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One way ticket?... i.e. when and which train ticket

Q: Which train ticket should I choose if my travel date is certain?

If the travel date will not change, the **cheaper, less flexible fare** is usually sufficient. If your plans are less certain, it is better to choose a fare that allows you to change or refund the ticket. Before purchasing, check the conditions for the specific connection.

Q: When should I buy a train ticket to get a better price?

**It is best to buy your ticket as early as possible** after sales open. On PolishTrains, domestic tickets are available up to 30 days before travel, and international tickets up to 60 days in advance. **The earlier you buy**, the greater your choice of seats and fares usually is.

Q: Is an open train ticket valid on every connection?

No, an open ticket is valid only where **the carrier does not require a mandatory seat reservation**. On high-speed routes and many international connections, a ticket for a specific departure is more often required. Before travelling, check the current information for your connection.

Q: Does a train ticket always include a seat?

Not always. With some carriers, **a seat is included in the price**; with others, reservation is optional or mandatory only on selected routes. You will see the seat information before completing your purchase.

Q: What should I do if I cannot see my train ticket after purchasing it?

First, **check your email inbox**, promotions folder and SMS messages. If the ticket has not arrived after a few minutes, contact Customer Service and have your order number or the details used for the purchase ready. Before travelling, check the current information and **do not leave this until the last minute**.

Q: How can I check the Intercity timetable for tomorrow?

You can check the current Intercity timetable for tomorrow in the PolishTrains search engine by entering the departure station, destination and chosen date. The search engine displays available connections together with prices, so you can immediately see whether there are seats available on a given route. You can buy the ticket straight after checking, without creating an account.

Q: How can I travel by train to Wiedeń?

You can reach Wiedeń by, among other options, a PKP Intercity train from Kraków, and you can buy a ticket for this route on PolishTrains, along with information on whether a seat reservation is mandatory. On international routes, it is worth checking the fare conditions before purchasing, as they determine whether you can change or refund the ticket.

Published 2026/06/29

High-speed trains, like other modes of transport, have their own types of tickets, classes and fares. You can check the current connections and prices for your chosen date at PolishTrains. This allows you to plan your rail journey around Europe from start to finish in one place, without searching for connections separately with each carrier. If you have decided to choose a high-speed train, it is worth knowing what type of train tickets apply and when is the most convenient time to book your dream journey.

You can buy domestic tickets on PolishTrains up to 30 days before your journey, and international tickets up to 60 days before your journey. * Train ticket: the choice of fare determines whether you can change, exchange or refund your ticket

Purchase date: the earlier you buy, the greater the chance of getting a better price, especially on high-speed routes
Ticket delivery: after paying for your order, you receive an electronic ticket; 30 minutes before departure, an SMS reminder with a link to the ticket arrives
Purchasing through PolishTrains: you can buy domestic tickets up to 30 days before your journey, and international tickets up to 60 days before your journey
Payment: you can pay in PLN by card, BLIK or online transfer; you can also use deferred payment and pay for your tickets within 30 days
Reservations and refunds: the rules for seat reservations, exchanges and refunds depend on the carrier and the fare ### Ticket price

The price of a train ticket is influenced by three factors:

THE DATE OF BOOKING

The earlier the date of booking a ticket, the cheaper the ticket is, of course. This is the basic rule for booking train tickets for most European journeys. Here we will give an example. Buying a train ticket for a London to Paris Eurostar service the day before departure can be as much as 70% more expensive than one purchased three months in advance.

TARIFF

Another thing that affects the cost of a ticket is the fare. You can compare current prices for a specific date in the PolishTrains search engine. Most high-speed trains give passengers the option of buying a ticket in several types of fare.

The same place can also be used to check the current Intercity timetable for the coming days, so you do not have to search for it separately.

The ticket fare determines what you can do with your ticket after purchase. Best second class or best first class does not allow the return of an unused ticket or any change to the ticket.

At PolishTrains, an electronic ticket is standard. Flexible second class or flexible first class guarantees passengers a refund - this could be, for example, 50% of the ticket price (this all depends on the type of train). Remember to return the ticket a few days before departure.

There is also a business class fare (on some routes) that provides a full refund. Ticket refunds can be made up to 60 days after the scheduled date of travel.

BOOKING CLASS

The third factor that can significantly affect the price of a ticket is the booking class. You can find details for your chosen connection in the PolishTrains refund guide.

Travel class is the third factor. Most high-speed railways offer two classes - 1 and 2.

First class fares can be up to 100% higher compared to second class.

Ticket types and forms of delivery

When a passenger makes a booking, it is shown which type of ticket is required by the carrier.

There are three types of ticket:

Electronic ticket - (P@H)

This type of train ticket is sent to the e-mail address provided during booking. Such a ticket must be printed out and taken with you on your journey. For the route to Wiednia, you can buy a PKP Intercity ticket through PolishTrains and see in advance whether a seat reservation is required. Printed tickets can be in colour or black and white.

Paper ticket - (E2)

Only a few carriers require a traditional paper ticket from travellers. In this case, the rail ticket is sent to the customer by courier to the address provided during booking

Train ticket printed at station - (TOD)

This is a type of rail ticket printed from machines in railway stations.

When booking online, the passenger receives a booking number via email with detailed instructions on how to print the ticket at the railway station. If you need help, contact the PolishTrains Customer Service Office on 703 402 010; the call costs 2.58 PLN gross per minute, or email contact@polishtrains.eu. The TOD ticket must be printed at least 30 minutes before travel.

There are also** three types of train tickets on European trains.** They are classified as follows:

Reserved ticket

This is a ticket valid for travel on a particular route on a particular day. The rules for changes and refunds depend on the fare, so you can check the current conditions on the PolishTrains help page.

Deutsche Bahn

Deutsche Bahn operates domestic services in Germany and international connections, including Berlin - Warsaw, Berlin - Amsterdam and Berlin - Paryż. Such a train ticket contains the train number, departure time, carriage number and seats. At PolishTrains, an electronic ticket is standard. On PolishTrains, you can buy a ticket without registering, and before changing your plans, you can quickly check the rules for refunds and exchanges. Such a ticket cannot be used to travel on another train (even on the same route). Reserved tickets are sent to the passenger electronically.

Open ticket

A train ticket is purchased for a specific route, but - most importantly - without specifying the departure time of the train. The passenger can choose any train on the route. There is only one condition, that no reservation is required on the train in question. The open ticket does not have a seat number. The traveller in the purchased reservation class chooses his/her own seat.

Mixed tickets

There are situations in which a traveller will have to use two or even three types of ticket on a given route.

Baggage rules vary between carriers, so you can check the details for your selected connection in the PolishTrains baggage guide. We already explain:

Travelling between Lyon and London

On the Lyon-Paris section, the passenger will have to use the TOD ticket (discussed earlier) for the TGV, while on the Paris-London route, he or she will have to use the printed electronic ticket P@H , which is valid on the Eurostar train.

In conclusion...an educated traveller is a happy traveller. To waste no more time - book your train ticket online now.

Book your train ticket online

Book and buy train tickets online and train timetables are available on PolishTrains.co.uk.

Book your train ticket online now for rail travel. Only on our website - PolishTrains.eu

Frequently asked questions

Which train ticket should I choose if my travel date is certain?

When should I buy a train ticket to get a better price?

Is an open train ticket valid on every connection?

Does a train ticket always include a seat?

What should I do if I cannot see my train ticket after purchasing it?

How can I check the Intercity timetable for tomorrow?

How can I travel by train to Wiedeń?

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