On May 6, a memorandum of cooperation was signed at the PKP S.A. Representative Office in Brussels between PKP S.A. and the Japanese railway operator Japan Railway East. The agreement provides for the development of the partnership and the strengthening of strategic cooperation between the two companies in the railway sector.
The document was signed by Tomasz Lachowicz, Director of the PKP Representative Office in Brussels, and Hideaki Kuroda, General Manager of the JR East Representative Office in Paris. The memorandum provides for the continuation and expansion of cooperation between the companies in the exchange of knowledge and experience related to the organization and management of railway systems.
The partners intend to cooperate in areas such as energy efficiency, sustainable development, railway infrastructure resilience and the development of passenger transport. The agreement also covers station management, retail activity and customer service.
“Over the past decade, the Polish railway sector has undergone far-reaching positive changes in many areas, which are also being noticed by our non-European partners. Our cooperation with JR East has recently been steadily intensifying, allowing us to better understand the potential of cooperation between the two companies and to learn from each other’s experience and best practices,” said Tomasz Lachowicz, Director of PKP’s Brussels Office.
He added that JR East is one of PKP’s most reliable partners in bilateral cooperation. “We are pleased that this cooperation will be further deepened for the benefit of both sides,” Lachowicz said.
The agreement also covers cooperation in the digitalization of processes and the implementation of new technologies, including IT systems, automation and solutions based on artificial intelligence. Another important area will be the exchange of experience in safety, maintenance and railway asset management, including the commercial development of land and real estate.
An important element of the partnership will be the strengthening of expert dialogue through meetings, workshops and study visits coordinated by the JR East Office in Paris and the PKP S.A. Representative Office in Brussels.
“This cooperation goes beyond railway technology and covers a comprehensive range of railway operations, including station development and retail. We will make full use of the know-how and experience in railway management, urban development and station-focused commercial activities that we have cultivated in Japan,” said Hideaki Kuroda, General Manager of the JR East Representative Office in Paris.
He added that JR East aims to contribute to safety, environmental protection and the creation of new value for railways in Poland. “We are working to combine the strengths of Poland and Japan in order to create innovative ideas. Going forward, we will continue to promote the development of sustainable and attractive railway networks, with the aim of providing valuable services to both local communities and passengers,” Kuroda said.
Both sides declare that they will work together on developing new concepts and exchanging best practices to improve the quality of railway services. The cooperation may also include Transit Oriented Development projects and retail projects, which could be implemented in the future under separate agreements.
A key goal of the partnership will also be to promote rail as a sustainable mode of transport and to launch joint initiatives aimed at increasing the attractiveness of railway transport. The cooperation is also expected to support the strengthening of the global role of rail, including through activities within the International Union of Railways, UIC, and other railway sector organizations.
The PKP Representative Office in Brussels has been working closely with Japan Railway East for many years, both within international organizations and through bilateral cooperation. These activities have resulted in numerous meetings and joint initiatives with Japanese partners aimed at supporting the development of modern railway transport.
