The infrastructure manager ensures effective environmental protection when planning investments. Special monitoring covers railway lines crossing key animal migration corridors, as well as nature reserves and Natura 2000 areas.

Railway lines do not constitute a barrier for animals

During nearly a year of fieldwork, traces of the presence of 18 wild animal species were recorded, including red deer, roe deer, wild boar and foxes. Protected species were also found in the study area: wolves, otters and beavers. Thanks to camera traps, it was observed that foxes and badgers can also cross the railway track without difficulty—some of them readily travelled along railway lines.

The studies of line sections located in the northwestern part of the country show that railway tracks are not a physical obstacle for many species of large and medium-sized animals, primarily because of the low frequency of train traffic. According to studies incorporating data collected throughout Europe, railway lines, like public roads with traffic below 1,000 vehicles per day (approximately 40 vehicles per hour), do not restrict animals’ ability to move and may cause only random and incidental collisions. Such incidents do not pose a threat to populations of common species, including wild boar, roe deer and red deer.

Animal protection

Safe train operations and animals’ trouble-free movement across railway tracks are closely connected. The number of animals crossing railway lines and the number of collisions, together with knowledge of migration routes, form the basis for planning measures to minimise animal-related incidents on the railway.

Minimising interference with the natural terrain allows animals to move freely, including across railway tracks. Near the country’s main railway routes, where train traffic is more frequent, PLK uses acoustic animal protection devices: before a train passes, they emit natural warning calls of animals, reducing the risk of animals entering the path of a passing train. A total of 1,031 such devices operate along railway lines managed by PLK, securing nearly 65 km of railway lines.

Locations for installing animal protection devices are selected in cooperation with local forest districts, hunting associations and park authorities. Where justified, PLK builds underpasses and overpasses for animals and adapts engineering structures to serve these purposes. Last year, 25 crossings were built to protect large and medium-sized animals. For example, constructing six crossings for medium-sized animals on the modernised Tarnów–Dębica section cost approximately PLN 1.3 million. Since last year, small animals have been able to use a further 43 facilities, all to ensure that railway infrastructure does not hinder their movement.

Nature around the railway

In the immediate vicinity of railway lines managed by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. there are 359 Natura 2000 areas, including 264 Special Areas of Conservation and 95 Special Protection Areas for birds. Railway lines managed by PLK cross 258 Natura 2000 areas. When carrying out investments, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. makes every effort to ensure that they have the smallest possible impact on flora and fauna. Monitoring of lines in connection with investments carried out from the 2014–2020 perspective confirmed that line modernisations have no significant impact on mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds or on their migration routes.

PKP PLK/ii