Links Between Railways and Industry in Poland in the Second Decade of the 21st century

Abstract

The purpose of study was to analyse the role of rail transport in the use of industrial plants in Poland and functioning of industrial branches doing business for the benefit of the railways. The analysis was divided into sectors of the economy that have been separated on the basis of the main group of goods transported by rail between the individual industrial plants within the sector. The connection of industrial plants to the rail network was examined. It was assessed taking into account also industrial railways, railway sidings and freight rail operators. It has identified more than 1.5 thousand railway sidings users and more than 30 industrial rail networks. The sectorial structure of siding users was presented with the structure of goods rail freight services. Moreover it defined the term “industrial rail carrier”, of which over 40 were identified on the Polish railway market. Also important are manufacturing and service companies supporting railways. The identified “railway sector” included about 400 enterprises of different branches, including the railway industry, infrastructure managers and carrier operators.