Outlook on the Decarbonization of Non-Electrified Passenger Railway Connections in Poland

The decarbonization of regional passenger rail transport is one of the key challenges for the sustainable transformation of the transport sector in Poland. While railway transportation remains one of the least carbon-intensive modes of transport, significant emission disparities persist between electrified and non-electrified lines, where diesel traction is still prevalent. This article presents a comparative analysis of various propulsion technologies—diesel, hybrid, battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell—taking into account both local (TTW) and total (WTW) greenhouse gas emissions. The study incorporates Poland’s current energy mix and proposes a methodological framework to assess emissions at the line level. It highlights the risks of focusing exclusively on in situ zero-emission technologies and calls for a more flexible, efficiency-based approach to fleet modernization. The analysis demonstrates that hybrid and optimized combustion-based systems can provide substantial emission reductions in the short term, especially in rural and transitional regions. The paper also critically discusses transport funding policies, pointing to discrepancies between incentives for private electric mobility and the lack of support for public transport solutions that could effectively counter mobility exclusion. The presented methodology and conclusions provide a basis for further research on transport decarbonization strategies tailored to national and regional contexts.