Poland tests 250 km/h train speeds for planned cuts to intercity journey times
Regular passenger trains are expected to reach such speeds in late 2027.
Polish engineers have successfully tested a train capable of reaching speeds of 250 km/h (157 mph) as part of efforts to reduce travel times between major cities. The test, conducted on the Central Main Line connecting Warsaw and Kraków, marks the beginning of plans to increase train speeds to up to 320 km/h in the future. Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak stated that this is just the start, anticipating even higher speeds in the future.
The planned reduction of journey time between Warsaw and Kraków from over two hours to just under two hours will also make the trip from Warsaw to Wrocław, the country's third largest city, around three hours shorter. The high-speed trains currently in use in Poland can reach a maximum speed of 200 km/h, but the new tests demonstrate the potential for much faster service.
Poland has been operating Pendolino trains since 2014, which are specifically designed to handle high-speed travel. The tests, which involved testing the GSM-R data transmission system at very high speeds, were completed successfully on Monday night. The state railway infrastructure manager, Maciej Kaczorek, emphasized the importance of reaching the target speed of 250 km/h as a significant milestone for Polish rail.
Written by urgent.news from Notes from Poland's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
