DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES OF PASSENGER RAIL TRANSPORT IN POLAND AND CHOSEN EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES

Abstract

Transport needs arise due to spatial and temporal diversity, which is both the result of human activity and natural factors, such as geographical distribution of the population , natural resources, production factors, productive, social, scientific, cultural or recreational activities and public administration offices. The specificity of the passenger railway transport sector stems from its technological conditions, which distinguishes it from other models of transport. It explains why its transformation from a traditional rail to High Speed Rail is a huge problem in Poland and other European countries. Difficulties with the implementation of the rational organization and financing mechanisms of passenger rail at the optimum range for the society, make their implementation in Poland is far from perfect for over 20 years. This causes the negative consequences of the general social cost both for the passengers using this transport and the local government that funds it. These difficulties should not exempt from striving to implement optimal solutions from an economic point of view. Therefore, the aim of the paper is to identify the development perspectives of passenger transport in Poland and in the European Union.