Additional almost seven billion zlotys in compensation for PKP Intercity – these are the assumptions of the draft government resolution, which were published in the list of legislative works of the Council of Ministers. As reported, the existing financial resources for 2024-2030 secured under the framework agreement are “insufficient” to carry out the planned transport.
This concerns the assumptions of the draft resolution amending the resolution on the financing of interprovincial and international passenger transport in rail transport.
More money for the railways – government plans
It was explained that the financial resources secured under the framework agreement for the provision of public services in the field of interprovincial and international rail passenger transport, concluded between the Minister of Infrastructure and PKP Intercity SA on December 31, 2020, “are insufficient” for the years 2024-2030 to “implement the transport offer planned on the basis of the regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of December 4, 2020.” on the plan for the sustainable development of public collective transport in inter-provincial and international passenger transport and in provincial passenger transport in rail transport.
It was noted that the work on the currently applicable framework agreement carried out in 2020 was based on the then available macroeconomic forecasts published by the National Bank of Poland and Ministry of Finance.
“Due to current macroeconomic indicators, the 2020 estimates turned out to be too optimistic and do not correspond to the current demand for compensation,” it explained, adding that the difficult economic situation, inflation and energy shock caused by the pandemic and war in Ukraine caused that the current estimated amount of compensation under the framework agreement “does not cover the total deficit generated by inter-provincial and international rail passenger transport operated on the basis of public collective transport”.
The assumptions of the draft resolution indicate that “it is necessary to update the framework agreement by increasing the compensation due to PKP Intercity SA for the provision of rail passenger transport in the years 2024–2030 by the amount of PLN 6,815,268 thousand.” It was also added that the amount of the increase for 2024 is PLN 603 million and will be released from the special purpose reserve of the state budget to finance the tasks of the railway sector based on the arrangements between the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Finance of October 12, 2023.
PLN 7 billion in compensation for PKP Intercity
It was explained that the draft resolution assumes an increase in the compensation for the implementation of rail passenger transport due to PKP Intercity SA under the framework agreement, from the amount of PLN 21,091,224 thousand. PLN to the amount of PLN 29,212,778 thousand. PLN, i.e. by PLN 8,121,554 thousand. zloty. “The increase amount, i.e. PLN 8,121,554 thousand, includes amounts paid and guaranteed for payment in the years 2021–2023 in the amount of PLN 1,306,286 thousand. While the requested amount of additional financial resources for the years 2024–2030 is PLN 6,815 PLN 268,000 assuming that additional funds for 2024 amount to PLN 603 million,” it was indicated.
It was emphasized that increasing the co-financing of inter-provincial and international rail passenger transport in the years 2024-2030 will allow maintaining and improving the transport accessibility of regions by ensuring and developing a network of long-distance railway connections connecting all regions of the country, as well as minimizing transport exclusion in rail transport.
“Annex No. 2 to the framework agreement provided for in the draft resolution, under which an increase in compensation is planned, will guarantee passengers the stability of the transport offer in the field of inter-provincial and international rail passenger transport and improve the quality of transport services provided with new and modernized rolling stock,” it was assured, adding that additional funds guarantee the implementation of investment projects.
It was reported that the planned date of adoption of the project by the Council of Ministers is the fourth quarter of 2023.
Main photo source: Shutterstock