Ticket surcharge on the train - how much does it cost and when is it charged? | PolishTrains

At a glance

• POLREGIO charges between PLN 4 and PLN 8 for buying a ticket from the conductor on board
• Kolej Mazowieckie charges PLN 6 and PKP Intercity charges PLN 20 for on-board ticket purchase
• No surcharge applies if no ticket office or ticket machine was available at the boarding station
• Passengers must report to the conductor immediately on boarding to avoid a surcharge
• Disabled passengers, those over 70 and some carers may be exempt from the on-board surcharge
• Travelling without a ticket results in a civil additional charge, not a criminal fine, which can be appealed

Summary:

Travelling without a pre-purchased ticket is possible provided that you go to the conductor as soon as you get on the train. How much it costs to buy a ticket from the conductor depends on the carrier and whether it was possible to buy a ticket at the ticket office or ticket machine at the station. How much does it cost to buy a ticket on the train? In POLREGIO from 4 to 8 PLN, in Kolej Mazowieckie 6 PLN, and in IC and Pendolino 20 PLN. The fee will not be charged e.g. if there is no ticket office at a particular station or it was closed.

If you are travelling on Polregio trains, you can buy a single ticket from the conductor, but under certain conditions. The most important thing is to report to the attendant as soon as you board the train - preferably at the beginning of the line-up, where the conductor is usually located. If you don't, you could get a fine for riding without a valid ticket, and that's a whole other story.

And what about the additional costs? The charge for issuing a ticket on a Polregio train depends on a number of factors, but the key is the availability of a ticket office or ticket machine at the departure station. If there was a point of sale but you still boarded without a ticket, you will have to pay an additional fee. On Polregio trains, this is a fixed price of PLN 4 for issuing a single ticket and PLN 8 for issuing a season ticket and other tickets (i.e. weekly, monthly, daily, three-day and group tickets).

However, there is good news - some passengers can avoid it. What conditions does Przewozy Regionalne stipulate? Among others, the fee for issuing a ticket on the train is not charged to disabled persons, senior citizens over 70 years of age, pregnant women or carers of children under 4 years of age. If you belong to this group, you can buy a ticket from the conductor at no extra cost.

Have you taken a seat but do not have your ticket with you? Even if you are waiting for the conductor this is a mistake. If you do not follow the rules described above, you will be charged an additional 305 PLN as a fine for travelling without a ticket. It is better to avoid this.

On Mazovia Railways, the rules are similar to those of Polregio. If there is a ticket office or vending machine at the station from which you board, but you nevertheless buy your ticket from the conductor, you have to reckon with a surcharge of 6 zł. However, if there was no ticketing facility at your station, the surcharge will not be applied.

You should be aware that on Mazovia Rail trains you will almost always find a ticket machine where you can buy your ticket at no extra cost. This is quite a convenience, especially as conductors do not always have time to sell tickets to all passengers, especially at peak times. So if you're travelling on this line, it's worth bearing this option in mind - the Mazovian Railways ticketing fee is a cost you can easily skip, even if you haven't managed to pay for your journey in advance.

What about TLK trains? Here things look a little different, because there is a seat reservation on your train lines. If you get on without a ticket, you must first consult the conductor to see if there are still seats available on the train. If you don't check in at the start of your journey, you could be treated as a passenger travelling without a valid ticket, and this means an additional charge of the full PLN 750, or PLN 150 if you pay it on the spot.

How much is the fee for issuing a ticket on a TLK train? If a ticket office or machine was open at the departure station and you still buy your ticket from the conductor, you have to add a fee of 20 zł to the ticket price. This is significantly more than for regional carriers. The fee is charged for each person checked in, even if a joint travel document is issued for them. You will pay for your ticket purchased from the conductor in cash or by credit card.

There are some specific cases where the conductor will not charge the fee. Persons with disabilities or reduced mobility (and their carers) are exempted from paying the fee, provided that they present the relevant document or if the disability is visible. Passengers over 70 years of age and those making changes to their travel arrangements or a supplement to their ticket are also exempt from the charge. Members of Parliament and Senators are also exempt from paying an additional ticket purchase charge when booking a seat.

While this was initially not possible, a few months ago the carrier introduced changes that were favourable to passengers, albeit with some restrictions. You can buy tickets for Express InterCity Premium (EIP) Pendolino trains from the conductor's team, but only on the condition that you confirm the availability of a seat for the entire leg of the journey before the start of the journey.

These trains, like some IC and TLK trains, are subject to compulsory seat reservation, which means that you cannot travel on them without a guaranteed seat. If the conductor confirms availability, he will issue a ticket with a reservation, but a conductor's charge will be added to the price. Trains with this requirement are marked [R] in the timetable. How much does it cost to issue a ticket on a Pendolino train? The carrier PKP Intercity has also set a fee of PLN 20 in this case.

There are several situations in which the ticketing fee on the train is not charged. The most important of these is the absence of an operational ticket office at the departure station. If the passenger boards at a station where it is not possible to purchase a ticket in advance, the carriers allow the ticket to be purchased from the conductor at no extra cost. However, in this case too, it is essential to report to the attendant as soon as you board the train.

Travellers with disabilities, travellers with small children, pregnant women or senior citizens are also often exempted from additional costs. Various exceptions are possible depending on the carrier, so it is always advisable to check the regulations and ticketing rules of the specific train company before travelling.

How else can we avoid the costs associated with issuing a ticket on the train? By choosing to book your journey online! Buying a ticket online via the mobile app or the polishtrains.eu website not only avoids the cost of issuing a ticket on the train, but also ensures that the traveller does not have to search for ticket offices or ticket machines at the train station. It's the best way to enjoy a cheaper and stress-free journey that you can plan without leaving home!

In what situations can you legally buy a ticket from the conductor, and when is this treated as riding without a ticket?

If you don't have a ticket, the best and most sensible option is to go to the train attendant as soon as you start your journey. You don't need to worry about whether you can buy a ticket from the conductor, usually if you take the initiative yourself it will be legal and as possible. The situation is different if you do not notify the train crew and the lack of a ticket only comes out during ticket inspection. Such a situation may be considered as travelling without a valid travel document, which may result in a financial penalty (the fine is often even several hundred zlotys).

However, there are situations in which you do not have to go to the conductor, this applies to:

• people with disabilities,
• people over the age of 70,
• children under 4 years of age.

These people can wait for the conductor and buy a ticket during the ticket inspection, but they must have a document confirming their age or disability with them.

What is the step-by-step procedure for purchasing a ticket on board a train - when and to whom do I have to report after boarding?

You can purchase a ticket on the train in 4 simple steps: -** Find the conductor** - usually the train attendant is located in the first carriage, in the case of PKP Intercity this information is also given during the train announcement at the station.

• Inform the conductor that you do not have a ticket and that you want to buy one. You can also give a reason for not buying a ticket, e.g. if there was a break at the ticket office or it was closed or the ticket machine at the station was out of order.
• Pay for your ticket and any additional charges.
• Then take your seat and enjoy your journey!

If you don't know if you can buy a ticket on the train and if the ticket from the conductor is more expensive and you are still on the platform, check if you can buy online. Usually, when there are several minutes left until departure, such a booking should be possible on the PolishTrains website.

Is it possible to pay by card with the conductor and what if the terminal on the train does not work or there is no reception?

Don't worry if it is possible to pay by card with the conductor - this option has been available for many years at PKP Intercity. Usually on popular routes, and especially if WiFi is working on the train, there should be no problem buying a ticket. If such an inconvenience occurs, it is likely that the conductor will ask you to try to pay again or tell you to wait a while in the indicated place for the coverage to return. The situation is different for journeys through smaller towns, where coverage is limited and difficulties occur regularly. If you are travelling through smaller towns and cities, e.g. in the mountains, on POLREGIO or regional railways, it is better to have cash with you just in case - it will help you avoid stress during the journey.

What happens if I get on a Pendolino without a ticket - can the conductor always sell a ticket on board, or are there restrictions?

Whether you can buy a ticket from the conductor on a Pendolino depends on the train's occupancy and it is best to ask the staff while still on the platform. If there are seats available on a particular train, the conductor may issue a ticket with a seat reservation. A pool of tickets without a seat guarantee is also available, which you can also buy from the train staff. If the train is overcrowded and there are no seats or standing tickets available, the conductor has the right to refuse to sell you a ticket and will not let you on the train.

If you are planning to travel by Pendolino, it is best to buy your ticket in advance so that nothing can derail your plans. Tickets for EIP trains are available on the PolishTrains website up to 30 days before departure.