en.Wedoany.com Reported - Poland's intermodal rail freight market set a new transport volume record in the first quarter of 2026, with nearly 790,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of cargo transported via rail intermodal services. Intermodal transport accounted for 19.2% of Poland's total rail freight volume, the highest level in history.
This data was released by logistics company Rohlig SUUS Logistics. The company stated that the record share indicates continued strong demand for road-rail combined transport solutions in domestic and international supply chains, with intermodal transport playing an increasingly critical role in Poland's freight network. The company also noted that sustained investment in rail infrastructure and terminal handling capacity is essential to maintain this growth momentum.
The core of the intermodal model lies in keeping cargo within the same loading unit throughout the entire supply chain, utilizing rail only for the long-haul segment. This approach reduces emissions, enhances supply chain resilience, and provides logistics operators with a more flexible alternative amid rising road transport costs, fuel price volatility, and driver shortages.
The expansion of Polish ports has further amplified the demand for efficient rail connections. The Port of Gdańsk continues to enhance its container handling capacity, while investments in a new container terminal in Świnoujście are also progressing. These ports serve not only the domestic market but also clients in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Ukraine.
Beyond port-related transport, Poland's intermodal rail freight is also expanding on long-haul corridors to Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Benelux countries, and the United Kingdom. Rohlig SUUS Logistics stated that these routes offer significant environmental benefits, with services to Italy, for example, reducing carbon emissions by more than 80% compared to road transport.
Despite notable progress, the company believes that the pace of infrastructure development still needs to accelerate. Poland currently has more than 40 intermodal terminals, ranking seventh in Europe in total number, but only eighteenth in network density. Continued investment in strategic hubs such as Małaszewicze and Sławków, along with railway modernization projects, is seen as key to enhancing capacity, eliminating bottlenecks, and improving network performance.
Łukasz Rother, Intermodal Product Manager at Rohlig SUUS Logistics, stated that sustained infrastructure investment will help Poland leverage its geographical advantages and consolidate its long-term position in Europe's freight and logistics network.
