The aim is to improve connectivity in areas along railway routes where mobile coverage is weak, particularly in less urbanised locations, according to Joanna Siecińska, a member of the operator’s management board responsible for finance and business development.
Satellite internet is intended to complement, not replace, services provided by mobile network operators, Siecińska said.
Previous tests showed that satellite internet provided "a very good connection" for 55 percent of journey time, compared with 18 percent for GSM operators, she added.
PKP Intercity tested Starlink on Stadler Flirt trains in February last year and on Pendolino trains in August.
In August this year, it also tested OneWeb, a satellite service operated by Eutelsat. Siecińska said results across the tests were "very positive."
If the passenger pilot succeeds, satellite receivers will be installed on Pendolino trains during major overhauls in 2028–2029. The operator is currently planning satellite internet for Pendolino and, in the future, other high-speed trains.
Wi-Fi access is also expanding across the existing fleet. Since 2023, the number of carriages equipped with Wi-Fi has increased by 525. Internet access is now available in 70 percent of carriages and all electric multiple-unit trains, according to Siecińska.
PKP Intercity is also developing its mobile app, which is used by around 6 million passengers. New features include travel reminders, notifications about connections and journey completion, and improved delay information.
PKP Intercity is working on allowing passengers to select their seats graphically for domestic journeys involving transfers.
The option is currently available only for direct journeys, while seats on connecting services are assigned automatically. The company hopes to introduce the feature before the end of the year.
Another planned feature is self-check-in on Pendolino trains, allowing passengers who have checked in through the app to avoid having their tickets checked by a conductor.
The operator is developing a new Central Sales System (CSS) to unify and modernise ticket sales across channels.
It is expected to make it easier to combine discounts and offers, buy tickets for journeys involving transfers or international travel, and change ticket details after purchase.
PKP Intercity is also digitising internal processes, including timetable planning and rolling-stock management and maintenance.
(sp/gs)
Source: PAP