PKP concessions and discounts - who is entitled to cheaper tickets? | PolishTrains

At a glance

• PKP discounts are divided into statutory (legally required) and commercial (carrier-decided) categories
• Soldiers of the Military Police travelling on duty receive free train travel on PKP services
• Non-professional soldiers performing exercises receive a 78% statutory discount confirmed by a military booklet entry
• The Large Family Card (KDR) grants a 37% statutory discount to parents or spouses holding a permanent card
• The PKP Intercity Senior Ticket is a commercial discount for passengers aged 60 and above
• Statutory and commercial discounts cannot be combined; carry proof of entitlement during every journey

There are various types of discounts and concessions available to passengers on the Polish State Railways (PKP), depending on their status, age, health or other conditions. According to the basic criterion, we can divide them into statutory and commercial concessions.

Statutory PKP discounts, as the name suggests, result from the legal regulations in force. The possibility to benefit from discounts is regulated to the greatest extent by the Act on the entitlement to concessionary travel by means of public collective transport. There are also other acts that grant concessions to particular groups of travellers. These include, among others, the disabled, the blind and their carers, veterans, families with a Large Family Card or officers of certain services.

Commercial concessions, on the other hand, depend on the tariffs of individual carriers. They are not required by law, but individual companies offer them to encourage particular groups of people to travel. Examples include discounts for non-students up to the age of 26 and a cheaper 'senior ticket' when you turn 60.

It is worth adding that statutory and commercial discounts are not cumulative. That is, carriers are not obliged to apply statutory concessions when a traveller benefits from a commercial concession.

Free train travel is available to Soldiers of the Military Police and military law enforcement agencies. The condition for taking advantage of this concession is to have travelled on duty. Confirmation of this fact should be a card of the Military Police, a military booklet with an appropriate entry or a certificate of the unit commander about the duties performed.

The law also provides for a 78% discount for non-professional soldiers. It can be used by those who are currently performing exercises related to non-professional military service (e.g. WOT training or active reserve). In this case, the relief is confirmed by a current entry in the military booklet.

Holders of the Large Family Card can also benefit from discounts under the PKP system, which is an important element of support for families with many children in Poland. The rail travel concession is a form of recognition for families who face higher living costs on a daily basis. This makes travel more accessible and economical for them.

The Large Family Card can be used in two ways, depending on eligibility and the number of travellers. The 37% discount is only available to parents or spouses of a parent with an unlimited Large Family Card. Only parents are entitled to this permanent entitlement, which covers all types of trains.

In turn, the offer of travel with the Large Family Card is aimed at groups of at least two people. Each passenger must have his or her own Large Family Card, but it is not required that they are parents - they can be, for example, children or other family members. To take advantage of the offer, the cards must be presented at ticket control. What's more, statutory discounts can be combined with this offer, making travel even more advantageous. This makes the Large Family Card a flexible solution for different travellers' needs.

Polish law sets out in detail the conditions for granting discounts on PKP to children and young people, including those with disabilities. Discounts cover different age groups, ranging from free travel for the youngest to discounts for children and young people taken into account on the basis of various criteria. Below we describe in detail all discounts for children on PKP.

Children up to the age of 4 travel free of charge. A free ticket is required. Sometimes it is also necessary to present a document confirming the child's age at the time of inspection.

For children aged between 4 and 6 (until the start of compulsory pre-school preparation), there is a 37% discount for single tickets. It will be necessary to show proof of the child's age.

The situation is similar for children and young people who have started compulsory pre-school preparation or are studying in Polish schools up to the age of 24. The discount for single tickets is 37%, while the discount for monthly registered tickets is 49%. The required document is a certificate of pre-school education or a school card issued in Poland.

Discounts are also available for children and young people affected by a disability or handicap up to the age of 24. In this case, the discounts for this group are significant, as they amount to 78% for both single and monthly registered tickets. However, they only apply to journeys from the place of residence or stay to the relevant school, educational or medical institution. In order to benefit from this concession, it is necessary to present documents confirming the disability, the status of the pupil and a medical referral or other notice indicating the need to attend the institution in question with a specific date.

Another group is children and young people studying abroad the Polish language, geography, Polish culture or other subjects taught in Polish, up to the age of 18. In order to obtain the relief, a student ID card issued by a consul of the Republic of Poland and an identity document confirming age must be presented. Once this condition is met, the discount for a child on PKP is 37% for single tickets and 49% for monthly tickets.

Students under the age of 26 can enjoy a 51% discount on all types of trains in second class. Both for single tickets and for monthly named tickets. The student must present a valid student ID card or mStudent ID card. If the ID card does not contain age information, it is also necessary to show an identity card.

The situation is similar for students studying abroad who are also under 26 years of age. A PKP student ticket in second class is 51% cheaper. The required documents are the Polish or International Student Identity Card (ISIC), which must be presented together with an identity card or other document confirming identity and age. Additionally, a document confirming the right of permanent residence in Poland is required - without it, the discount is not valid.

A greater discount is available to students affected by a disability or disabled up to the age of 26. For them, the discount is 78%, provided they are travelling from their place of residence or stay to an educational, educational or therapeutic institution. You will usually be required to show your student card and proof of disability. You must also carry a doctor's referral or other notice indicating the need to attend the institution in question, along with a specific date.

The discounts offered by PKP are an excellent excuse to travel cheaply and comfortably across Poland. It is important to remember that in addition to statutory discounts, railway companies introduce their own commercial offers. Therefore, before travelling, it is advisable to familiarise yourself with the current fares to be sure of a favourable price. Trade concessions may be introduced for a limited time.

When planning your journey, also remember not to forget the required documents. Without them, you may not be able to get a discount at the ticket office and may incur additional costs during the inspection. And if you want to book a ticket or check departure times, our train journey planner will help you with this. During the booking process on our portal, you have the opportunity to select the discount that is right for you.