In fresh days, Polish cities have become the arena of fierce protest. The railroadmen are out on the streets, blocking key access to freight terminals, including the strategical container terminal of PKP Cargo at Marywilska Street in Warsaw. This is not just a strike – it is an act of desperation and a consequence to, as the trade unionists say, years of negligence that led the Polish freight railway to the edge of the abyss. Not only the future of thousands of workers is at stake, but besides the liquidity of deliveries across the country, which can have a real impact on each of us as early as 2025.
Protesters request immediate changes in state transport policy, informing against degradation of the full freight sector. Their voices, reinforced by environmental activists, make it clear: "The will of exhaust than rails!" and "Enough to favour road transport." Will the government perceive and take real action before the situation becomes national logistical paralysis?
Why did the railroad take the streets? Unparalleled fight against TIRs
The main origin of ongoing protests is profoundly rooted unequal competition between rail and road transport. As the trade unionists emphasize, rail carriers are charged advanced rates for access to infrastructure, while most roads in Poland stay exempt from truck charges. “It’s like moving with a ball and a leg as the rival rides on a motorcycle,” explains Marcin Pochłod from the Inter-establishment Association of Railway Engineers, pointing to fundamental strategy injustice.
This imbalance leads to systematic degradation of rail services, which are, after all, much more ecological and efficient. The protest was joined by activists of the Last Generation, who, with the slogan “Tira for the tracks”, support the railroad’s demands. They indicate that one freight train can replace even 1 100 trucks on roads, which would drastically reduce exhaust emissions and improve safety. At the time of the environmental statement, marginalisation of freight railways seems to be a contradiction which affects not only the state budget but besides the wellness of citizens.
Over 2,400 jobs on the blade. Drama at the Cargo Railway Station
The situation of railway operators is further worsened by drastic plans to reduce employment in PKP Cargo, the largest Polish freight carrier. After last year cutting over 3.6 1000 jobsThe company announced further mass redundancies. In 2025 the occupation is to lose over a 1000 peopleand in 2026 close 1.4 1000 employees. In total, over 2,400 jobs are at hazard over the next 2 years. This is an impact on the heart of Polish rail transport, which the employees state directly: “It is an act of desperation”.
This not only deepens the crisis in the PKP Cargo, but besides weakens the full sector. A lower number of employees means lower operational capacity, which may translate into delays in transportation and increase in transport costs for companies across Poland. Traders are informing that without immediate government intervention, the future of the freight railway in Poland is highly uncertain and its function in the economy can be reduced to a minimum, which will surely affect the prices of products and the availability of goods for consumers.
The government is responding, but is that enough? Promises vs. reality
In the face of increasing protests, the government begins to respond. Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak admitted that he agreed with many of the protesters' demands and announced investments in railways, including the modernisation of the PKP Intercity rolling stock. However, this is mainly a consequence to passenger traffic alternatively than freight, which raises legitimate concerns among the protesters.
Deputy Minister Piotr Malebszak tried to calm the mood, suggesting that drivers could find employment in passenger traffic, where transports are growing. However, for thousands of PKP Cargo staff, from drivers to terminal service, this is not a simple solution. The railwaymen stay relentless. As they say, without real action to offset competition with road transport and detention of exemptions, the freight railway in Poland will proceed to lose importance. Protests are to continue, and their determination indicates that they will not step down until they see concrete changes in the laws and policies of the state.
The situation in PKP Cargo and on Polish tracks is not only an manufacture problem, but a challenge for the full economy. The future of freight transport in Poland, its efficiency and environmental performance, depends on whether the government decides to take bold steps to equalise the chances of railways in the fight against road transport. Without this, the hazard of paralyzing supplies and further degradation of the key transport infrastructure sector will be real and the consequences will be felt by all Pole.
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Railways block Poland. Over 2,400 jobs are at risk, or are we in danger of paralyzing supplies?
