Poland
General train travel information for POLAND. Rail travel tours, accommodation, sightseeing.
Brief History
Poland's passenger railway system has a rich history dating back to the 19th century. The first railway line was established in 1842, connecting Upper Silesia with the Prussian border. After regaining independence in 1918, Poland expanded its railway network, connecting various regions and modernizing the system. The interwar period saw electrification, station renovations, and the introduction of new rolling stock. World War II brought significant damage, but post-war reconstruction efforts restored the railways. Today, Poland continues to invest in its passenger railway system, expanding and upgrading to meet the growing transportation needs of its population.
General Information and Statistics
PKP Intercity – the leader of Polish railroads. In 2022, the Polish national operator PKP Intercity carried 59 million passengers.
The polish railways network consists of around 18,510 kilometres of track(2019). There are more than 500 railway stations in Poland. From each of them you can get to both Polish and European destinations.
11,998 km is electrified (65% In 2019).
What connections to other countries there are.
There are frequent train services to all neighbouring countries including the Czechia (and on to Austria and Slovakia and Hungary), Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia, Ukraine.
Are trains fast in Poland in general? How much time to cross the country?
InterCity trains, with their impressive speed of 300 kph (186 mph), are the fastest and most comfortable way to travel between over 30 vibrant cities, including Berlin, Paris, Bern, Vienna, Amsterdam, and Brussels. The journey from Gdańsk to Kraków takes 09:59 hours and from Szczecin to Chełm 3:50 hours.
What railway companies are available?
Until 2000, the monopoly on the rail transport market was held by Polskie Koleje Państwowe Polish State Railways (PKP). As a result of 3 reforms in 2000-2001 several companies were founded at the national and regional levels. The most significant of them are Intercity PKP and Przewozy Regionalne. Several large companies operate on the regional market, including Dolnośląskie (Lower Silesian), Mazowieckie (Mazovian) and Śląskie (Silesian) railroads. Freight transport is managed by PKP Cargo SA.
Also in the country operates German railway carrier Deutsche Bahn, in cooperation with PKP Intercity, which provides routes from Polish cities to Berlin, and Czech carrier České dráhy (Czech Railways), with which you can easily get to Prague.
What train types are available in Poland
Trains are divided into categories: EuroNight (EN), EuroCity (EC), Express InterCity (EIC), Express InterCity Premium (EIP) - usually faster and more expensive, InterCity (IC) and (TLK) (interregional fast trains, slower than EN/EC/EIC, but cheaper) and international fast trains.
Are there high-speed-trains available?
Yes, the Polish rail system has excellent high-speed train connections. Hundreds of kilometers can be covered in just a couple of hours, as the configuration of Polish and European railroads allows trains to reach speeds of up to 250 km/h.
Most important train stations / hubs.
The main railway hubs in Warsaw, Gdansk, Krakow.
Websites to buy train tickets for Poland?
https://www.intercity.pl/en , https://www.polrail.com/en
Mobile apps to buy train tickets in Poland?
PKP Intercity has “PKP INTERCITY - Kupuj bilety” app.
Possible to buy a ticket at a railway station in Poland?
You can easily buy your train ticket over the Internet on the website of PKP Intercity. Single-fare tickets for PKP Intercity domestic trains can be purchased at ticket machines (Biletomaty), which are mainly located at stations, especially major transit hubs. Tickets can also be purchased via the app. If you do not have time to buy a ticket in advance, you can do it directly on the train.
Can I buy my ticket by phone?
PKP Intercity does not provide this option.
Return the ticket.
Domestic ticket (bought via PKP Intercity)
• Refunds can be made up to 20 minutes before departure.
• The refund of a domestic train ticket is associated with a deduction of the fee charged by the Carrier (in the amount of 15% of the ticket price) and the fee charged by the PolishTrains.eu service.
• The amount due to the User for the refunded ticket is sent to the User by the same channel through which the payment was made within 3 days.
• A ticket cannot be cancelled if it was scanned by a ticket inspector. You can receive a refund via a complaint only.
• After the train departure date, refund of the ticket is possible only by way of a complaint.
International ticket (bought via PKP Intercity)
• Refunds can be made up to 30 minutes before departure.
• The refund of an international train ticket is associated with the deduction of the fee charged by the Carrier (in the amount of 10% of the ticket price in case of cancelling a ticket up to the day before departure or 50% in case of cancelling a ticket on the day of departure) and the fee charged by the PolishTrains.eu service.
• The amount due to the User for the refunded ticket is sent to the User by the same channel through which the payment was made within 3 days.
• After the train departure date, refund of the ticket is possible only by way of a complaint.
Train ticket prices
"PKP Intercity" always offers special discount tickets. If you want to take a journey by express trains in Poland, you can save money by booking tickets in advance on the PKP InterCity website. You can buy tickets for most journeys within Poland for as little as EUR 12 – even on major routes such as Warsaw to Cracow. (July 2023)
Cheapest train to the closest nearby country?
Saver fares to neighbouring countries are available from Deutsche Bahn. For example, from Warszawa to Bratislava from EUR 23. And from Warszawa to Prague from EUR 29.
Where to find timetables.
Find train schedules on https://www.polishtrains.eu/train-schedule , https://en.e-podroznik.pl/
Buying tickets in advance or right before the train
If you want to take a journey by express trains in Poland, you can save money by booking tickets in advance. Tickets and reservations can be booked in advance for trips inside Poland (up to 30 days in advance for domestic trains), and to/from other countries in the region (up to 60 day in advance).
Types of tickets.
PKP Intercity offers several types of tickets for train travel. Here are some of the common ticket types:
• Regular Ticket: This is a standard ticket for one-way or round-trip travel on PKP Intercity trains. It is available in different classes (1st or 2nd) and categories (such as EIP, EIC, IC, TLK) depending on the train type.
• Family Ticket: The Family Ticket is designed for families traveling together. It offers a 30% discount for each member of the group, including at least one child under 16 years old. It is available for EIP, EIC, IC, and TLK trains.
• Senior Ticket (60+): The Senior Ticket provides a 30% discount on travel for individuals aged 60 and above. It is valid for all categories of PKP Intercity trains, except for the "Express InterCity Premium" (EIP) trains.
• Group Ticket: The Group Ticket is suitable for groups of 10 or more passengers traveling together. It offers a discounted fare and allows group members to sit together on the train.
• Student Ticket: PKP Intercity offers discounted tickets for students with a valid student ID. The discount varies depending on the train category and class.
Interrail/Eurail Passes in Poland
Interrail/Eurail Passes in Poland are available. The best option is to buy your Eurail or Interrail Pass on the official website.
Saver price.
For those planning to travel in the middle of the week, PKP Intercity recommends the Multipass and Multipass Max offers. These are valid for three days, from midnight on Tuesday to midnight on Thursday, and allow any number of journeys during this time. By choosing Multipass, you can travel on TLK and IC trains in 2nd class for 119 PLN (26.7 EUR) and in 1st class for 159 PLN (35.7 EUR). Whereas Multipass Max includes all PKP Intercity trains. A ticket for travel in 2nd class costs PLN 239 (53.6 EUR) , and PLN 396 for 1st class (88.9 EUR) .
Is it cheaper to buy round-trip?
Buy single tickets, not return tickets. This will give you more flexibility if you need to change your travel plans. It is not cheaper to buy return tickets.
Flexible tickets.
Flexible tickets are not available.
Rules of boarding.
On the train, you will need:
• a valid online ticket in paper form, legibly printed in A4 format or saved on a portable electronic device with a screen
• a photo ID (the types of documents accepted are listed in the e-IC rules and regulations) or, in case of national route, the mIdentity
• in case of discounted fare – valid document proving the right for discount.
Discounts for group travel.
Group trips on the Intercity Polish Railways (PGHD "Intercity") offer attractive prices for groups of 11 or more people traveling in Poland.
The Family Ticket offers a 30% discount on tickets for each member of a small group (the group must consist of 2 to 5 people, including one child under 16 years of age), including a child under 16 years of age. This offer is available on EIP, EIC, IC or TLK trains.
Age groups and discounts.
Passengers aged 60 and over can get a 30% discount on all PKP Intercity domestic trains. Also, pensioners and disabled people are entitled to two discounted fares per year with a 37% discount in 2nd class. In order to receive the discounts, you must present the appropriate documents. Additional terms and conditions may be available on the official PKP Intercity website.
For a child under 4 years old a 100% discount ticket can be purchased in one transaction along with another ticket for one trip.
Age limitations for minors.
Children under the age of 4 travel for free. The parent must have a document verifying the child's age.
Children over age 4 to a maximum of 24 years, if attending a primary, middle or secondary school IN POLAND, are entitled to a 37% discount in second class on all trains. A school ID is required.
Students of post-secondary schools IN POLAND, to a maximum of 26 years, are entitled to a 51% discount in second class on all trains. A school ID is required.
Handicapped passengers.
Free-of-charge assistance for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility is provided to the full extent of technical and organisational capacity provided that PKP IC has been informed about the need to provide such assistance at least 48 hours in advance of the planned departure.
If the Customer fails to inform PKP IC about the planned journey at the time specified above, the Carrier shall take reasonable steps to provide assistance to ensure that a disabled person or person with reduced mobility is able to take the journey or change connecting trains.
If no assistance can be provided under terms and conditions guaranteeing the safety of the traveller and/or personnel providing assistance, PKP IC may recommend an alternative method of providing assistance or – in justified cases – refuse to provide assistance.
Seat reservations in trains in Poland.
In case of buying a ticket for one person you can use the option "Booking selected seat", that is, you can book a selected seat by giving its number and the car’s number.
Comfort classes on the trains.
In addition to carriages with standard 1st and 2nd class reserved seating, many overnight trains also carry sleepers and couchettes.
Food and drink in trains / train restaurant in Poland.
Aboard Express InterCity Premium (EIP) and Express InterCity (EIC) trains and on FLIRT and DART trains running in the Intercity (IC) category, there are restaurant cars.
(Polish breakfast, Hot frankfurters, Broad bean and almond salad (no offer on IC trains), Traditional pork chops, Chicken fillet with creamy spinach sauce, Tagliatelle pasta with bolognese sauce, Child’s menu, Apple crumpets with creamy yoghurt, Breaded chicken fillets, Soup of the Day.)
Only selected InterCity (IC) trains operated by traditional sets include restaurant cars. The other ones, as well as TLK trains, offer minibar trolleys available on selected sections.
Night trains in Poland?
The Night Trains in Poland, the EuroNight and TLK, are of excellent quality. There are plenty of options for sleeping accomodations. Such as simple straight-up seats or shared compartments. Poland is a lovely country to explore by Night Trains. From various cities you can travel all the way towards Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia.
Important train routes in Poland.
Warszawa – Krakow / 2:57 hours / from 19.7 EUR / every hour (July 2023)
Warszawa – Gdansk / 2:34 hours / from 17.7 EUR / every hour (July 2023)
Warszawa – Wroclaw / 3:49 hours / from 16.8 EUR / every hour (July 2023)
Krakow – Gdansk / 5:07 hours / from 17,90 EUR / every hour (July 2023)
Warszawa – Bialystok / 2:26 hours / from 8.3 EUR / every 1 – 2 hours (July 2023)
International train routes.
There are direct international trains from Germany to the Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine.
Tourist / scenic routes in Poland.
The medieval town of Malbork, perhaps better known by its German name Marienburg, is best known for its castle, which was commissioned by the Knights of the Teutonic Order, built in the 13th century as their headquarters. Europe's largest Gothic fortress is named after the Virgin Mary, the patroness of the city and the castle. You can get by train from Warsaw directly to Malbork, then walk a maximum of 10 minutes and you will be at the castle
Travelers hungry for scenic beauty will find them in the Tatra National Park, located in south-central Poland. Founded in 1954, the park consists mainly of forests, meadows and numerous rock formations covering the Tatra Mountains.
Fans of speleology can enjoy a guided tour of six of the park's 650 caves open to the public. There are more than 30 high-altitude lakes in the park, as well as the Wielka Szikława waterfall 70 meters (230 feet) high.
To get to the park, you need to take a fast train from Warsaw to Krakow, then take a regional train "Zakopane Plac PKP", go to Zakopane Kuźnice and from there walk about 300 meters to the entrance to the park.
Luggage information.
At no extra charge, you can bring easily portable items – those that fit freely on the shelves above the seats, under the seats, or in other places designed for this purpose. You won't have to pay if you fold stroller for transport. In other cases, you have to pay for a ticket for the carriage of belongings. The cost of such a ticket is 5,10 PLN for each 1 piece of luggage.
Bicycle on the train.
You won't have to pay if you fold the bicycle. Otherwise, the transport of bicycles is paid for and carried out exclusively under your control, on the basis of a bicycle ticket. The fee for such a ticket is 2 EUR, regardless of the length of the route.
Ski or snowboard on the train.
Poland is not popular with its ski resorts, information about the transportation of skis and snowboards on the official sources was not found.
Luggage lockers on the stations in Poland.
Large and medium-sized train stations often have self-service lockers. Find a free locker, insert your luggage, and close the door. The machine will ask you to drop a few coins and then print you a ticket with a code number and the number and location of the locker. Save the ticket, as you will need the code number when you return! When you are ready to pick up your luggage, enter the code number. Depending on how long you've been storing your luggage, you may need to insert extra coins.
Some larger stations have a baggage drop-off point (przechowalnia bagażu). Here you leave your luggage and have to tell the clerk the declared value of your luggage (the price varies depending on the value). The clerk will give you a ticket which you must use to collect your baggage. You will pay at the time of baggage claim. Be sure to check the opening times to make sure the station will be open when you plan to return!
Lost and Found Items.
The train attendants regularly and thoroughly check the cars, and any items found are handed over to the designated points for this purpose.
Forgotten items must be picked up within 3 days from the date of its transfer to a designated point
If you forgot your luggage on the train, you can also get information by calling the PKP Intercity Hotline, available 24 hours a day.
Pets on the trains.
Fees due
• You can transport using PKP Intercity trains only small house pets (including dogs) free of charge, provided that they do not cause nuisance to other travellers (due to, for instance, noise, smell, etc.). For transportation, they must be securely placed in appropriate boxes (be it a cage, container or basket).
If you travel with a dog that is not in the transport box, then you must:
• purchase a dog travel ticket. The fee for such a ticket is a flat-rate fee and is EUR 3.4,
• keep the dog on a leash and muzzle it for the entire trip,
• have a valid certificate of rabies vaccination for your dog.
In trains, animal are not allowed to be in:
• restaurant cars – except for guide dogs or assistance dogs for the disabled;
• on a seat;
• on a bed in sleeping car (WL):
• on a berth in couchette car (Bc).
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