How to buy a train ticket? Step by step guide | PolishTrains

At a glance

• Train tickets can be bought at ticket offices, vending machines, online or from the conductor
• PolishTrains allows ticket purchase without registration - just provide your email and phone number
• Online tickets are available almost 24 hours a day, with brief interruptions around midnight
• Buying from the conductor may incur additional charges if a ticket office was open at the departure station
• After payment, tickets are delivered electronically with a pre-departure message containing the document link
• PolishTrains search engine lets you compare connections by entering departure, destination and travel date

In the PolishTrains mobile app, you go through the same steps. There are several ways to purchase a ticket. Which one you choose depends on your preferences and whether you plan your trip well in advance or rather at the last minute. Here's a look at what your options are, both in-store and online.

How do you buy a train ticket? Here are 4 ways:

• Buying tickets at the ticket office - are you keen to buy your ticket stationary? Want to ask for a few details at the same time? Go to your nearest ticket office!
• Buying tickets from a ticket machine - this is an option available at many railway stations, as well as on platforms in larger cities. In this case, you purchase your tickets from a special ticket machine. It is worth remembering, however, that it often only accepts card payments!
• Buying tickets online - the most convenient method of booking connections, available almost 24 hours a day (with the exception of technical interruptions of the carrier, which take place around midnight). Online tickets can be purchased from the website or from a convenient mobile application such as PolishTrains.
• Buying a ticket from the conductor - this is a helpful last-minute solution when you only remember you don't have a ticket after boarding the train. It's worth bearing in mind that this can sometimes incur additional charges, especially if there was a ticket office open at your departure station.

On PolishTrains, you can pay for your ticket in four ways. All payments are in PLN – this also applies to tickets for international trains. Buying a ticket online takes a few minutes. You do not need to create an account – an email address and telephone number are enough.

1. Enter the route and date. Go to PolishTrains and enter the departure and destination stations, travel date and number of passengers. How to buy a train ticket online? Book your PKP Intercity or Regio connection via the PolishTrains platform! This is an intuitive service that allows you to purchase your ticket in a few simple steps:

2. Go to the PolishTrains website via a browser on your computer or smartphone and start searching for a train connection. In the latest version of the service, the search engine is available at the top of the Home Page.

3. Enter the details of your journey into the search engine - the necessary information is the departure station, destination station, day of departure and number of passengers (when entering the number of passengers, you can immediately select discounts for the journey). In the case of a return journey, add the return day as well for ease of use.

4. Select your preferred connection from the list of results that will appear. You can modify your search and change the date, place of departure or arrival at any time.

5. Already have your train selected? Now it's time to book your tickets! During this process, select the carriage class (in the case of PKP Intercity), enter your details and select the appropriate ticket type. If you have an account with PolishTrains, your details are filled in automatically – without an account, an email address and telephone number are enough.

6. Pay. The final price is shown before confirmation – with no hidden charges. The machines differ in functionality: some accept cards and BLIK, while others also accept cash. Before purchasing, check the payment methods available on the device screen.

• *Online purchase – on the PolishTrains website or in the app. You pay in PLN, including for international tickets.

1. Receive your ticket. The ticket is sent by email and SMS within a few seconds of payment. 30 minutes before departure, PolishTrains sends an SMS reminder with a link to the ticket – you do not need to search for the message in your inbox. This step will be quicker if you already have an account with PolishTrains - then your passenger information will be entered automatically.
2. Finally, make an online payment in the form of your choice.

Importantly, as soon as you have paid for your ticket, it will be sent to your email address. You will also find it in your user account on the website or in the mobile app.

The purchase of a ticket on the mobile app will be analogous. In this option, you will make your booking from your smartphone and have the current tickets and your journey history available in a special tab.

On PolishTrains, you can pay for your ticket in four ways. All payments are in PLN – this also applies to tickets for international trains. How to buy a PKP ticket - advice for those using PolishTrains:

• Create an account on the platform - this will make it easier for you to buy more tickets. After logging in to your profile, you can save your personal data, as well as that of other passengers, so you won't have to enter it every time.
• Download the PolishTrains app - this will not only make it easier to search for connections and purchase a ticket, but also to quickly rebook or refund.
• Consider buying your PKP Intercity ticket in advance - if you buy your tickets well in advance, you can benefit from special discounts and promotions.
• Contact PolishTrains - using the helpline (+ 48 12 345 16 61) or by email (contact@polishtrains.eu), you will receive professional help with your ticket purchase. If it is not there, report the matter to Customer Service.

• Passenger data error – contact Customer Service before departure to correct the details.

• You want to change the travel date – use the exchange procedure or write to Customer Service.

• You need an invoice – send a request via the contact form.

PolishTrains Customer Service operates daily *7:00-23:00, 7 days a week. The Customer Service staff will help you through the whole process of buying a ticket and planning your dream trip. What's more, this will also give you access to connections outside the traditional offer - for example, you want to travel from Barcelona to Madrid? Nothing stands in the way! You can check the details for your selected connection in the PolishTrains baggage guide. We will take care of all the ticket purchase formalities for you!

You can buy a train ticket through PolishTrains without registering, and complete all the purchase steps in just a few stages. When buying train tickets online on the PolishTrains website, you can make your payment in several convenient ways:

• Blik - a fast payment method using the bank's mobile app. Below are the key differences for tickets purchased through PolishTrains.

PKP Intercity

PKP Intercity operates domestic routes in Poland and direct international connections to Germany, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia and Lithuania. You receive a ticket purchased through PolishTrains electronically immediately after payment. Seat reservation is mandatory on EIP and EIC trains and on international sections – on TLK and IC trains, the ticket usually includes a seat reservation. Simply enter the Blik code in the appropriate place on the website and authorise the transaction.

• Payment card - you will also pay with a Mastercard and Visa debit or credit card. You will need to enter your card details when paying.
• Online transfer - this is a secure payment option via your bank's website.
• Deferred instalments "buy now, pay later" - allow you to purchase a ticket with a deferred payment date. After purchasing through PolishTrains, you receive your ticket electronically. Numbered seats included in the ticket price apply in each of the five classes: Low Cost, Standard, Relax, Business and Astra. For the service from PayPo the payment term is 30 days, for TWISTO it is 21 days. To pay using this method, you must first set up an account on paypo.co.uk or twisto.co.uk and pass a personal data verification.

Advantages of deferred payments:

• ability to travel on the same day and not to postpone planning a trip even in the event of a temporary lack of funds,
• deferred payments of up to one month,
• the chance to buy a ticket at a more attractive price without unplanned expenses in the budget,
• more flexible management of your travel budget. On PolishTrains, you can also buy tickets for routes within Europe, for example Barcelona - Madryt operated by Renfe. You can search for and buy a ticket for a route to Świnoujście just as easily, using the same search engine on PolishTrains.

This article was prepared by the PolishTrains editorial team. We follow the rail market in Poland and Europe, look for new connections and support you at every stage of your journey.