PKP INTERCITY COMPETITIVENESS PROGRAMME

The project will finance PKP Intercity's investments for the acquisition of locomotives, passenger coaches and Electric Multiple Units (EMUs), as well as the modernisation of rolling stock for passenger connections throughout Poland.

The project is expected to increase the quality of rail services provided in Poland as well as promote travel by rail, reducing the use of private vehicles and the associated negative impacts on the local environment, road safety and GHG emissions and, thereby, contribute to the sustainable transport in line with EU objectives. The project is largerly located in a convergence zone and by facilitating access promotes regional development.

The investments proposed under the project do not fall under either Annex I or Annex II of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (EIA) 2011/92/EU as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU as manufacturing and use of rail rolling stock is not included in either list. The need of EIA and/or assessment according to the Habitats Directive for associated facilities (e.g. maintenance workshops or depots) will be analysed during the appraisal. All else equal, the project is expected to have a positive environmental impact by helping the railways to maintain modal share in key sections of the passenger market that are most appropriately met by rail. In addition, the arrangements for the scrapping of the replaced stock will be checked during appraisal.

The EIB will require PKP to make sure contracts for the implementation of the project have been tendered according to the relevant applicable EU procurement legislation (Directive 2014/25/EU and Directive 92/13/EEC) as interpreted by the EU Court of Justice, to be pubilshed in the EU Official Journal, as and where required.