Ensuring the continuity and safety of rail traffic across the Polish-Ukrainian border, as well as joint efforts in the field of infrastructure maintenance and development – these are the main objectives of the framework agreement signed by Polish Railways and Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia). The document is the result, among other things, of last year’s visit of PLK SA’s board members to Ukraine and lays the foundation for further strengthening the partnership between the railway infrastructure managers of both countries.
The agreement was signed during the TRAKO exhibition in Gdansk by Piotr Wyborski, CEO of PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA, and Oleksandr Percowski, CEO of Ukrzaliznytsia, in the presence of board members of both companies. This is the first framework agreement of its kind, paving the way for further, more detailed agreements.
“Cooperation with Ukrainian partners today is not just a business issue, but a strategic one. Our common goal is efficient, safe and predictable train movement across the border, which supports economic development and regional integration. The basis for the development of rail transport between Ukraine and Poland is the modernization of the railway infrastructure, which must also meet the needs of military mobility,” emphasized Piotr Wyborski, CEO of PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe SA and Vice-Chairmanand the Association of European Railway Infrastructure Managers.
From declarations to concrete actions
The agreement signed today is the result of intensive work that lasted a year and is the result of the visit of the President of the Board Piotr Wyborski and the Member of the Board of PLK S.A. Maciej Kaczorek to Kyiv and Lviv in July 2024. The meeting, which lasted a year, aimed, among other things, to exchange experience in the operation of railways in wartime. At that time, the goals of the development of railway transport for the coming years were defined, in particular, improving the organization of border crossings, modernizing the sections Lublin - Dorohusk - Yagodyn - Kovel and Rzeszów - Medyka - Mostyska - Lviv, as well as planning the development of the network in accordance with EU standards.
Framework for future actions
The framework agreement covers, among other things, the principles of organizing train traffic, maintaining and operating railway infrastructure on both sides of the border, as well as agreements on technical parameters. Procedures for concluding so-called Local Railway Border Agreements (LRAs) for specific sections have also been established. These documents will regulate detailed issues, from timetables and equipment operating rules to personnel requirements and the possibility of placing infrastructure elements of one partner on the territory of another country.
The agreement signed today not only confirms the existing cooperation, but also provides a starting point for further actions - from concluding an International Economic Cooperation Agreement (IECA) to implementing joint cross-border investments. This will ensure that the railway remains a safe and efficient mode of transport connecting Poland and Ukraine in difficult times and in the context of post-war reconstruction.
Further international agreements
The agreement with Ukrzaliznytsia is the first of the international agreements PLK SA concluded during this year's TRAKO exhibition event. Tomorrow, a cooperation agreement on data exchange with the Lithuanian infrastructure operator LTG Infra is scheduled to be signed. Both documents are in line with the strategy of PLK SA to strengthen international cooperation and develop the railway network.