Polish rail company PKP Intercity is celebrating its 25th anniversary. And how better to mark this special event by launching vintage-style train rides during the summer season ?
Poland state rail operator PKP is indeed proposing a series of journeys along picturesque routes in restored 1980s trains to celebrate its anniversary and allow passengers to “discover new regions of the country at a leisurely pace”.
The special retro train service is called “Nieśpieszny”. This translates as “Unhurried.” The nostalgic concept invites passengers not only to slow down but to enjoy a rail journey inspired by travel during the 1980s, in the last years of communist Poland.
The train will feature restored historic locomotives and vintage-style passenger carriages, many retaining their original interiors from the communist-era rail network.
Travelers can also experience a period-style dining offering in a traditional WARS restaurant car. The onboard menu will include dishes typical of the era, such as żurek sour rye soup as well as bread served with lard and pickled cucumber. All served by PKP staff dressed in historic liveries.
The “Nieśpieszny” weekend-only service will begin operating on 17 April. While the final timetable and routes have yet to be released, the operator says the service will run more than 40 trips across Poland. Tickets are going to be on sale later this month.
Excellent year 2025
In the meantime, PKP Intercity can look back at an excellent year 2025. Last year marked indeed a milestone for Polish rails, with 89.2 million passengers carried across its network. That represented a 14% increase compared to 2024 and a 31% jump from 2023 figures.
On an average day in 2025, around 244,000 passengers used the operator’s long-distance services. August proved to be the busiest month of the year, when 9.4 million travelers boarded its trains. According to the company, the growth reflects a broader resurgence in rail travel as more travelers choose trains for domestic journeys.
PKP Intercity expects to carry a record 96 million passengers in 2026 as rail travel across the country continues its strong growth.The long-distance operator said demand is climbing steadily, building on a record performance last year. “The strong results are linked to the expansion of services and a steady rise in passenger demand,” the company said in a statement.
Polish lawmakers have also declared 2026 the “Year of Polish Rail,” highlighting major investments aimed at modernizing existing lines and restoring previously closed connections across the national network.
