The Polish rail network is generally in decent shape even if the rolling stock is by and large something you may have travelled on in Italy some years ago. Certainly better than Britain’s railways; you’ll find most trains run on time, are cheap, and don’t crash. Travelling times are generally pretty slow even on Intercity trains with limited high-speed sections of track throughout the country. That is being remedied but in turn this is causing increased travelling times on many lines. Tickets are by western standards very cheap with a first -class ticket to Kraków from Warsaw for instance setting you back about 150zł (about €40).

The state-owned Polish rail network PKP run several types of train. Express InterCity (EIC) trains are the fastest, newest and most expensive of the lot, with first and second class compartments holding up to six people and seat reservations required. New rolling stock is appearing with open carriages and 230v AV sockets. The EuroCity (EC) trains offer international connections and seat reservations as well. Cheapskates looking to cut costs should opt for the markedly cheaper Twoje Linie Kolejowe (TLK) which has second class seats that often require no seat reservation and first class seats that do; the InterREGIO (IR) trains, which are the cheapest, have only second class seats and require no reservation; and the REGIOekspres (RE) which no longer has seat reservations available online. With the budget options you will pay buttons for the privilege, but your journey is guaranteed to try your good humour.

More information on train times and prices check the very useful http://rozklad-pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en?. There is the functionality to book tickets online once you have registered (http://www.intercity.pl/en/). This option allows you to book a ticket and seat in one without the hassle of queuing at the station.

If you do buy tickets at the station it is worth noting that English is not guaranteed to be spoken by the lady in the ‘Kasa’. A useful tip here is to write down your requirements on a piece of paper beforehand including the destination (e.g. Malbork), departure time (e.g. 20:36), class of ticket you want (1 or 2) and ticket type (normalny for a full ticket and ulgowy for children or senior citizens). If buying an ulgowy, be prepared to show proof that your 7 year old is in fact a child and not a small person trying to scam the Polish railways as evidence will often be asked by the ticket office and the ticket inspector on the train regardless of how obvious the fact might appear to you.

If you find yourself faced with long queues in the train station then you’ll be pleased to hear you can hop on the desired train and buy a ticket direct from the conductor. You’ll pay a small surcharge for this (approx 15zł), and credit cards are now accepted. Travellers are expected to greet others in their compartment with a curt ‘dzień dobry’, and it is taken as given that a male passengers will help females or the elderly with any heavy baggage.

Travelling by train should hold no fear, though you may have the misfortune of sharing a compartment with a woman who has no qualms with silencing errant children with a thump to the head. Or even worse, sharing a compartment with perky army discharges. Upgrading to first class for a cursory fee is usually enough to avoid these pitfalls.

Finally most stations throughout the country are appallingly lacking in signs denoting the station name and it's surprisingly easy to miss your stop. Communicating with your fellow passengers can save a lot of time and frustration.

Arrivals Przyjazdy
Departures Odjazdy
Platform Peron