1804

The beginning of the steam railway era

Richard Trevithick test-runs the first steam locomotive on a route over 15 kilometers long, which was covered in 4 hours and 5 minutes.

1825

Opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in England

The first passenger train set off on a 15-kilometer route, and it was led by engineer George Stephenson. It was the first public railway line.

1830

A passenger train line between Liverpool and Manchester is launching.

This is the world's first line on which trains run according to the timetable.

1837

Railway Expansion

The first railway line in the Russian Empire, measuring 27 km, was opened. In France, trains departed on the Paris – Le Pecq route, which was intended almost exclusively for passenger transport.

1842

The first train departs on the Wrocław – Oława route.

This was the first railway line within the present borders of Poland.

1844

Enactment of the Railway Regulation Act in the United Kingdom

The law introduced, among other things, cheap tickets and trains with 3rd class carriages on every route. The railway became accessible to everyone.

1845

The beginnings of the Warsaw-Vienna Railway

The first train departs in the territory of the Russian Partition on the section from Warsaw to Grodzisk Mazowiecki – a fragment of the so-called "Viennese Railway".

1863

The opening of the world's first underground railway in London

The underground city railway system was 6 kilometers long and had 7 stations.

1869

Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad

It connected the eastern and western coasts of the United States.

1870

Work begins on the highest railway in the world in Peru

This work was carried out under the direction of the Polish engineer Ernest Malinowski. The highest point of the route: 4818 m above sea level.

1872

The train connects Mumbai with Kolkata

It was a kind of revolution and the beginning of mass mobility on the Indian subcontinent.

1879

Presentation of the first electric train at the exhibition in Berlin

It was built and presented by Werner von Siemens.

1883

The first journey of the luxury „Orient Express” from Paris to Constantinople

Its permanent train number in the European timetable, 262/263, is currently carried by one of the „Baltic Express” train pairs running between Prague Hl.N. and Gdynia Główna.

1916

Completion of the world's longest railway

Official completion of the construction of the Moscow–Vladivostok railway line, measuring 9,289 km.

1918

Construction of new railway lines after regaining independence

An intense period begins with the purchase of rolling stock and the integration of railway systems inherited from the partitioning powers. Between 1918 and 1939, 1873 km of new railway lines are built.

1919

The establishment of the Fablok factory in Chrzanów

It was the first Polish company producing steam locomotives, which three years later delivered the first assembled steam locomotive.

1921

The Kutno – Strzałkowo line has been opened.

This was the first railway line in independent Poland, which shortened travel time from Warsaw to Poznań.

1926

Polish State Railways are being established

By the decree of the President of the Republic of Poland, Ignacy Mościcki, of September 24, 1926, the Polish State Railways (PKP) were transformed into a commercial law entity.

1927

Launching Poland's first private electric railway line

It was a line from Warsaw to Grodzisk Mazowiecki, still operating today as the Warsaw Commuter Railway.

1933

Completion of the construction of the Coal Trunk Line connecting Upper Silesia with the port of Gdynia

It was the largest railway investment of the interwar period, spanning 450 km.

1933

Buying your first Luxtorpeda

PKP purchased the first high-speed motor car, and then production of such vehicles began in the country. It was one of the icons of the railway and a symbol of progress.

1936

The first electrified line Otwock – Warsaw – Pruszków opened for use

From that point on, electrification of routes in the Warsaw agglomeration continued.

1937

Polish locomotive honored in Paris

The modern Polish steam locomotive Pm36 received a gold medal at the International Exhibition „Art and Technology in Modern Life” in Paris.

1939-1945

The railway during World War II

After the outbreak of the war, the railway came under the administration of the Reich and the Soviet Union. Polish railway workers, despite threats of repression, became involved in assisting the civilian population and collaborated with the resistance movement. An example of this commitment can be seen in the railway workers from Szymankowo, who stopped a Wehrmacht train, thereby helping Polish soldiers to blow up bridges in Tczew that were important to the Germans.

1945

Reconstruction of the railway after the war

PKP took over the management of the railways in the new area of the state from the Soviet military administration, and the reconstruction of war damage began.

1946

Return of electric trains on the Warsaw to Otwock route

A year later, the great electrification of Polish railways began, which lasted until the 1990s.

1961

EN57 train production

These trains became the longest-produced series railway vehicle in the world (1961-1993) and for many years were a symbol of regional and suburban railways.

1964

The world's first high-speed railway opened in Japan

Initially, Shinkansen trains ran on the Tokyo - Osaka route at a speed of 210 km/h.

1975

Opening of the Warsaw Central Railway Station

The largest facility of its kind in Poland, a gem of modernism, and one of Warsaw's symbols. In 2025, it celebrates its 50th birthday.

1977

Completion of the Central Railway Trunk Line

The highway connecting Silesia with Warsaw was 224 km long, and the first express trains with a speed of 160 km/h traveled on it as early as the 1980s.

1979

Opening of the Metallurgical-Sulphur Line

It was a broad-gauge line, 395 km long, and was used to improve the transport of goods to and from the USSR, including supplies for the Katowice Steelworks.

1980

Employee involvement of PKP in opposition activities

The blockade of the Lublin junction in July 1980 and the hunger strike of railway workers in Wrocław are particularly noted in history.

1981

The beginning of the high-speed rail revolution in Europe

A new Paris-Lyon line has been opened in France, with TGV trains now running at speeds of 260 km/h.

1990

Initiating the transformation of railways after the fall of the Polish People's Republic

Gradual privatizations and restructurings are beginning.

1992

First Eurocity and Intercity trains in Poland

PKP, modeled after Western European railways, launched trains composed of modern UIC-Z class carriages. They operated abroad and connected Warsaw with the largest Polish cities. This set a new standard for long-distance trains.

1994

By train from Great Britain to the continent

The approximately 50 km Eurotunnel has opened, connecting London and Paris with high-speed trains.

1995

Changes in Polish railways

A law on the state-owned enterprise PKP was adopted and the restructuring process began.

1999

Great PKP reform

The Council of Ministers adopted the PKP restructuring program, and its legal framework was enshrined in the Act of September 8, 2000, on the commercialization and restructuring of the state-owned enterprise „Polish State Railways.”.

2001

PKP Group is being created

Companies responsible for: passenger and freight transport, nationwide railway infrastructure, energy, telecommunications and IT, and other areas have been spun off. PKP is becoming a joint-stock company.

2004

Development of railways through Poland's membership in the European Union

Accession to the EU influences the development and modernization of railways in Poland and their integration with the railways of the Community states. During this time, the role of local governments in planning, organizing, and financing regional passenger transport was also increased.

2006

The world's highest conventional railway

The entire Qinghai-Tibet Railway has been completed. The highest point on the route from Beijing to Lhasa is at an altitude of 5,072 meters above sea level.

2007

Speed record in France

During test runs, a new speed record for conventional trains was set. The TGV train reached 574.8 km/h.

2010-2012

Major modernization of railway stations ahead of the European Championships

56 train stations have been modernized, including those in Wrocław, Gdynia, and Warsaw East. Warsaw Central has been renovated, and the station in Poznań has been rebuilt.

By the end of 2016 alone, over 100 railway stations had been modernized or built from scratch. Station investments are ongoing, and modern stations have become symbols of the changes in Polish railways.

2013

PKP CARGO on the stock exchange floor

A company within the PKP Group, as the first railway company in Poland, debuted on the stock exchange.

2014

Pendolino trains enter domestic routes

Fast Pendolino trains have begun operating on selected routes at a maximum scheduled speed of up to 200 km/h. This has ushered in a new quality of travel with PKP Intercity.

2014

Kraków Główny Railway Station

Poland's first train station located entirely underground has been built.

2016

Opening of the world's longest railway tunnel

Opening of the 57 km long Gotthard Base Tunnel in the Swiss Alps.

2018

Enactment of the Act on the Central Communication Port

Beyond the airport, a network of new high-speed rail lines (HSR) will also be a part of it.

2020

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak as a barrier to railway development

The pandemic is causing a drastic drop in the number of passengers using trains in Poland and other countries around the world.

2022

The PKP Group is beginning its operations as a holding company

The new formula allows for better management of the resources and competencies of the individual companies within it.

2023

Polish hydrogen-powered locomotive

A hydrogen locomotive produced by PESA Bydgoszcz SA has become the first in Europe to be approved for operation.

2024

Record number of rail passengers in Poland

In 2024, 407.5 million passengers used train travel. The railway last recorded a better result in 1997.