PKP Cargo wants to turn Medyka on the Polish border with Ukraine into a huge Polish hub for Eurasian traffic. It is now operating two terminals, which it is opening up for container traffic this summer. The next step is to expand to an XXL terminal with large capacity.
The terminal in Medyka was originally an iron ore terminal, but since rail transport of this commodity was suspended, PKP Cargo purchased two reachstackers so it could handle containers, said Wojciech Grzesiok, management board representative for intermodal affairs. Currently, it can handle 3-4 trains per day. “We are expecting the first trains to pass through our terminal in August or September.”
The terminal should become a gateway route via southern Poland to Germany, a beneficial alternative to the main route via Malaszewicze in many ways, the Polish rail expert says. Not only because it avoids the busy border crossing with Belarus, it avoids the congested route overall.
What are the volumes needed? Grzesiok talks about two trains daily. “Once we have a considerable number of trains running through this terminal, we will start building. We have the funds available, and also the Polish government is willing to support us. They are very interested in this border point.”