Massive Train Disruptions Hit Lublin Over Easter Weekend

On Saturday, April 19, 2025, a series of unfortunate events caused significant disruptions to train services across several regions in Poland, particularly affecting travelers heading to Lublin. The chaos stemmed from a derailment, a defect in an Electric Multiple Unit (EZT), and a critical failure of railway traffic control devices, leading to delays and cancellations that left thousands of passengers stranded.

The first major incident occurred shortly after 14:20 at Kielce Herbskie station, where a network train derailed, halting all train traffic for approximately two hours. During this time, trains were rerouted via connector 568 Szczukowice – Sitkówka Nowiny. By 17:00, train traffic was restored, but passengers were still warned of potential delays of around 15 minutes.

Simultaneously, another issue arose in Krakow, where a Polregio train traveling from Kraków Główny to Bielsko-Biała Główna experienced a defect. This required assistance from another unit to tow the damaged vehicle, resulting in the closure of one track between the Main Station and Kraków Płaszów. Passengers were forced to continue their journey on a different train, facing a staggering delay of over 130 minutes.

The most severe situation unfolded around 16:00 in Lublin, where a failure of railway traffic control devices rendered the station impassable for over six hours. Technical services quickly responded to the issue, working diligently to restore order. However, the failure caused massive disruptions, leading to multi-hour delays for many trains. PKP Intercity announced the cancellation of several trains, including:

• IC No. 5222 REJEWSKI from Bydgoszcz Główna to Lublin Główny, canceled on the Puławy – Lublin Główny section.


• IC No. 2524 KOCHANOWSKI from Lublin Główny to Bydgoszcz Główny, canceled on the Lublin Główny – Puławy section.

Substitute bus services were arranged for the affected sections. By 17:45, PKP Intercity and Koleje Mazowieckie agreed to mutual ticket recognition across the entire area of Koleje Mazowieckie operations, providing some relief to stranded passengers.

As the evening progressed, the situation remained dire. Passengers traveling to destinations such as Warsaw, Piła, Wrocław, Łuków, Rzeszów, and Zamość faced significant delays. Reports indicated that trains were delayed by:

• IC 38104 NOTEĆ from Rzeszów Główny to Piła Główna: 270 minutes


• PR 22847 from Dęblin to Lublin Główny: 250 minutes


• IC 83102 ZAMOYSKI from Kołobrzeg to Rzeszów Główny: 235 minutes


• PR 22423 from Lublin Główny to Zamość Wschód: 230 minutes


• PR 22808 from Lublin Główny to Łuków: 230 minutes


• IC 26102 ŁEMPICKA from Lublin Główny to Wrocław Główny: 215 minutes


• PR 22875 from Łuków to Lublin Główny: 175 minutes


• IC 27100 WARTA from Lublin Główny to Poznań Główny: 175 minutes


• IC 1221 BYSTRZYCA from Warszawa Zachodnia to Lublin Główny: 160 minutes


• IC 21105 CZECHOWICZ from Lublin Główny to Warszawa Wschodnia: 150 minutes


• PR 22916 from Lublin Główny to Parczew Kolejowa: 120 minutes

As the clock struck 21:20, PKP PLK announced on the X portal that the passage through the Lublin station had finally been restored. However, the damage had already been done, with passengers experiencing over six hours of impassability. The technical services had worked tirelessly to resolve the issue, and by Sunday morning, April 20, 2025, train traffic at the Lublin station returned to normal.

Despite the restoration of services, the aftermath of the disruptions left many travelers frustrated. Reports surfaced of passengers stuck in trains for hours, some even halted in fields or at local stops. Many were en route for the Easter holiday, and the delays led to panic as travelers began contacting family members to arrange alternative transportation.

For instance, one passenger, Michał, shared his experience: “We’ve already been delayed for two hours. Currently, no one can tell us how much longer we’ll be waiting. It’s important to note that the train is nearly full; everyone is heading home for the holidays.” As a gesture of goodwill, train staff offered stranded passengers a candy bar and a bottle of water during the lengthy wait.

In light of these events, PKP Intercity confirmed that some trains would be canceled and that passengers on the IC Rejewski and IC Kochanowski trains would need to transfer to buses. Other regional connections also faced delays, with services from Lublin to Łuków and Zamość standing still for over two hours.

As the dust settles from this chaotic weekend, the railway authorities will undoubtedly be reviewing their protocols to prevent such extensive disruptions in the future. Travelers are left hoping for a smoother experience as they embark on their journeys in the days to come.