Czech railway operator RegioJet is set to break new ground this September, launching passenger services between Krakow and Warsaw and challenging PKP Intercity’s longstanding monopoly on one of Poland’s most profitable routes, according to Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita.
The inaugural train (service number 3104) will depart from Krakow’s main station at 8:49 AM and arrive at Warsaw’s central station at 11:54 AM. While Polish Pendolino trains will still offer faster service—arriving 30 minutes earlier despite departing an hour before and after RegioJet’s service—this marks a significant entry into the competitive Polish market.
RegioJet has been strategically planning this expansion for some time. Last year, the company submitted nine applications to Poland’s market regulator UTK for commercial passenger transport licenses on Polish railways. Seven applications concerned Krakow-Gdynia-Krakow routes, while the remaining two focused on Krakow-Warsaw-Krakow and Warsaw-Gdynia-Warsaw connections.
The latest regulatory decisions grant the Czech company permission to transport passengers until 2035. However, after gaining access to specific routes, applicants must finalize agreements with infrastructure managers before submitting detailed schedule requests, according to UTK spokesperson Tomasz Frankowski.
Beyond the Krakow-Warsaw route, RegioJet has secured approval for passenger transport on numerous other connections including Krakow-Split/Rijeka, Prague-Przemyśl, Przemyśl-Hannover, Warsaw-Berlin, Warsaw-Brenner/Landeck-Zams, Warsaw-Ostence, Warsaw-Vienna, and Vienna-Przemyśl, significantly expanding their European footprint.
The Polish railway market is becoming increasingly competitive, with other operators also gaining access. LeoExpress has received approval for routes including Krakow-Prague and Warsaw-Krakow, while companies like FlixTrain and Gepard Express have secured permissions for various international connections, including Warsaw-Berlin and Prague-Vilnius routes.