Poland’s state long-distance operator PKP Intercity unveiled its Christmas contingency plan on 18 December 2025, promising more than 530 trains a day—almost 60 more than last year—and 415 additional carriages spread across 330 services. Flagship Pendolino EIP trains on the Kraków–Warsaw–Kołobrzeg route will run in double formation, boosting seats from roughly 350 to 700 on the busiest departures.
Management said the step was necessary after private challenger RegioJet cancelled over 1 000 Polish services because of crew shortages, leaving 250 000 seat reservations in limbo. By expanding capacity, PKP Intercity hopes to prevent travellers—many of them business expatriates flying home via Warsaw Chopin Airport—from being stranded during the peak 22 December-2 January window.
For international staff and visitors who still need to secure the right travel documents, VisaHQ can streamline the Polish visa process entirely online. Its dedicated portal for Poland (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) offers up-to-date requirements, application assistance and courier options, helping last-minute travellers breeze through paperwork so they can take full advantage of the expanded holiday rail timetable.
![PKP Intercity adds 415 extra carriages and double-length Pendolinos for holiday rush]()
Mobile information agents will be deployed at ten major stations, including Warsaw Centralna and Gdańsk Główny, to guide passengers to platforms and alternative connections. The carrier also reminded companies that the new 2025/26 timetable, in force since 14 December, has shaved up to 15 minutes off key city-pair journey times, which may affect per-diem calculations versus air travel.
While the extra capacity is welcome, corporate travel managers should note that some of the added coaches are older regional stock without power sockets or onboard Wi-Fi. Staff who need to work en route may require mobile hotspots. PKP PLK, the infrastructure manager, has cautioned that engineering works in Silesia could still trigger evening delays, so door-to-door buffers remain advisable.
For mobility teams moving talent between Polish offices—or connecting assignees to flights—the reinforced rail network offers a rare cushion of resilience at an otherwise fragile time for European transport.
Management said the step was necessary after private challenger RegioJet cancelled over 1 000 Polish services because of crew shortages, leaving 250 000 seat reservations in limbo. By expanding capacity, PKP Intercity hopes to prevent travellers—many of them business expatriates flying home via Warsaw Chopin Airport—from being stranded during the peak 22 December-2 January window.
For international staff and visitors who still need to secure the right travel documents, VisaHQ can streamline the Polish visa process entirely online. Its dedicated portal for Poland (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) offers up-to-date requirements, application assistance and courier options, helping last-minute travellers breeze through paperwork so they can take full advantage of the expanded holiday rail timetable.
Mobile information agents will be deployed at ten major stations, including Warsaw Centralna and Gdańsk Główny, to guide passengers to platforms and alternative connections. The carrier also reminded companies that the new 2025/26 timetable, in force since 14 December, has shaved up to 15 minutes off key city-pair journey times, which may affect per-diem calculations versus air travel.
While the extra capacity is welcome, corporate travel managers should note that some of the added coaches are older regional stock without power sockets or onboard Wi-Fi. Staff who need to work en route may require mobile hotspots. PKP PLK, the infrastructure manager, has cautioned that engineering works in Silesia could still trigger evening delays, so door-to-door buffers remain advisable.
For mobility teams moving talent between Polish offices—or connecting assignees to flights—the reinforced rail network offers a rare cushion of resilience at an otherwise fragile time for European transport.
