Poland/Enterprises/Railways
Warsaw (Puls Biznesu) – Fewer than ten companies have recently applied to the Railway Transport Office UTK for licence to be able to use railway network. Only one of them – Koleje Mazowieckie – is interested in passenger transportation. Janusz Dyduch, the head of UTK, believes that there is nothing wrong with the small number of applicants.
‘The cargo transport market is saturated, we have issued 39 licences. Now, we should create conditions for the companies to develop. 96 percent of the market is controlled by PKP Cargo, but the new players have potential to grow 50-100 percent a year’, Janusz Dyduch explained.
First, however, the payment for the use of railway network must be lowered. The price depends on how much money railways get from the state.
‘In 2005, PLN 9 billion (EUR 2.2 billion) will be spent on roads, and PLN 74 million for railways. No comment’, UTK CEO said.
(PLN 1 = EUR 0.240)