Opole 2024-10-02

PolRegio Opole.

History of the carrier PolRegio.

PolRegio is the largest Polish rail carrier. The largest in terms of the number of passengers transported on local routes. The company operates in the legal form of a joint-stock company. The company was established on October 1, 2001. At that time, the company adopted the name PKP Przewozy Regionalne. The establishment of the new carrier was related to the division of PKP (Polish State Railways) into smaller companies. PolRegio has the following shareholders; Industrial Development Agency (majority stake) and 16 Local Governments. The company’s headquarters is located in Warsaw; address 01-217 Warsaw Kolejowa Street 1. In 2022, the company employed 6,637 employees. The company has been profitable every year (since 2016). In 2016, the net profit amounted to PLN 51 million.

In the period 2001-2009, the company was called PKP Przewozy Regionalne. In the period from December 8, 2009 to 2020, the company was called Przewozy Regionalne. Since 2020, the company’s name is PolRegio.

The company is focused on passenger transport on agglomeration and regional lines, constantly increasing the transport offer and improving travel comfort by introducing new rolling stock, which is manufactured in Poland, mainly in the PESA Bydgoszcz and NEWAG Nowy Sącz factories.

The company tried to provide transport on long-distance routes, competing with InterCity. On December 1, 2008, PolRegio’s inter-provincial express trains were taken over by InterCity. PolRegio also organizes occasional transport related to mass events, colonies and camps, as well as on individual orders from business entities. Passenger transport for mass events turned out to be a great loss for the carrier. There were demolished carriages; broken windows, damaged upholstery and electrical installations. Not to mention the general dirt and stench.

Until 2009, the transport offer was decreasing. In the Silesian Voivodeship alone, 58 train connections were eliminated, and in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, 45 trains were eliminated. The situation was even worse in voivodeships with a small population, where the reduction in the number of connections was small, but in percentage terms it reached 70-80% of connections. For example, in the Podlaskie Voivodeship.

Initially, the carrier employed around 16,400 employees. In 2012, the number of employees decreased to 11,800 people. In 2019, the company employed 6,500 employees. Since then, the number of employees has been increasing, because the company has been systematically increasing the transport offer.

In November 2009, a new company logo was introduced. On January 1, 2014, 14 company branches and a Rolling Stock Repair Plant based in Kruszewiec were established. On December 8, 2016, Przewozy Regionalne presented elements of the new visual identification; logo and company colors. In 2016, the company recorded a positive financial result for the first time. The profit amounted to PLN 51 million. On January 23, 2020, the company’s name was changed to PolRegio.

In 2010, the company launched online ticket sales. Tickets are also sold on the KOLEO portal. A major revolution in passenger service was the introduction of ticket machines. These machines are installed at railway stations and on trains.

Currently (2022), PolRegio runs 1,700 (winter season) – 1,900 (summer season) trains every day, which are used by 230,000 – 280,000 passengers. PolRegio’s share in the passenger rail transport market is over 26%, followed by Koleje Mazowieckie 20.65%, the Tri-City SKM 14.54%, and PKP InterCity 13.12%. However, InterCity has the highest passenger transport rate per kilometer. Almost 72 million passengers use POLREGIO services during the year. POLREGIO trains stop at over 1,900 stations and railway stops.

Company mission; “The largest passenger rail carrier of first choice, which reaches large and small towns in all regions of the country, providing comfortable and safe transport. We exist so that our Passengers can move efficiently and safely every day regardless of where they live.”

Opole Province.

POLREGIO S.A. – Opole Plant in Opole. Address: Krakowska 48, 45-075 Opole. Carrier’s motto: We build good railway, we build good relations. The cooperation of the Opole Province with PolRegio dates back to December 9, 2015. The agreement was concluded for a period of 5 years and was extended. In the Opole Province, the company uses EZT and SZT.

The carrier uses EZT type NEWAG Impuls 36WEa, which have three cars. The train has 176 seats. Weight over 110,000 kg. Number of entrance doors 1-1-1. Axle arrangement Bo’2’2’Bo’. Drive is four 4 x 400 kW traction motors. Maximum speed 160 km/h. The trains have air conditioning, the ability to carry bicycles, 230 V sockets, Wi-Fi access, Closed toilet system.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman