PKP hit by new compo regulations

17th December 2011

New estimates suggest that PKP Intercity has been forced to fork out approximately PLN 600,000 on passenger compensation this year.

According to TVN24, EU regulations adopted in July, which make it obligatory to pay out for late trains, have caused a large dent in profits.

The regulations, passed in 2007 and supposed to take effect in Poland in December 2009, were put back several months due to extensive cases of repairs and renovations being carried on many tracks around the country at the time.

The new ruling states that if a train is late by one to two hours, then passengers are entitled to a refund equal to 25 percent of their ticket price. If it is over two hours, this rises to 50 percent. The carrier has one month in order to pay out.

“The obligation to pay compensation to the passengers lies with the individual carrier,” says president of PKP Intercity Janusz Malinowski. “Therefore, we need to develop solutions that will allow us to cover some of these costs.”