Market entry<\/p>\n
RegioJet launched its single Krak\u00f3w\u2013Warsaw route on 18 September 2025 as a trial period to recruit and train staff before full operations. The company aimed to match its service standards from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary, where it operates seven-carriage trains with a seven-person crew.<\/p>\n
Entering the domestic market in 2025, RegioJet claims that Poland\u2019s state-owned operator PKP Intercity, through its parent company PKP SA, blocked marketing campaigns at stations and prevented the opening of sales points, particularly hindering access for vulnerable groups like seniors, children, and people with disabilities.<\/p>\n
PKP SA, the parent company of Poland\u2019s state railways, rejected<\/a> RegioJet\u2019s claims of obstruction, calling its withdrawal a \u201cpurely business decision\u201d. It also stated that \u201cRegioJet attempted to build its offering without providing the foundations: its own crew of drivers, technical support, and reliable analysis of the Polish market\u201d. RegioJet also failed to secure a depot in Warsaw\u2019s Praga district, which it had won in a PKP Cargo auction in August 2025. RegioJet claims it was blocked from acquiring it due to PKP SA\u2019s veto rights. PKP did not respond to this allegation specifically.<\/p>\n RegioJet also accused PKP Intercity of predatory pricing, reducing its ticket prices by up to 70% compared to before RegioJet entered the market. The company asserts that competition law prohibits such pricing when a dominant entity employs it to eliminate a new competitor. RegioJet says it entered the market offering prices around half of PKP Intercity\u2019s then-current fares and maintained this level.<\/p>\n PKP rejected the claims of predatory pricing, stating its tariff policy has remained unchanged since 2022 and is consistent with regulations and market standards.<\/p>\n PKP further denies RegioJet claims<\/p>\n RegioJet states that standard competition conditions \u2018do not exist\u2019 in Poland, despite European regulations. RegioJet says that the \u201ccurrent situation \u2013 including infrastructure blocking, sales restrictions, and predatory pricing \u2013 threatens the economic stability of the RegioJet group in the Czech Republic\u201d and therefore withdraws from the Polish market. RegioJet says it is \u201cready to return when the market is truly open and provides fair and transparent conditions for all carriers\u201d.<\/p>\n RegioJet emphasises that PKP Intercity is largely independent of competitors, as approximately 90% of its routes are subsidised. \u201cThe agreement between PKP Intercity and the Ministry is not public, although it is known that the level of subsidies increases annually,\u201d says the operator. The routes of RegioJet were not part of such Public Service Obligations (PSO) contracts. The operator says it tried to reach an agreement on compensation for statutory relief for social groups, which it has so far financed with its own funds, but after several months, no agreement has been reached.<\/p>\n PKP argued that the rail sector in Poland is competitive, \u201cwith over a dozen passenger carriers operating under market principles\u201d. It stated that attempts to blame PKP Group for RegioJet\u2019s failure were \u201cunfair to passengers and factually inaccurate\u201d. It also claimed that in crisis situations, \u201cthe PKP Group had to take the initiative, reacting immediately and correcting errors resulting from the Czech carrier\u2019s operational shortcomings\u201d.<\/p>\n Media disputes<\/p>\n RegioJet also says \u201ca clearly negative media campaign was conducted against our company, which became part of the political battle\u201d. Though it says it has decided not to comment on this situation earlier, the operator does point out several situations. This includes PKP Intercity CEO Janusz Malinowski, who publicly shared a private text message from RegioJet company owner Radim Jan\u010dura and filed reports with counterintelligence and prosecutorial authorities, which RegioJet says triggered negative publicity.<\/p>\n In the text message, the RegioJet owner warned the head of PKP Intercity that any actions hindering market entry could be considered by antitrust authorities as abuse of a dominant position aimed at eliminating a new competitor. Meanwhile, Polish public media also declined to attend the historic first run of a competing domestic long-distance service. RegioJet claims they argued that, as state media, they can only positively report on the activities of a state-owned carrier. PKP Intercity responded<\/a> to RegioJet\u2019s statement, calling it \u201cinaccurate and one-sided\u201d.<\/p>\n Train paths not allocated<\/p>\n Back in January, RegioJet also warned<\/a> of \u2018possible anti-competitive practices\u2019. The operator accused Poland\u2019s rail infrastructure manager of not assigning four key Krak\u00f3w\u2013Warsaw connections, scheduled for launch in January and mid-January, and assigning them to PKP Intercity under the guise of \u201cstrengthening its market position\u201d. PKP Intercity denied any actions aimed at restricting competition, emphasising its independence from PKP the \u00a0infrastructure manager and the market regulator.<\/p>\n The company described this as an attempt to force a new competitor out of the market, noting that PKP Intercity\u2019s trains were not fully booked at the affected times and that the move lacked economic rationale. RegioJet warned this could constitute abuse of a dominant or monopolistic position, violating EU and Polish competition law, and indicated it would submit a complaint to the Polish antitrust authority.<\/p>\n Future plans and passenger refunds<\/p>\n RegioJet will continue running its international connections, including to Poland such as Przemy\u015bl\u2013Krak\u00f3w\u2013Prague and Warsaw\u2013Prague. The company says it remains financially strong, ordering 75 new low-floor units capable of 200 km\/h in partnership with Pesa Bydgoszcz.<\/p>\n Passengers affected by the discontinued domestic services will receive a full refund by 15 April 2026, along with a PLN 100 (\u20ac23.50) compensation payment. Radim Jan\u010dura, RegioJet\u2019s owner, stated: \u201cI sincerely apologise to all passengers. I cannot continue to jeopardise the future of the company I founded at the age of 23.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more:<\/p>\n \t\t\tSubscribe to gain access to all news<\/p>\n Already have a subscription? Log in<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\tChoose your subscription<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/poland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/shutterstock_1139481116-128x128.jpg\")
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