krzysztof Celinski, President of the Management Board, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.

This article comprehensively describes a modernisation plan for the Polish rail network to be fulfilled during 2007-2013 and subsequent years. This great investment plan is lead by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. (PKP Polish Railway Lines Company). The plan is an extensive one and there is still enough time and financial means for everybody who wants to participate in it to put their thoughts forward.

I would like to draw the attention of all European Railway Review readers who are representing companies cooperating within the railway sector and for rail operators, that in the heart of our continent we are creating convenient circumstances for the development of both domestic and international railway transport, aimed at interoperability and complete liberalisation of the passenger and freight transport market available to all EU operators. (more…)

Where is Europe’s end?

Issue 4 2005, Past issues / 3 November 2005 / Tadeusz Augustowski, Chairman of the Management Board & General Director of PKP headquarters

More than one year has already passed since the European Union was enlarged by the ten new Member States. In Poland, appraisals of economic and social effects of this historical event are, by and large, positive. A lot of expectations have been satisfied, while most of the misgivings expressed before 1st May of 2004 on both sides – in the ‘older’ EU15 and new accession countries – have proved greatly exaggerated.

The date given above is a only a ceremonial landmark. The process of integration for the EU10 with the rest of the Union started much earlier, is ongoing, and a large amount of water will flow in the Vistula or Elbe before it is accomplished. Incontestably, the Accession Treaty was a good turning point for all areas of European co-operation but it concerned one instant and the history never stops, even for a while. This is no different to the European railway system. The provisions of the Treaty on railway transport have resulted primarily from the experiences of the preceding co-operation among the railway administrations.

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