A powerful winter storm that swept across Poland late on 30 December caused some of the most serious transport disruption the country has seen in years. By the evening rush hour, heavy, wind-driven snow had brought the S7 expressway between Warsaw and Gdańsk to a stand-still when articulated lorries were unable to climb two long gradients near Ostróda. Police confirmed that the resulting tailback exceeded 20 km and left hundreds of motorists trapped overnight in sub-zero temperatures. Local authorities, assisted by firefighters and volunteers, distributed hot drinks and blankets until snow-ploughs finally cleared the route shortly after dawn on New Year’s Eve.
The impact rippled far beyond the motorway. State news agency PAP reported that 16 long-distance PKP Intercity trains were running more than an hour late on Wednesday morning, while regional operators Koleje Mazowieckie and SKM Trójmiasto cancelled dozens of commuter services as points and overhead lines iced up. Poland’s two busiest airports also struggled: Warsaw-Chopin kept one runway open but imposed flow restrictions while ground crews de-iced aircraft; Modlin, the capital’s low-cost hub, suspended operations for six hours, forcing Ryanair and Wizz Air to divert or cancel outbound rotations.
For business travellers the timing could not be worse, coinciding with the end-of-year holidays and the traditional start of mid-January assignment moves. Mobility managers moving staff into or out of Poland should expect onward delays across the wider CEE rail and road network for at least 48 hours, as the weather system moves east toward Belarus and Ukraine. Logistics firms are advising shippers to route time-critical consignments via the A2/A1 motorway spine or through Czech territory until ploughs fully reopen the S7.
![Heavy snow paralyses Poland’s S7 corridor and triggers nationwide travel delays]()
Travellers who suddenly need to amend itineraries, extend Schengen stays or arrange emergency travel documents can turn to VisaHQ’s online portal for fast, fully digital visa services and up-to-date entry guidance; more details are available at https://www.visahq.com/poland/.
The storm is also an early test of Poland’s upgraded national traffic-management centre, launched in November to provide real-time data to trucking companies and municipal authorities. While initial reports suggest the platform functioned as intended, some hauliers complained of slow updates once congestion exceeded 10 km. The infrastructure ministry says it will review the incident and may fast-track additional roadside weather sensors on key export corridors.
Practically, employers with internationally mobile staff should: 1) authorise remote work for travellers unable to reach worksites; 2) remind employees that Polish labour law allows “force-majeure leave” of two paid days per year for unforeseen family or transport emergencies; and 3) encourage use of the EU-wide 112 emergency number, which now includes an English-language option in all Polish voivodeships.
The impact rippled far beyond the motorway. State news agency PAP reported that 16 long-distance PKP Intercity trains were running more than an hour late on Wednesday morning, while regional operators Koleje Mazowieckie and SKM Trójmiasto cancelled dozens of commuter services as points and overhead lines iced up. Poland’s two busiest airports also struggled: Warsaw-Chopin kept one runway open but imposed flow restrictions while ground crews de-iced aircraft; Modlin, the capital’s low-cost hub, suspended operations for six hours, forcing Ryanair and Wizz Air to divert or cancel outbound rotations.
For business travellers the timing could not be worse, coinciding with the end-of-year holidays and the traditional start of mid-January assignment moves. Mobility managers moving staff into or out of Poland should expect onward delays across the wider CEE rail and road network for at least 48 hours, as the weather system moves east toward Belarus and Ukraine. Logistics firms are advising shippers to route time-critical consignments via the A2/A1 motorway spine or through Czech territory until ploughs fully reopen the S7.
Travellers who suddenly need to amend itineraries, extend Schengen stays or arrange emergency travel documents can turn to VisaHQ’s online portal for fast, fully digital visa services and up-to-date entry guidance; more details are available at https://www.visahq.com/poland/.
The storm is also an early test of Poland’s upgraded national traffic-management centre, launched in November to provide real-time data to trucking companies and municipal authorities. While initial reports suggest the platform functioned as intended, some hauliers complained of slow updates once congestion exceeded 10 km. The infrastructure ministry says it will review the incident and may fast-track additional roadside weather sensors on key export corridors.
Practically, employers with internationally mobile staff should: 1) authorise remote work for travellers unable to reach worksites; 2) remind employees that Polish labour law allows “force-majeure leave” of two paid days per year for unforeseen family or transport emergencies; and 3) encourage use of the EU-wide 112 emergency number, which now includes an English-language option in all Polish voivodeships.
