koleje

Koleje is the Polish word for railways, and it is commonly used to refer to the rail transport system in Poland as well as the organizations and companies that operate it. In Poland, the railway network comprises tracks, stations, signaling, and rolling stock. The infrastructure is largely owned and maintained by PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe, the railway infrastructure manager. Passenger services are delivered by several organizations, including PKP Intercity for long-distance travel and a number of regional operators known by the prefix Koleje, such as Koleje Mazowieckie, Koleje Śląskie, and Koleje Dolnośląskie, which run regional and suburban services under contract with the state or local authorities. Freight transport is primarily handled by PKP Cargo and other private freight operators.

Historically, railways arrived in the mid-19th century and expanded across the territory that is now Poland, with development continuing through the interwar period and into the postwar era. The system was nationalized after World War II and underwent restructuring in the 1990s and 2000s, including the separation of infrastructure management from train operation, franchising of regional services, and modernization programs aimed at increasing reliability, safety, and electrification.

Today, Koleje play a central role in Poland’s transport network, linking major cities with regional centers and supporting freight movement across the European Core Network. The term also appears in the names of many regional railways, reflecting the decentralized structure of passenger rail services across the country.