PCC Intermodal celebrates 20th anniversary: “Intermodal is a very tough nut to crack”

PCC Intermodal, the leading intermodal operator in Poland, is celebrating its twentieth anniversary. The company’s success was far from guaranteed when it launched its first train in 2005. Two decades later, however, intermodal is a proven recipe, evidenced by PCC Intermodal’s growth.
Anno 2025, the European rail freight sector is going through a difficult time. Volume declines in traditionally strong segments, such as coal, are hurting operators. In many cases, some of the economic pain is offset by the rise of intermodal transportation. No one doubts its viability.

That was very different twenty years ago, explains PCC Intermodal. “In 2005, when we started our first intermodal operations, our main communication task was to explain what intermodal means, how it works, what is the added value, et cetera. We were explaining that in the cities, locally to society and authorities, teachers and students, entrepreneurs, producers and government.”

PCC Intermodal’s first-ever train

During the past two decades, much has changed in that regard. “Now we do not have to explain what we do. Everyone understands the model or idea of intermodal business, many approve and cheer on intermodal operations. There are EU funds that help in the development of terminals and operations”, says PCC Intermodal.

The operator’s first train was a test, purely to see if intermodal operations are a workable idea in Poland. It ran from Brzeg Dolny to the VGN terminal in Świnoujście, was pulled by an old Soviet BR232 diesel locomotive and carried containers from P&O Nedlloyd. The first shippers to express interest in the new connection were the chemical plants of PCC Rokita and Cargill, says PCC Intermodal.

The test train aimed to answer some key questions about intermodal operations. Is the risk of investing reasonable? Does the model have a stable future? In the absence of adequate terminal infrastructure, the market was very challenging. Much progress has been made in that regard, however. PCC Intermodal now operates five of its own terminals in central and southern Poland and on the German border. It also services many more partner terminals in Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Present-day challenges

PCC Intermodal has overcome many challenges, but other challenges still remain, also in 2025. “That time – 20 years ago – we understood we need to walk to any corner with an educational programme on why it is worth investing in intermodal, explaining why this can be the future for rail. Now, even when everybody understands, we still are treated like a part of rail with no powerful formal representatives in the Infrastructure Ministry, fighting for smart ways of regulations for intermodal growth.”

The company hopes that officials will understand intermodal as an alternative for long distance road transportation, and not just as a sub-category of rail. “The landscape of intermodal has changed dramatically in the last two decades – there are many fully modernised and well-facilitated terminals, more and more players on the market, trying their adventures with intermodal, and a lot of good examples where our terminals are shown as a good example Europe-wide.” Yet, there is still a lot to do in the formal administration and governmental fields, PCC Intermodal says, so that the full potential of intermodal in and through Poland can be used.

Determination and faith

“Intermodal is a very tough nut to crack”, summarises PCC Intermodal. “I think the success in our case stands behind our determination and faith that we can do it. We have chosen our way of doing intermodal, we travel with containers like passenger trains travel with people. For that idea we have drawn the whole plan and step by step put it into operations, constructing a network that is available for everyone, as well for small clients as for huge flows of containers.”

With two decades of experience, the company is looking into the future. It wants to build upon the existing foundation of daily operations in Poland, 14 rotations to Rotterdam per week, daily trains to and from Ukraine, among others. Following market demand, the company says that it is ready to develop its network further, adding daily connections to more countries.

First in line is to complete the development of services between Poland and Italy. PCC Intermodal is also preparing two more investments: one in the terminal in Ropczyce in southeastern Poland, and another in the Intermodal Container Yard in Pomerania along the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor.