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Polish PM promises funds for Kraków metro

20.08.2026 22:30
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday promised funding for a planned metro system in the southern city of Kraków, but said the city must first do its part and lay the groundwork for the project.
Donald Tusk speaks to reporters in Kraków on Thursday, alongside mayoral candidate Monika Piątkowska
Donald Tusk speaks to reporters in Kraków on Thursday, alongside mayoral candidate Monika PiątkowskaPhoto: PAP/Łukasz Gągulski

Tusk said that funds for the planned subway in Kraków would be available once the city makes the necessary preparations and obtains all required approvals.

He said the project would not be financed directly from central government funds paid by taxpayers across Poland.

"Funding will be available when everyone does their part," Tusk said at a news conference in Kraków, referring to the need to obtain all necessary permits, particularly environmental approvals, as well as complete geological studies and prepare the construction site.

Tusk said the infrastructure ministry had developed a EUR 10 billion programme to help finance metro projects in major Polish cities as part of the European Union's next budget.

He said Kraków was "definitely in first place" in the programme in terms of his government's priorities.

The prime minister said the funding would come through a combination of sources, including EU funds, loans from state institutions such as Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, and public-private partnerships, rather than directly from the central budget.

"Kraków clearly needs this metro and the money will be there when everyone does their part," Tusk said.

He acknowledged that construction would cause disruption for residents but said the finished system would bring major benefits to the city.

Tusk dismissed a recent estimate by acting Kraków Mayor Stanisław Kracik that construction might not begin until 2040 or 2045. He described Kracik as known for caution and skepticism and said the city should not be tied to such a pessimistic forecast.

"Everything that is needed to launch the investment process has to be done here," Tusk said.

Kraków's mayoral candidate Monika Piątkowska, who is backed by Tusk's Civic Coalition (KO) and the centre-right Polish People's Party (PSL), a junior government partner, said the city needed to move quickly on preparations to avoid losing access to EU funding.

Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak said on Thursday that his ministry had completed analyses on the feasibility of building metro systems in Poland's largest cities.

He said the findings would be presented in early September at the Economic Forum in the southern resort town of Karpacz.

Klimczak said the government had earmarked EUR 10 billion in the proposed EU financial framework for 2028-2034 to co-finance metro systems in Polish cities.

He said the analysis, prepared by the Warsaw-based Centre for EU Transport Projects (CUPT) at his ministry's request, covered about 10 of Poland's largest cities. Metro tunnels could also have a dual purpose and serve as shelters for civilians, he said.

Kraków's authorities announced last year that they aimed to open the city's first metro line within 10 years.

The planned system would eventually comprise two lines totaling about 29 kilometres, with an estimated cost of PLN 13 billion to PLN 15 billion (EUR 3.5 billion, USD 4 billion).

The city said in July that it had set aside PLN 188 million in its budget for work related to the metro project. It also launched a tender for preliminary design documentation, including studies and analyses needed to prepare the final construction plans.

(gs)

Source: IAR/PAP, TVP Info