Poland braces for record-breaking long weekend as sunshine draws holiday crowds

A spell of summer sunshine and an extra day off are turning this weekend into what could be the busiest holiday time of the season, with Poles heading for local and European destinations — and paying a premium for the privilege.

A high-speed PKP Intercity train gliding along the rails of northern Poland.

Photo: Petr Štefek, CC BY-SA 3.0 CZ , via Wikimedia Commons

This year the calendar has been particularly kind to holidaymakers, offering an occasion into a four-day mini-break.

Poland’s state railway operator PKP has also geared up for the travel rush.

Double sets of the high-speed Pendolino trains will be put into service, along with additional carriages on popular summer routes, spokesman Mateusz Gutowski told public broadcaster Polish Radio.

"Between August 13 and 18, PKP will extend 44 trains, adding a total of over 182 carriages," Gutowski said.

"Most of the extra capacity will be deployed on popular routes to the seaside as well as the mountains, including trains bound for Zakopane and Kraków," he added.

Michał Owczarek has this report.

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