RegioJet has entered the Polish market with its first service between Kraków and Warsaw, stepping into competition with PKP Intercity.
With several dozen passengers on board, the private rail operator’s inaugural train departed on Friday on the route linking Kraków and Warsaw. For the Czech company, this marks an important entry into what has so far been a heavily protected market.
“We see the first journeys as the best possible marketing – a way for travellers in Poland to get to know us. Our biggest competitor is the Polish Pendolino. From December, once we begin full operations, we’ll be running at the same speed – but at half the price and with better service on board,” explained company founder Radim Jančura. RegioJet plans to connect Poland’s two largest cities every two hours.
The operator also intends to provide a boost to the labour market. “The Polish market is very closed. We are the first serious competitor to PKP Intercity. Between Kraków and Warsaw we’re offering tickets from 49 złoty. At the same time, we want to attract new drivers and skilled staff – with wages significantly higher than those at PKP,” said RegioJet CEO Renata Stanislavová.
The inaugural train left Kraków’s main station at 08:49, stopping at Zawiercie as well as three stations in Warsaw (Zachodnia, Centralna and Wschodnia), arriving at 12:21. The return service departs at 14:33.
As on its Czech routes, RegioJet in Poland offers four classes – Business, Relax, Standard and Low Cost – along with a wide range of food and drinks. Passengers can enjoy free coffee, while sweet snacks such as curd, poppy seed or apple cake are available for just two złoty. Newly added to the menu are Polish specialities including gołąbki – cabbage rolls filled with minced meat and rice.
In the long term, RegioJet has ambitious plans: future services are expected to link Warsaw with Gdańsk and Gdynia, Poznań, as well as Prague and Vienna.
