Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna

Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna, commonly known as PKM and translated as Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway, is a Polish railway infrastructure company associated with the metropolitan rail network serving Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot and surrounding parts of Pomeranian Voivodeship. The company owns the principal railway infrastructure of the PKM route, while scheduled passenger operations are provided by Polregio rather than by PKM itself. Its network links the urban area with Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport and provides connections toward Gdynia, Kartuzy and Kościerzyna through interfaces with lines owned by Polish State Railways. The company's creation in 2010 followed feasibility work undertaken between 2005 and 2009 to restore a railway corridor between Gdańsk Wrzeszcz and Gdańsk Osowa. The project revived a route whose earlier railway had been built between 1911 and 1914 but was destroyed during the final stages of the Second World War. For decades afterward, the airport area and several suburban districts lacked a direct rail connection with central Gdańsk. The modern PKM project was initially associated with preparations for UEFA Euro 2012, although construction and commissioning took place later. Construction began in 2013. The investment included a largely double-track railway, a connecting single-track section, passenger stations, a technical and repair facility, a traffic-control centre, numerous rail and road structures, and modern signalling and train-control equipment. The construction contract was awarded to a Budimex and Ferrovial consortium. The line was ceremonially opened on 31 August 2015, and scheduled passenger service began on 1 September. The original route created a new rail link between Gdańsk Wrzeszcz, the airport and Gdańsk Osowa, while later service patterns connected the PKM infrastructure with Gdańsk Główny, Gdynia Główna, Kartuzy and Kościerzyna. PKM expanded its regional role soon after opening. Services reached Kartuzy in October 2015, and two stations in Gdynia, Gdynia Karwiny and Gdynia Stadion, opened in December 2017. European Union funding supported electrification of the main line and construction of Gdańsk Firoga station, which opened in 2022. Electrification works carried out between 2021 and 2023 enabled electric multiple-unit trains to enter scheduled service in June 2023, replacing the previous reliance on diesel multiple units such as Pesa Atribo trains. Passenger services continue to be operated by Polregio, using rolling stock appropriate to the electrified network. The company has also participated in restoring the railway route between Kartuzy and Gdańsk through the Kartuzy bypass, or bajpas kartuski. Preparatory work began in 2019, construction agreements were concluded in 2020, and the first train traversed the revitalized route in November 2023. Regular passenger service began in March 2024. A further proposed development, PKM Południe, would extend metropolitan rail coverage southward from Gdańsk. A feasibility study was prepared in 2020, design-related contracting took place later, and a decision to proceed was reported in March 2025. The planned branch is described as approximately 7.5 kilometres long, subject to implementation and funding arrangements. PKM is therefore best understood as a public-interest railway infrastructure and development brand rather than a conventional train operating company. Its positioning rests on metropolitan connectivity, airport access, regional integration, the reuse and modernization of historic rail corridors, and the shift from diesel to electric rail transport.

The modern Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway grew out of efforts to restore rail service to areas west of central Gdańsk and to connect Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport with the Tricity urban system. The historical railway between Gdańsk Wrzeszcz and the Kokoszki area had been built between 1911 and 1914. It was deliberately destroyed in 1945 during the fighting around Danzig, after which substantial parts of the route disappeared and the corridor remained without regular railway service for many years. When the airport opened in 1974, public transport access was initially provided by buses rather than rail. Feasibility studies for a reconstructed airport railway were conducted from 2005 to 2009. PKM was established on 1 June 2010, with the original ambition of delivering the project in connection with preparations for UEFA Euro 2012. The scheme was subsequently developed as a major regional infrastructure investment. Construction started in January 2013 in the Matarnia and Kokoszki areas. Early works included clearing the route and removing buildings that obstructed the planned alignment. The main construction contract was awarded to a Budimex–Ferrovial consortium in 2013. The investment comprised a double-track railway between Gdańsk Wrzeszcz and Gdańsk Osowa, a single-track connection toward the railway serving Gdynia Port, eight passenger stations in the principal construction package, a technical and repair facility, a traffic-control centre, rail and road viaducts, overpasses, crossings and an ERTMS-related control system. Track laying began in late 2013, station names were finalized in 2014, and Pesa was selected as the rolling-stock supplier after an earlier attempt to reach an agreement with Newag failed. Testing included draisine movements, structural load tests and higher-speed trials using Alstom Traxx locomotives loaned by Lotos Kolej. The railway was ceremonially inaugurated on 31 August 2015. Scheduled passenger traffic began the following day. PKM infrastructure quickly became part of a wider operating pattern rather than a self-contained shuttle. Services connected with lines leading toward Gdańsk Główny, Gdynia Główna, Kartuzy and Kościerzyna. Passenger operations were assigned to Polregio, while PKM retained its central role as infrastructure owner and project developer. The network expanded in stages. Kartuzy was added to the service pattern in October 2015. In Gdynia, the Karwiny and Stadion stations opened in December 2017. In 2018, European Union support was secured for electrification and for Gdańsk Firoga station, which opened in December 2022. The electrification program was constructed from 2021 onward; overhead equipment was installed in 2022, test running with electric multiple units began that year, and the works were completed in May 2023. Electric trains entered scheduled passenger service in June 2023, marking a significant technical change from the diesel multiple units used during the network's first years. Another major development was the Kartuzy bypass, a project intended to rebuild a railway route toward Gdańsk through Stara Piła and improve the regional connection. Preparatory work began in 2019. Contracting and approvals continued through 2020–2022, the first train traversed the renewed track in November 2023, and regular passenger service commenced in March 2024. PKM's next major proposed expansion is PKM Południe, a southern branch intended to improve rail access to additional Gdańsk districts. The concept was examined in a 2020 feasibility study. Design and procurement steps followed, and in March 2025 the project received a decision to proceed. The planned route is described as approximately 7.5 kilometres long. Its implementation remains dependent on the completion of design, financing and construction processes. Across these stages, PKM has evolved from a single reconstruction project into a regional rail-infrastructure platform. Its public-facing value is based on airport access, suburban mobility, integration of separate railway corridors and the gradual electrification of passenger transport in the Pomeranian metropolitan region.

• 2025

  PKM Południe approved to proceed

  [1]Pomeranian Metropolitan Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  The proposed southern branch received a decision to proceed, with a reported planned length of approximately 7.5 kilometres.

• 2024

  Kartuzy bypass enters passenger service

  [1]Pomeranian Metropolitan Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  Regular passenger traffic began on the revitalized Kartuzy bypass route on 11 March.

• 2023

  Electrification completed

  [1]Pomeranian Metropolitan Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  Electrification work concluded in May, and electric multiple-unit trains began scheduled service in June.

• 2022

  Gdańsk Firoga station opens

  [1]Pomeranian Metropolitan Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  Gdańsk Firoga became a new station on the PKM system as the electrification and network-enhancement program progressed.

• 2017

  Two Gdynia stations open

  [1]Pomeranian Metropolitan Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  Gdynia Karwiny and Gdynia Stadion stations opened on 8 December.

• 2015

  Passenger operations commence

  [1]Pomeranian Metropolitan Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  The reconstructed railway opened ceremonially on 31 August and began scheduled passenger service on 1 September.

• 2013

  Main-line construction begins

  [1]Pomeranian Metropolitan Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the modern PKM railway formally began, including route clearance, structures, stations and track infrastructure.

• 2010

  PKM established

  [1]Pomeranian Metropolitan Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  The Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway company was founded on 1 June to develop the reconstructed metropolitan railway link.

• 1945

  Historic line destroyed

  [1]Pomeranian Metropolitan Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  The original railway was intentionally destroyed during the Second World War and was not restored as a regular railway for decades.

• 1914

  Original railway corridor completed

  [1]Pomeranian Metropolitan Railwayen.wikipedia.org

  The historic railway between the Gdańsk Wrzeszcz and Kokoszki areas was completed after construction carried out from 1911 to 1914.

A regional public-transport infrastructure brand focused on integrating the Tricity metropolitan area with its airport and surrounding towns through modern, electrified railway infrastructure.

• Commuter rail infrastructure · 2015

  Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway main line

  The core PKM infrastructure connects Gdańsk Wrzeszcz with Gdańsk Osowa through the airport area and western districts of the Tricity region. It includes multiple stations, railway structures, control systems and connections with neighbouring national railway routes. The line is owned and developed by PKM, while passenger trains are operated by Polregio.

• Airport transportation · 2015

  Airport rail connection

  The airport-serving section provides rail access to Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport and integrates the airport with Gdańsk and Gdynia through connecting services. It is one of the defining functions of the PKM network and a principal reason for reconstructing the historic railway corridor.

• Regional rail infrastructure · 2024

  Kartuzy bypass

  The Kartuzy bypass is a reconstructed railway connection intended to improve the route between Kartuzy and Gdańsk through Stara Piła. Construction and approval work took place over several years, with the first train using the renewed track in 2023 and regular passenger service beginning in 2024.

• Planned metropolitan rail expansion

  PKM Południe

  PKM Południe is a proposed southern branch of the metropolitan railway network. It was examined in a feasibility study and later advanced through design and procurement activity. The planned branch is described as approximately 7.5 kilometres long and is intended to extend rail access to additional southern districts of Gdańsk.

• 2020

  Develop the PKM Południe expansion conceptStrategy

  Background

  Further metropolitan growth created demand for additional rail coverage south of the existing PKM corridor.

  Action taken

  PKM advanced feasibility and later design and procurement work for a proposed southern branch.

  Aftermath

  The project received a decision to proceed in March 2025, although construction and completion remain future activities.

  Expected project cost. PLN 2.3 billion (2025 expected cost)

  Source

• 2018

  Electrify the PKM main lineStrategy

  Background

  The network initially relied on diesel multiple units and required a technical transition to electric operation.

  Action taken

  PKM secured European Union support for electrification and a related station project, then proceeded with construction and overhead-line installation.

  Aftermath

  Electrification was completed in 2023, allowing electric multiple units to enter scheduled passenger service.

  European Union funding. PLN 62 million (2018)

  Source

• 2013

  Proceed with construction of the metropolitan railwayStrategy

  Background

  Feasibility work had identified the reconstruction of the Gdańsk Wrzeszcz–Gdańsk Osowa corridor as a way to connect the airport and western metropolitan districts with the urban railway system.

  Action taken

  PKM advanced the main infrastructure project and contracted a Budimex–Ferrovial consortium to build the railway, stations, structures and control systems.

  Aftermath

  The reconstructed line opened in 2015 and became the foundation of the wider PKM regional network.

  Source

1. 1Pomeranian Metropolitan Railwayen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Pomorska Kolej Metropolitalna official websitepkm-sa.pl