Employees of PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. oversee the proper condition of the tracks. 180 rapid-response teams have been designated to work in winter conditions. There are 280 snow-clearing machines available, including ploughs, snow blowers and snow removal trains.
As many as 66 PKP Energetyka network trains, adapted to de-ice the overhead contact network, may participate in winter operations. More than 4,000 km of overhead contact network on the main routes are to be protected with an anti-icing agent. Almost 20,000 turnouts have been equipped with electric heating systems to ensure that they remain operational during snowfall.
Cleaning companies are responsible for maintaining railway facilities in winter, including footbridges and platforms. Their duties include snow removal and ice clearing. The frequency of these activities is adjusted to weather conditions.
– Several thousand people may participate in the winter operation conducted by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. We monitor weather conditions so that teams of employees and snow-clearing equipment can keep the lines operational as effectively as possible. Ongoing cooperation with carriers makes it easier to organise travel in the event of possible traffic restrictions. In difficult situations, we activate crisis-management teams – said Mirosław Skubiszyński, Vice-President of the Management Board of PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.
PLK S.A.’s winter maintenance covers platforms, footbridges and pedestrian access routes, more than 18,000 km of lines, nearly 25,000 bridges and viaducts, and more than 13,000 level crossings.
Reserve carriages and regular rolling-stock inspections
PKP Intercity has prepared its entire rolling stock and stabling stations for operation in winter conditions. A new, fully automated and environmentally friendly car wash operates in Warsaw; in winter, it will ensure efficient preparation of vehicles for journeys and speed up cleaning.
– Rail travel in Poland is experiencing a genuine renaissance. This year, we have already carried 50 million passengers, a record in the company’s 20-year history. We expect traffic during the winter period, especially around Christmas and New Year and during the school holidays, not to decline, which represents a major challenge for us. In winter, we will be prepared for every possible scenario – said Jarosław Oniszczuk, member of the PKP Intercity Management Board.
From the beginning of September to 21 November 2022, inspections were carried out on all vehicles operated by the company. As part of the preparations for winter, inspections were conducted and inventories of components and spare parts were verified; these are intended to eliminate potential rolling-stock faults as quickly as possible.
Stations open around the clock
During the winter period, when temperatures fall below -10°C, all stations that are open around the clock will not be closed for the overnight technical break. In the event of a significant drop in temperature or extraordinary circumstances, PKP S.A. may decide to keep the remaining stations open around the clock.
The Customer Support Centre operates seven days a week, 24 hours a day. It provides travellers with support at every stage of their journey. Centre employees cooperate with passenger-train crews, update passenger announcements made on trains, at stations and on platforms, and supervise journeys by people with disabilities. In the event of disruptions, the CSC participates in organising replacement transport.