PKP disabled discounts - how to save on every journey? | PolishTrains

At a glance

• Persons with a significant degree of disability qualify for a 37% or 51% statutory discount on PKP trains
• Carers and guides of persons incapable of independent existence receive a 95% discount
• Children and young people with disabilities up to age 24 receive a 78% discount for travel to educational facilities
• Moderate and mild degrees of disability do not qualify for statutory PKP concessions
• Discounted tickets can be bought online on PolishTrains without creating an account
• Statutory concessions cannot be combined - passengers choose the single most favourable entitlement

What discounts are offered by the PKP for moderate and severe disabilities and whether statutory discounts are available for mild disabilities.

What kind of ticket for a disabled person and carer is available on the PKP.

Whether concessions are different for children and young people with disabilities than for adults.

What documents do you need to have in order to get a discount on a train ticket for a person with a severe and moderate disability.

Persons with a moderate degree of disability are not entitled to statutory discounts on PKP train travel (granted under the Act of 20 June 1992 on the entitlement to concessionary travel by means of public collective transport).

The legislation provides for discounts on PKP train travel for the disabled**(significant degree**), for the blind, and for children and young people with disabilities and their carers.

Although discounts for the disabled (moderate and light degrees of disability) do not apply on PKP, it is worth keeping track of current promotions and special offers from carriers, such as the Family Ticket at Intercity. They can all be found on the PolishTrains website.

People with a severe disability certificate can benefit from preferential conditions for rail travel, achieving significant savings on tickets. PKP discounts for people with a disability certificate are:

• 37% for those incapable of independent existence,
• 37% for blind people capable of independent living;
• 51% for blind persons incapable of independent living,
• 95% for carers of persons with disabilities.

Documents required for a discount for people with severe disabilities

Passengers must have one of the required documents such as:

• medical commission ruling,
• certificate from ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) or KRUS (Agricultural Social Insurance Fund),
• a disabled person's card confirming a significant degree of disability.

At PKP Intercity, concessions for the disabled are based on statutory entitlements under: the Act of 20 June 1992. What discounts can I get?

Discount for the carer or guide of a disabled person

A discount of 95% is available for persons accompanying incapacitated persons and blind persons. The guardian can be an adult, while in the case of blind persons, the function of a guide can be performed by a person over 13 years of age or a guide dog. On TLK, IC, EIC and EIP trains, a guide dog is carried free of charge, which makes travelling for visually impaired passengers much easier.

In order for the carer of an incapacitated person to benefit from the statutory discount on PKP travel, they must present:

• one of the documents of a person incapable of independent existence indicated in the applicable regulations, such as e.g. an extract from a medical commission's decision or a disabled person's card confirming a significant degree of disability;
• one of the documents of a blind person confirming disability, inability to work or disability due to a visual condition. These may include an extract from a Social Security doctor's decision or a disabled person's card marked with the relevant symbol of the cause of disability.

Discount for children and young people with disabilities up to 24 years of age and for students with disabilities up to 26 years of age

A 78% discount on journeys for children and young people with disabilities up to the age of 24 and for students with disabilities up to the age of 26 applies only to journeys on specified routes - from the place of residence or stay (considered to be any location declared by the traveller) to educational and care institutions:

• kindergartens
• school,
• university
• special education centre,
• social assistance home
• rehabilitation and education centre,
• support centres.

The discount also covers travel to and return from rehabilitation holidays. In order to benefit from the discount, it is necessary to have the relevant documents proving eligibility and/or certificates confirming the date and place of examination, treatment or therapy. Discount for one parent or guardian of children and young people with disabilities A 78% discount on travel for one parent or guardian of children and young people with disabilities is available only for travel between the place of residence or stay (considered to be any place declared by the traveller) and educational and care institutions such as:

• kindergartens
• schools
• universities
• special education care centres,
• social welfare homes
• rehabilitation centres,
• psychological and pedagogical counselling centres,
• when travelling to rehabilitation camps.

The discount applies both when travelling with the child and when picking up or dropping off the child.

In order to benefit from the reduction, it is necessary to present the relevant documents:

• If travelling together with a child, the parent or guardian should be in possession of documents proving the child's entitlement.
• If the journey is made without the child, a certificate issued by the relevant educational, care or rehabilitation institution confirming the purpose of the journey, e.g. to pick up or drop off the child, is necessary.

Discounts for blind people deemed incapable of independent existence

The legislation defines incapacity for self-determination as a condition that also includes people with a significant degree of disability or a group I invalid, as long as their certificate is still valid. Discounts for such travellers are:

• 93% discount on single and monthly tickets in passenger trains
• 51% discount on TLK, IC, EIC and EIP express trains.

In order to benefit from the discounted fares, eligible persons must present the relevant documents proving their status. These may include:

• one of the documents certifying group I disability or inability to live independently due to a visual condition,
• a disabled person's card confirming a significant degree of disability due to visual impairment.

In the case of documents without a photo, it is necessary to present them together with an identity card or other document proving identity.

Discounts for incapacitated persons, except blind persons

Persons with a significant degree of disability and group I invalids are also considered to be incapacitated, provided that their certificate is still valid. Discounts for such travellers are:

• 49% discount on single and monthly tickets on passenger trains
• discounts on single tickets on TLK, IC, EIC and EIP express trains.

In order to benefit from the discount, passengers must have one of the documents proving eligibility, e.g:

• an extract from the decision of the military medical commission,
• the certificate of the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) medical examiner,
• an extract from the decision of the KRUS (Agricultural Social Insurance Fund) medical commission.

Documents without a photo should be presented together with an identity card or other document confirming identity.

Discounts for blind people if they are not considered incapacitated

If blind people have not been declared incapacitated, they can benefit from a statutory discount of 37%. To take advantage of this discount, they must have one of the following documents with them:

• a document stating group II disability or total inability to work, due to a visual condition,
• a disabled person's card certifying a moderate level of disability due to visual impairment,
• a certificate stating a moderate degree of disability due to a visual condition.

The ID card may be marked with the symbol for the cause of disability "04-O", the letters "O", "o", "h" or the notation § 26 point 1 letter h.

Discounts for a carer or guide accompanying a person who is incapable of living independently or a blind person.

The chaperone may be an adult, and the guide for a blind person may be a person over 13 years of age or a guide dog. The discount is 95%. If a blind person's guide dog is carried on TLK, IC, EIC or EIP trains, it can be carried free of charge.

To benefit from the discount, passengers must have:

• one of the documents of an incapacitated person,
• one of the documents of a blind person certifying disability, inability to work or disability due to visual impairment.

Important notice

A person with a disability who is entitled to more than one concession can decide for himself which one he wishes to use, provided that he presents the appropriate document proving the entitlement. Irrespective of the relief chosen by the disabled person, his or her carer is also entitled to benefit from the statutory relief, as long as he or she provides documentation proving the disability of the mentee.

Do you have a moderate degree of disability? PKP discounts under the 1992 Act do not cover you in this situation. You can benefit from trade discounts as part of promotions. You can easily find them via the PolishTrains website or mobile app, which makes it easy to plan your trip and buy tickets in advance.

PKP discounts for people with a disability certificate - what is worth knowing?

People with a disability certificate can benefit from discounts on rail travel, and the amount depends on the degree or disability and the type of train. It is worth following the information provided above and additionally checking the current regulations of the carrier. PKP discounts for the disabled make train travel more accessible, comfortable and friendly for everyone! It is worth familiarising yourself with the current regulations and required documents in order to take full advantage of your entitlements.

Can discounts for people with severe disabilities be combined with other discounts, such as student or senior discounts?

Statutory discounts do not combine. When purchasing a ticket, you choose the single most favourable concession that your documents entitle you to receive. So if the passenger is a person with a severe disability who is studying, they can use either the disability legislation concession or the student concession - not both at the same time.

Can I buy a seat for a person with a disability on a PKP Intercity train and how do I do this when buying a ticket?

PKP Intercity takes into account concessions for the disabled. When you buy your ticket at the ticket office, you must show a document entitling you to the discount. If you are buying your ticket from a ticket machine, tick the appropriate discount. On the PolishTrains portal, when selecting your ticket, expand the "Disability concessions" menu and select the option you are entitled to. Can you buy a disabled seat on the train? Yes, when buying online select the available seats - there are some for disabled passengers.

What happens if I don't have my disability certificate or ID with me when I check my disabled concession ticket?

If you do not have a document that entitles you to a concession, the ticket is treated as invalid. The ticket inspector may ask you to pay a surcharge on top of the full ticket price and an additional charge known as a handling charge or penalty charge. You can make a claim after the journey and show documents entitling you to a discount - you will then receive a refund of the overpayment, but not the handling charge. PKP does not offer discounts for passengers with mild disabilities!