A change of menu

PKP Intercity, the long-distance passenger rail operator of the PKP (Polish State Railways) group, has called a tender for a three-year contract to provide catering services on 97 dining cars. These services are currently provided by caterer Wars. The winner of the tender will need to invest a minimum of zł.2 million in the improvement of the wagons' appearance.

This is the latest element of PKP Intercity's customer service to undergo a major shake-up. In recent years, the company has set up an exclusive "VIP zone" waiting area for first-class passengers at Warsaw Central station and has begun offering tickets over the internet. Now, it plans to modernize its dining-car services, which under the stewardship of Wars, have enjoyed a reputation for being stuck in a bygone era.

"We want the company that wins the tender to take care of the aesthetic appearance of the wagons, not just  the food," said Adrianna Chibowska, press spokesperson for PKP Intercity. "We want [the wagons] to be in keeping with PKP Intercity's image of a forward-looking, modernizing company."

Wars, which is 50-percent owned by PKP Intercity, is participating in the tender, and Lot Catering is also known to be interested. The fact that PKP Intercity is the controlling shareholder in Wars, and has recently stated its interest in buying up the remaining Wars shares, does not mean that Wars will have any advantage in the tender, said Adrianna Chibowska.

"It won't have any influence on our decision. We want catering services to be subject to market conditions," she said.

With increasing competition for domestic journeys from airlines, the importance of improving both service and image cannot be underestimated for PKP.

Brendan Melck