UZ losses extended into the first quarter of this year, suffering a $62 million loss for Q1

, the railroad reported last week. Passenger traffic peaked at 4.5 million, which was only 63% the level of Q1 last year. Cargo rates, especially for iron, are kept below comparative rates in Poland. Although UZ belongs to the state, it paid about $208 million in land taxes and fees in Q1. Before the pandemic, UZ recorded $109 million in net profit. The collapse in passenger traffic pushed the railroad into a $435 million net loss last year. The company expects to return to a more profitable outcome later this year.