Hitachi Rail, in partnership with DP System, has secured a significant contract to modernize the signalling infrastructure on railway line 8, which connects Warsaw to Radom. Valued at PLN eighty-five million (approximately €twenty million), this ambitious project is set for completion by December 2027 and promises to transform rail travel on this vital route.
Central to this modernization is Hitachi Rail’s cutting-edge European Rail Traffic Management System Level 2, which combines the European Train Control System with the GSM-R communication network and incorporates sophisticated IT technologies.
The combination ensures seamless, continuous communication between trains, tracks, and control centers, enabling real-time monitoring and adjustment of train speeds based on actual track conditions and events.
This technology offers several critical benefits. First, it allows trains to safely operate at shorter intervals, significantly increasing the line’s capacity. For passengers, this translates into greater convenience, reduced wait times, and enhanced comfort. Freight operations will also see improvements in efficiency, supporting smoother cargo movement. Moreover, cities along the route — including Radom, Warka, and Piaseczno — will enjoy more reliable and faster connections to Warsaw, bolstering regional mobility and economic activity.
A key feature of the upgrade is the installation of two Radio Block Centres (RBCs), which form the backbone of the ETCS Level 2 system. These RBCs will be housed within Local Control Stations (LCS) located in Okęcie, Warsaw, and Radom. Through these control centers, train movements will be closely supervised, ensuring safety and operational precision. Hitachi Rail brings extensive expertise to this project, with nearly 1,500 kilometers of Polish railway lines already equipped with its advanced ETCS Level 2 signalling technology.
Poland’s Strategic Importance to Hitachi Rail
Poland represents a vital market for Hitachi Rail’s digital signalling solutions. The company is currently implementing both ETCS Level 1 and Level 2 systems across the country, while also serving as the exclusive provider of the ETCS Limited Supervision system. This advanced technology, created in partnership with leading Polish organizations such as the Association of Engineers and Technicians of Communication of the Republic of Poland, Warsaw University of Technology, and the Railway Institute, enhances safety by automatically monitoring train movements and delivering accurate data directly to drivers.
Currently operational on the Poznań to Wągrowiec line, the ETCS Limited Supervision system is gradually replacing legacy signalling technologies dating back to the mid-twentieth century. Its adoption signals a major leap forward in railway safety standards and operational reliability across the Polish rail network.
Expanding Local Control Infrastructure
In 2024, Hitachi Rail commissioned ten new Local Control Stations responsible for traffic safety over more than 512 kilometers of railways in Poland. To date, the company has built a total of 24 such facilities nationwide. Among them is the highly sophisticated Local Control Station in Białystok, which remotely manages approximately 70 kilometers of track between Czyżew and Białystok. This station exemplifies the cutting-edge precision and efficiency that Hitachi Rail brings to railway traffic management.
Through these developments, Hitachi Rail continues to support Poland’s efforts to modernize its railway infrastructure, enhance safety, and increase operational capacity. The Warsaw-Radom project exemplifies the company’s commitment to delivering innovative, reliable, and future-ready signalling technologies that meet the evolving demands of both passenger and freight transportation.
“Poland is one of the key markets in Europe for Hitachi. Our ambition is to continue our growth and actively participate in the creation of a modern, reliable, digital and sustainable railway here. We are ready to support the Polish market with high-quality solutions for the entire railway ecosystem – from traffic control and signalling systems, together with effective cyber protection, and traction power supply and energy systems, to modern rolling stock,” said Paweł Przyżycki, CEO of Hitachi Rail Poland.
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