Faster by Train to Poland - More Connections Planned - Germany and Poland strike deal to upgrade cross-border train connections

Germany and Poland have agreed to boost rail links between the two countries. The deal, signed in Warsaw, aims to cut travel times and add more passenger and freight services. Officials say the move will also strengthen Europe's transport network for defence purposes.

Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder and his Polish counterpart, Dariusz Klimczak, finalised the agreement on Tuesday. The plan focuses on key routes, including Warsaw–Berlin, Kraków–Wrocław–Zielona Góra–Berlin, Gdańsk–Szczecin–Berlin, and Przemyśl–Kraków–Wrocław–Leipzig. Currently, a trip from Leipzig to Kraków takes seven and a half hours, but both sides want to reduce this.

An analysis will now examine potential high-speed rail projects along three major corridors. These include Warsaw–Poznań–Berlin, Warsaw–Wrocław–Leipzig–Frankfurt am Main, and Warsaw–Wrocław–Prague–Munich. The goal is to identify where faster services could be introduced.

The deal does not specify how many extra trains will run each week. However, both countries have committed to expanding connections and improving efficiency on existing lines.

The agreement marks a step toward faster and more frequent rail travel between Germany and Poland. Shorter journey times and increased capacity are expected to benefit both passengers and freight operators. The changes will also support broader European transport and security objectives.