Import of Rolling Stock to Poland

Abstract

The authors examined the role of rolling stock import and its elements in meeting the needs of the Polish rail market and the sources of the imported rolling stock. The time range of the research covered the years 1945-2017, but due to different economic conditions, the analysis was carried out for three periods: 1945-1989, 1990-2001 and 2002-2018. In the research, the steam locomotives were omitted, and the analysis covered electric and diesel rolling stock. Issues related to the import of technologies and components for rolling stock production in the country were also taken into account. The conditions of importing the rolling stock from abroad, the place of production of imported vehicles operated in Poland and the countries in which they were used, if they were imported as used, were indicated. Import of rolling stock in the PPR took place mainly within the frame of CMEA. A significant part of the diesel rolling stock came from import, and the electric rolling stock was largely produced in the country. Important were the purchase of licenses for the production of electric locomotives and components for its production in Western Europe. In the 1990s, the demand for rolling stock decreased significantly and this also included import. However, after the opening of the railway market in 2002, the demand for rolling stock increased and so did the imports - first used vehicles and later new rolling stock. Currently, locomotives and components for rolling stock production in the country were imported from abroad.