Is it possible to buy a ticket on an IC train? | PolishTrains

• Can you buy a ticket on the train: yes, on PKP Intercity IC and TLK services and from the POLREGIO train manager; on Pendolino (EIP), buying a ticket on board is not possible

• PKP Intercity surcharge: PLN 20 per person for issuing a ticket on board – applies when a ticket office or ticket machine was operating at the station

• Exemptions from the surcharge: people with disabilities, senior citizens over 70, pregnant women, children under 4 and passengers boarding at a station without an operating ticket office

• When to report: before entering the carriage or immediately after boarding – reporting only during the inspection means an additional fee

• Online purchase: on PolishTrains (polishtrains.eu), you can buy a domestic ticket up to *30 days before the journey; on IC and TLK services without a mandatory reservation, you can also buy it after boarding the train, before the inspection begins * Can you buy a ticket on the train: yes, on IC and TLK PKP Intercity trains and from the train manager on POLREGIO; on Pendolino (EIP), it is not possible to buy a ticket on board

• PKP Intercity surcharge: PLN 20 per person for issuing a ticket on board – this applies when a ticket office or ticket machine was operating at the station

• Surcharge exemptions: people with disabilities, seniors aged 70 and over, pregnant women, children under 4 and passengers boarding at a station without an open ticket office

• When to report: before entering the carriage or immediately after boarding – reporting only during inspection means an additional charge

• Online purchase: on PolishTrains, you can buy a domestic ticket up to 30 days before the journey; on IC and TLK trains without a compulsory reservation, you can also buy it after boarding, before the inspection begins ### At a glance

• On-board ticket purchase is possible on IC, TLK and Polregio trains
• Pendolino (EIP) and trains with compulsory reservations do not allow on-board ticket purchase
• Report the lack of a ticket before entering the carriage or immediately upon boarding
• On trains with compulsory reservation, report before entering the carriage to check free seats
• Changing to a reserved seat after boarding incurs an additional charge of PLN 20
• No surcharge applies when purchasing on board if the departure station has no active ticket office

Buying a ticket on board a train is possible on PKP Intercity trains. This applies to both IC and TLK trains. It is also possible to buy a ticket from the train driver on Polregio. The same possibility is offered by the Silesian Railways, where buying a ticket on board a train is done according to similar principles.

It is worth remembering, however, that this option is not available everywhere. The exceptions are EIP trains (Pendolino) and trains with a compulsory seat reservation system. In this case, it is not possible to purchase a ticket on board - travellers must purchase their ticket before boarding the train, e.g. online, at a ticket counter or at a ticket machine at a station.

Can I buy a ticket from the conductor on an InterCity train?

On an IC or TLK train without a compulsory seat reservation, lack of a valid ticket must be reported to the conductor or train manager even before entering the train through the first carriage door or immediately after entering.

On a PKP Intercity train with compulsory reservation, report it before entering the carriage so that a person from the conductor's team can check availability of free seats. The conductor will then issue a ticket without a reservation.

Such a journey means that you occupy free seats, but you must release them when a traveller with a reservation appears. If there are vacant seats, the conductor may sell you a new ticket with a seat, but this will incur an additional charge of PLN 20. Baggage rules vary between carriers – you can check the details in the PolishTrains baggage guide. If all tickets are sold out, train staff may refuse to let travellers into the carriage.

Can I buy a ticket on a Regio or Polregio train?

The purchase of a ticket on a Polregio train is done at the train manager. If there is no ticket office at a station or it is closed, no additional charge applies. When changing carriers and changing to another train, remember to buy a separate ticket for each section of your journey.

Before travelling, check the carrier's rules for transporting bicycles, luggage and dogs. Each has its own rules regarding carriage services and document requirements. Refund and exchange conditions depend on the fare – you can check the current rules and fee calculator on the PolishTrains help page.

RegioJet

RegioJet operates primarily international routes, for example Warsaw – Praga and Przemyśl – Praga. Refund conditions depend on the fare – you can find the details on the PolishTrains help page.

Deutsche Bahn

Deutsche Bahn operates connections to Germany, including the Warsaw – Berlin route. You can check the current refund rules on the PolishTrains help page.

Italo NTV

Italo operates connections in Italy, including Rzym – Mediolan, Rzym – Florencja and Mediolan – Neapol. Seat reservation is included in the ticket price, so you do not buy it separately. You can find the refund conditions on the PolishTrains help page.

A surcharge of PLN 20 per person for the issue of a ticket on board the train is added to the price. On PolishTrains, you can buy a ticket without creating an account – after payment, it is sent by email and SMS. You can buy domestic tickets on PolishTrains up to 30 days before the journey. However, there are situations in which this surcharge will not be charged. This applies to:

• persons with disabilities or reduced visible mobility, as well as their carers;
• people over the age of 70;
• persons starting a journey from a station where there is no ticket counter or the ticket counter is closed;
• InterCity Pass holders who wish to collect a seat reservation;
• those who are issued a single ticket with a 100% discount (e.g. children under 4 years of age);
• pregnant women.

In all cases, show the relevant document confirming your entitlement to the concession.

You can pay for your ticket with the conductor in cash or by credit card. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. More and more travellers are choosing to pay by card, which is convenient. Check the current connections in the PolishTrains search engine. The search engine also shows departure and arrival times for the selected station, which helps you plan time to reach the platform before departure. If you are boarding without a ticket, prepare the form of payment in advance so that you do not inconvenience the train staff and controls.

Although it is possible to purchase a ticket on board an InterCity train, in most cases this involves a surcharge of PLN 20. It is worth knowing that you can also buy your ticket online once you have boarded the train (in the absence of a reservation obligation) - just do it before the ticket check.

Itis most convenient to use the connection search engine or the PolishTrains application, thanks to which you can quickly buy a ticket for any PKP train. During the control, it is enough to show the e-ticket on your phone screen. By buying your ticket online, you avoid surcharges and have access to concessions and discounts.

However, we recommend buying your ticket in advance. By booking in advance, you can take advantage of cheaper promotional offers and you can be sure that a seat on your chosen train will be waiting for you. This is definitely the best way to have a relaxed and stress-free journey.

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.