PKP JR East cooperation formalises station work

PKP JR East cooperation has been formalised in a memorandum. It links PKP S.A., Poland’s state-owned railway company, with East Japan Railway Company. The agreement covers railway system management, station development, digitalisation, and passenger services. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

According to PKP S.A., the document was signed on May 6. The signing took place at PKP’s office in Brussels.

The signatories were Tomasz Lachowicz and Hideaki Kuroda. Lachowicz is director of the PKP office in the Belgian capital. Kuroda is general manager of JR East’s Paris office.

Under the agreement, the companies plan to share knowledge and experience. That exchange concerns the organisation and management of railway systems. Also, the cooperation may include joint work on energy efficiency and sustainability. It may also cover infrastructure resilience and passenger transport.

PKP JR East cooperation on station development

A central part of the partnership concerns railway station management. At the same time, it covers commercial activity around stations and improvements to passenger services.

JR East brings experience from Japan. There, railway stations are developed as more than transport points. They also function as urban and commercial centres. In this model, stations are linked with retail areas, service facilities, and wider urban development.

Also, the memorandum refers to possible Transit-Oriented Development projects. These are urban development projects built around public transport. In addition, Railway PRO notes that commercial initiatives could be further detailed in separate agreements.

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“Over the past decade, the Polish railway sector has seen significant positive changes in many areas, and this has also been noted by our partners outside Europe. Our cooperation with JR East has steadily intensified in recent times, allowing for a better understanding of the potential for collaboration between the two companies, as well as their experience and best practices. Our friends at JR East are among the most reliable partners in bilateral cooperation. We are pleased that this collaboration will be further deepened, to the benefit of both parties,” stated Tomasz Lachowicz, director of the PKP office in Brussels.

Digitalisation, automation, and rail assets

Separately, the cooperation covers process digitalisation and the use of new technologies. The areas named in the memorandum include IT systems, automation, and solutions using artificial intelligence.

PKP and JR East will also exchange experience in safety, maintenance, and railway asset management. This includes the commercial development of railway land and property.

Expert meetings, workshops, and study visits are expected to form part of the cooperation. JR East’s office in Paris and PKP’s Brussels representative office will coordinate these activities.

Japanese station model adapted for Poland

For JR East, the partnership is not limited to technical railway matters. The company also sees scope for sharing experience in station development, urban development, and commercial activity.

“This cooperation goes beyond railway technology and covers the full spectrum of railway operations, including station development and retail. We will fully leverage the know-how and experience in railway management, urban development, and commercial activities centered around stations that we have cultivated in Japan. Through this initiative, we aim to contribute to safety, the environment, and the creation of new value for the Polish railway,” said Hideaki Kuroda, general manager of the JR East representative office in Paris.

Hideaki Kuroda also said the partners want to combine Polish and Japanese strengths. They aim to develop innovative ideas and support sustainable, attractive railway networks.

International rail cooperation

PKP and JR East said they intend to work together on new concepts. They will also exchange best practices to improve railway service quality.

In addition, the partnership covers the promotion of rail as a sustainable form of transport. It also includes joint activities intended to make railway travel more attractive.

The companies will continue cooperating within international rail organisations. These include the International Union of Railways, UIC.

PKP’s Brussels office has worked with JR East for several years. That cooperation has taken place both directly and through international organisations. The new memorandum gives that cooperation a formal framework. It also opens the way for more specific projects in station development and digitalisation. Passenger services are also included.

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