In his recent interview with Rzeczpospolita, Malepszak emphasized the importance of not hindering carriers eager to operate in Poland, indicating a significant shift towards a more competitive and efficient rail system.
Malepszak underscored the urgency of introducing competition in the long-distance rail sector. "Competition in long-distance transportation should appear quickly. We should not block carriers who want to travel in Poland," Malepszak stated. He expressed his belief that allowing commercial operators access to long-distance transportation is essential, and showed confidence in PKP Intercity, the Polish state-owned carrier, to hold its own against foreign competitors. "I believe that a well-managed PKP Intercity will be able to compete with foreign carriers," he added.
Malepszak highlighted the European regulatory timeline, which mandates the opening of the market by 2030, and opined that preparations for this opening should commence much sooner. He also stressed the need for PKP Intercity to improve efficiency, suggesting more trains should run in the commercial system to boost effectiveness.
Reflecting on PKP Intercity's recent successes, Malepszak noted, "Good work has been done at PKP Intercity in increasing passenger numbers, mainly through new sales systems and attractive ticket prices." He further emphasized the need for grassroots efforts to maximize rolling stock usage and increase train numbers. "We have a problem of rolling stock availability to solve, because more than 40 percent of its wagons are not working and not earning," he explained, addressing the challenges facing the sector.
Source: PAP, Rzeczpospolita