How to check if there is WARS on the train? A practical guide for travellers | PolishTrains

At a glance

• WARS has operated restaurant and bar cars on PKP Intercity trains since 1948
• The WR symbol on the seat map indicates a restaurant car (wagon restauracyjny)
• WARS dining cars are most commonly found on EIP (Pendolino) and EIC Express InterCity trains
• The mWARS app allows table booking in the dining car on selected services
• On IC and TLK trains, the presence of a catering carriage varies by specific service
• The crossed knife-and-fork symbol in the seat map legend identifies the catering carriage

When travelling, especially on longer journeys, being able to eat on the train is a comfortable, time-saving solution. The WARS dining car offer is wide and tailored to the different needs of passengers - whether they want a quick snack on the go or prefer a warm meal at a table. Find out how to find out if there is a WARS carriage on the train you are planning to travel on, where exactly to look for it and how to take advantage of its offer.

What is WARS? History and offer of dining cars

The well-known WARS is the operator of restaurant and bar cars on PKP Intercity trains. This service company has existed on the passenger transport market since 1948, when the company Państwowe Zakłady Gastronomiczne "WARS" was established. The post-war reality necessitated the reconstruction and modernisation of railway services, and comfortable dining and sleeping cars were intended to increase passenger comfort. Initially, travel in such carriages meant luxury, but over time it became more accessible, for all passengers. Since then, the brand has become synonymous with dining cars, which have accompanied travellers on national and international routes for decades. Check which trains have a WARS carriage.

The range of dining carriages - what will we eat in WARS?

Contemporary dining carriages are modern, offering not only traditional Polish dishes, but also options for vegetarians and vegans, as well as a wide selection of drinks and snacks. In the WARS restaurant carriage you will find, among other things:

• Breakfast - Breakfast prices range from PLN 21 to PLN 33. The breakfast offer includes scrambled eggs on butter or pancakes with cheese.
• Salads - A salad with goat's cheese or chicken with pumpkin can be purchased in the region of 30 zł.
• Snacks - This category includes French croissants for around PLN 22 depending on the choice of toppings.
• Soups - The price of all soups is 18 zł. The offer includes, for example, Old Polish sourdough sour soup or sauerkraut soup. Availability of specific soups depends on the season.
• Main courses - This category includes traditional Polish dishes such as pork chops, stuffed cabbage rolls in tomato sauce or pierogi. Prices range from 31 zł to 43 zł.

The offer also includes desserts, cold, hot and alcoholic drinks. The offer of the WARS catering area may vary depending on the type of train selected.

mWARS - order a meal at your seat

Currently, WARS S.A. not only manages restaurant cars, but also offers a meal delivery service to compartments on selected trains. The mWARS app allows you to order a meal to your seat. In the app, all you have to do is select the train you are travelling on (not every train offers this service) and decide on your meal. You will need to enter your carriage number and seat number to place and deliver your order. This is definitely an option to enhance your travel experience.

How to check if there is WARS on the train? The standard catering car markings you will notice are:

• WR - Restaurant car
• R - Passenger carriage with dining car, buffet or bar compartment

Intercity WARS - which carriage?

Is there a WARS on the Intercity? Of course! The restaurant carriage is usually located more or less in the middle of the line-up, making access easier for both 1st and 2nd class passengers. However, this is not a practice that can be observed on every train. Information about the location of the WARS Intercity dining car is announced by the passenger information system before the train arrives. This will let you know which carriage WARS is in.

Does your chosen train offer WARS? If you are planning to travel on a long-distance train and want to use the WARS restaurant car, it is worth knowing where to look for it. You can find restaurant cars on selected PKP Intercity trainsets.

Is there a WARS in a pendolino? Restaurant cars are mainly found on EIP, EIC and IC category trains. Is there a WARS in TLK? It depends on the specific train - more and more TLK services have a catering offer. The offer varies according to the type of train chosen.

• EIP and EIC - on most of these trains we can expect the presence of a WARS carriage with an extended catering offer.
• IC and TLK - on these trains you can find bar cars with a limited offer and lower prices.

To make sure that your train has WARS dining cars, it is worth checking the line-up layout when booking your ticket on the website.

Find out our ways to check if there is WARS on the train. To find out if the train you plan to travel on has a catering carriage, it's useful to know what markings it has. WARS is marked by crossed cutlery - a fork and a knife. Where to look for it and how to make sure the train has WARS?

Paper timetable

The first way to find WARS information on a train is to check the paper timetable. White and yellow poster timetables can be found on platforms and stations. In addition to departure times or intermediate stations, you will also find information about additional services on board trains such as WARS.

Seat map

If you are looking for trains that have WARS, you can check this when buying a ticket on PolishTrains, where there is an option to select a specific seat. To do this, select the connection you are interested in and then go to the seat map. There you will find a legend and a description of whether and where the catering carriage is located.

Check which carriage WARS is in and enjoy a hot meal during your journey!