Train drivers across Poland began a protest action on Friday, September 11, concerning railway safety. In accordance with the decision of the Trade Union of Railway Drivers in Poland, from 00:00 to 12:00 trains are to pass through all railway-road crossings, regardless of their category, at a safe speed—that is, up to 20 km/h.
The action was initially scheduled to last until 23:59. ZZM nevertheless decided to shorten it following Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak’s declaration concerning the start of work on legislative changes and technical solutions intended to improve safety on Poland’s railways:
The National Council of the Trade Union of Railway Drivers in Poland, meeting this afternoon (September 10, 2026) in an extraordinary session, decided to adopt a resolution shortening tomorrow’s action in order to protect the lives and health of railway workers and passengers.
The union said that the minister’s declaration also includes the immediate launch of work on legislation concerning train drivers’ working hours:
ZZM regards these announcements as a first step toward resolving the systemic problems to which the union has been drawing attention for years.
Consequently, the ZZM National Council appealed to train drivers to operate trains through railway-road crossings at a reduced speed:
As a gesture of goodwill and out of concern for passengers, the ZZM National Council appeals to train drivers across Poland to operate trains through all railway-road crossings on September 11 from 00:00 to 12:00, regardless of their category, at a safe speed, i.e. up to 20 km/h.
Why are train drivers protesting?
ZZM is drawing attention to problems related to railway traffic safety. On September 7, the union’s National Council issued a special appeal to train drivers, pointing, among other things, to the growing number of duties performed during service:
The list of duties performed during service continues to expand. They distract the train driver, divert attention from observing the route and make safe operation more difficult.
The union also stressed that efforts to improve safety should not be limited to increasing oversight of employees:
For years, the ZZM National Council has demanded the genuine elimination of real sources of danger and the resolution of systemic problems.
The recommendations addressed to train drivers included strict compliance with instructions, regulations and procedures; carefully reviewing documentation before starting a train; and avoiding activities that divert attention from operating the train.
ZZM also drew attention to train-driver fatigue and appealed to drivers to report situations resulting from excessive work-schedule intensity to their employers.
The direct trigger for the current protest action was a tragic accident that occurred on September 9 in Sokolniki Suche near Radom. A train collided with a truck at a railway crossing there. The train derailed, and 20 of its 114 passengers were injured. One of the injured women later died in hospital.
ZZM representatives pointed out that accidents at railway crossings are a serious and recurring problem whose consequences affect drivers and passengers as well as train drivers and other railway workers.
PKP PLK Warns of Delays
Polskie Linie Kolejowe responded to the situation. In a statement issued on September 10, PKP PLK warned that the action could cause significant delays:
In connection with information published by one of the trade unions representing railway drivers, calling on drivers to pass through railway-road crossings on September 11, 2026, while operating trains, regardless of their category, at speeds of up to 20 km/h from 00:00 to 23:59, we inform you that implementing these actions may contribute to significant delays to passenger trains on September 11–12, both in local and long-distance traffic.
The infrastructure manager also warned of possible disruption to timetables:
Such actions may significantly disrupt the operation of timetables and make rail travel more difficult for hundreds of thousands of passengers.
PKP PLK appealed to passengers to monitor train timetables on the Passenger Portal on an ongoing basis.
At the same time, the company announced that it might take legal action:
As the national railway infrastructure manager, we are analyzing the situation and will consider drawing appropriate legal consequences against the entities and individuals responsible for any destabilization of the operation of Poland’s railway network.
First Delays Have Already Occurred
According to morning reports from Radio Wrocław, the protest action has already caused disruptions on the railways. At Wrocław’s main railway station, most trains were delayed by several to a dozen or so minutes in the morning, although some services were delayed considerably longer.
Radio Wrocław reported, among other things, a 181-minute delay to the “Ślązak” train running from Szczecin Główny to Przemyśl Główny. The “Asnyk” train from Warszawa Wschodnia to Wrocław Główny was 42 minutes late, the “Stryjeńska” service on the Lublin Główny–Wrocław Główny route was 41 minutes late, and the “Wawel” train from Przemyśl Główny to Berlin Lichtenberg was also 41 minutes late.
The disruptions affect more than just passengers. Slower train travel through railway-road crossings also means longer waiting times for drivers.
During the action, tickets are mutually honored between carriers, excluding Express Intercity Premium (EIP) trains.
ZZM emphasizes that shortening the protest is a gesture of goodwill toward passengers and a response to the infrastructure minister’s declarations. At the same time, the union expects the announced work to lead to specific decisions and genuine action improving safety on Poland’s railways.
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