PKP S.A., the Polish state-owned railway company, and East Japan Railway Company (JR East), one of Japan’s leading railway operators, have signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at exchanging expertise in railway system management, station development, digitalisation, and passenger services.

The document was signed on May 6 at the PKP office in Brussels by Tomasz Lachowicz, director of the PKP office in the Belgian capital, and Hideaki Kuroda, general manager of the JR East office in Paris.

The agreement aims to exchange knowledge and experience in the organization and management of the railway system, as well as to develop joint projects in areas such as energy efficiency, sustainability, infrastructure resilience, and passenger transport.

One of the key components of the cooperation relates to station management, commercial activities around stations, and the improvement of passenger services.

JR East has extensive experience in developing train stations as urban and commercial hubs, a model widely adopted in Japan, where railway stations are integrated with shopping centers, services, and urban development projects.

The memorandum also mentions potential Transit-Oriented Development projects—urban development centered around public transportation—as well as commercial initiatives that could be further detailed in separate agreements.

“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.

The cooperation also covers the area of process digitalization and the implementation of new technologies. Among the areas mentioned are IT systems, automation, and solutions based on artificial intelligence.

The two companies will also exchange expertise regarding safety, maintenance, and the management of railway assets, including the commercial development of railway land and properties.

Expert meetings, workshops, and study visits coordinated by the JR East office in Paris and the PKP representative office in Brussels will play an important role.

JR East sees this partnership as an opportunity to transfer know-how beyond the strictly technical aspects of rail transport.

“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.

He added that the partners aim to combine the strengths of Poland and Japan to develop innovative ideas and promote sustainable and attractive railway networks.

PKP and JR East say they will work together to develop new concepts and exchange best practices to improve the quality of railway services.

The partnership also includes promoting rail as a sustainable mode of transport, as well as joint initiatives to increase the attractiveness of rail transport.

The two companies will continue their collaboration within international organizations in the sector, including the International Union of Railways – UIC.

PKP’s Brussels office has been collaborating with JR East for several years, both bilaterally and within international organizations. The new memorandum formalizes this cooperation and paves the way for more concrete projects in the areas of stations, digitalization, and the development of passenger services.