Nearly PLN 26 billion has been earmarked for the development of Poland’s transport sector under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (KPO). According to the Centre for EU Transport Projects (CUPT), which acts as the implementing body, all funds allocated to projects supported by the KPO are expected to be used and settled effectively.
Poland is also expected to receive more than PLN 120 billion in EU funding in the next financial perspective, although decisions on how those resources will be distributed have not yet been made.
“At this point, the Centre for EU Transport Projects has already contracted nearly 100% of the funds available under KPO-supported initiatives,” Joanna Lech, Director of CUPT, told Newseria. “CUPT has more than PLN 25 billion available for transport projects, and according to our forecasts, all of these funds will be allocated and effectively settled through the projects currently being implemented.”
The National Recovery and Resilience Plan includes reforms and investments launched after February 1, 2020, which are scheduled to be completed by August 31, 2026. The funding comes from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, part of the European recovery plan.
Poland signed two agreements with the European Commission covering both grants and loans. Repayment of the loan component is expected to continue until no later than 2058.
“Some projects, in line with the adopted assumptions and with the approval of the European Commission, will be implemented slightly beyond August 31, 2026,” Lech said. “However, we do not expect any funds to be lost from the projects under our supervision. CUPT currently manages 176 support agreements.”
The largest recipient of KPO funding is PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe, which has received more than PLN 11 billion for projects expected to be completed in line with their planned schedules.
Rail Infrastructure Receives the Largest Share
PKP PLK is carrying out 41 projects financed through the KPO. The programme includes the modernisation of dozens of rail-road crossings and around 500 kilometres of railway lines. New and upgraded infrastructure includes tunnels, viaducts, passing loops and other rail facilities.
“A major beneficiary of KPO funding is PKP PLK,” Lech said. “These are not as long-term as investments financed under the FEnIKS programme, but we have a major project involving railway line No. 104. It is a challenge, and we are keeping our fingers crossed for PKP PLK to meet the deadline, but at present everything appears to be progressing according to plan.”
One of the country’s largest rail investments supported by the KPO is the Podłęże–Piekiełko project, which received PLN 3.5 billion in funding. The investment includes the modernisation and electrification of the existing Chabówka–Nowy Sącz railway line, known as line No. 104, as well as the construction of a new route linking Podłęże with Tymbark and Mszana Dolna.
Electric Buses, Trams and New Rolling Stock
KPO-backed transport projects also include investments in public transport. Local governments have received support for zero-emission and low-emission buses used in regional and municipal transport.
“Projects involving zero-emission and low-emission buses have received funding, and local authorities are implementing them successfully,” Lech said. “Most have completed tenders on schedule, and these buses are already operating in Polish cities.”
So far, 610 new zero-emission buses have been delivered across Poland. In addition, 120 new trams are set to serve residents of Bydgoszcz, Kraków, Poznań and Wrocław.
KPO funds have also supported tram investments and rail rolling stock, both for regional services and PKP Intercity.
The “Passenger Rail Rolling Stock” programme includes the purchase of 77 new zero-emission regional trains, as well as the purchase and modernisation of 304 long-distance vehicles. These include 56 new locomotives and the modernisation of 248 passenger coaches.
PLN 3.04 billion has been allocated to regional rolling stock, while PLN 2.16 billion has been assigned to long-distance trains. So far, 247 long-distance vehicles have already been delivered, including 56 locomotives and 191 coaches.
Roads, Ports and Offshore Energy
CUPT is also financing projects carried out by Poland’s General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways. These include the removal of dangerous road sections and the construction of city bypasses intended to improve travel safety.
“We are also funding investments carried out by GDDKiA, including the elimination of dangerous locations and the construction of bypasses, which directly improve traveller safety,” Lech said.
Another important area involves infrastructure supporting offshore wind development. The largest project is being carried out by Baltic Hub in Gdańsk, where port infrastructure is being prepared to support offshore investments. Similar projects are underway in Łeba and Ustka.
One KPO-supported project is Baltic Power, Poland’s first offshore wind farm. The project is being developed around 23 kilometres off the Baltic coast, near Łeba and Choczewo. Its annual electricity production is expected to cover around 3% of Poland’s national demand, supplying power to more than 1.5 million households.
Baltic Power has received PLN 3.5 billion in KPO support.
Strong Demand for Intermodal Transport Funding
Intermodal transport projects have also attracted strong interest from businesses. These investments are aimed at improving the efficiency of freight transport by developing terminal infrastructure and purchasing specialised rolling stock.
“We had nearly PLN 800 million available to support companies operating in the intermodal sector, but interest significantly exceeded the available budget,” Lech said.
The projects include support for the construction and expansion of intermodal terminals, the purchase of handling equipment and the acquisition of rolling stock used in intermodal freight transport.
The aim is to improve the quality of terminal infrastructure and increase the share of intermodal transport in freight movements across Poland.
Drone Centres and Future Mobility
Another KPO-supported investment is being carried out by the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency. The project focuses on developing competence centres and infrastructure designed to support the future use of drones.
“These centres will make it possible to test different solutions that allow drones to be used for practical purposes,” Lech said. “They will mainly support local government units that want to test drones for applications such as agricultural spraying or area monitoring.”
The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency is implementing a project focused on the expansion and equipment of competence centres, specialist training facilities, implementation support, monitoring centres and infrastructure for managing the unmanned vehicle industry as part of an innovation ecosystem.
EU funding for the project exceeds PLN 173 million.
Next EU Budget Still Undecided
The next EU financial perspective remains uncertain. Work is currently under way at the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, while CUPT is expected to become involved at a later stage.
“We know that Poland should receive more than PLN 120 billion in EU funds, but no decisions have yet been made on how the money will be distributed between individual programmes or policy areas,” Lech said.
Transport is expected to remain an important priority, particularly projects linked to rail, public transport and environmentally friendly urban mobility.
“We can see strong interest from the European Commission in green investments, including rail projects as well as investments in cities and municipalities that support public transport,” Lech added.
Poland’s transport sector is therefore likely to remain one of the main beneficiaries of EU funding, with rail, low-emission mobility, logistics infrastructure and offshore energy-related projects expected to play a major role in the country’s investment plans.
