Protest of railwaymen across Poland. Why are railway workers getting nervous? See where you will encounter difficulties and what protestors demand.
Why the protest? Main reasons for the demonstration
In days 28-30 July 2025 a year in Poland there is an organized protest of railway operators, including roadblocks in 13 cities. The Railway Engineers' Professional Union with the support of OPZZ decided to take this step in response to the increasing problems of the railway sector, in particular the mass redundancies in PKP Cargo, the country's largest freight carrier. Last year, the company left until 3,665 employees. Trade unionists are alerting that this and the following year the situation may get worse – further redundancies are planned, a total of more than 2,000 people.
Main slogans of the protest:
- Saving jobs in the railway industry
- Reversing the trend to promote road transport at the expense of railways
- Strategic investments and ecology
How and where do the railwaymen protest?
The protest action involves blocking key routes and crossings in hours 10:00 to 14:00. Demonstrations shall take place, inter alia, in:
- Warsaw (Maryvilska Street 39)
- Czechowice-Heirds (DK1)
- Dąbrowa Górnicza (Piłsudski Avenue 117)
- Vasilks (DK19)
- Bydgoszcz (Stone Street)
- Poznań (Theodorus Raben Roundabout)
- Tarnowskie Góry, Brzesk, Żory, Łazach, Guardians, Guardians of Cologne, Rock
Blockages are conducted as announced from Monday to Wednesday, during peak hours, which means considerable difficulties for both drivers and passengers using collective communication.
List of main locations of the protest:
| City | Lock site |
|---|---|
| Warsaw | Marivilska 39 |
| Czechowice-Herdzice | DK1 from Copernicus Street |
| Dabrowa Górnicza | Al. Piłsudski 117 |
| Bydgoszcz | Kamienna |
| Poznań – Gądki | Rondo Th. Raben, Warehouse Street |
| Tarnowskie Mountains | Zagórska 70 |
| … | … |
Why now? Railway vs. truck – arguments and examples
Unioners don't dress up in words: "One train can carry as many as a hundred tires and yet road transport is promoted!" – says Leszek Miętek, President of the Railway Engineers' Professional Union. Protesters indicate, for example, road investments: more and more construction materials, steel or aggregates instead of wagons, are loaded onto trucks. At the same time, there is a public debate on ecology – and here too railway carriers have their arguments: railways are more economical and much less harmful to the environment than the growing fleet of TIRs on Polish roads.
What are the railroadmen fighting for? Postulates and Perspectives
In short, protesters demand:
- Renegotiation of state policy on rail transport,
- Provide real and long-term support for the Cargo Railway Station,
- Investments in modern rolling stock and infrastructure,
- Security of employment and respect for the competences of workers in the sector.
The Minister of Infrastructure reassures that the ministry shares many of these demands and plans new investments and the purchase of rolling stock. In addition, PKP Intercity and other regional carriers may partially take over the drivers being released after appropriate training.
Although the ongoing protest is causing tangible difficulties for drivers and urban residents, it is also an important warning signal for decision-makers.
