What is a PKP e-ticket? | PolishTrains

How to buy a PKP e-ticket step by step

• Search for a connection – in the PolishTrains search engine, enter the departure station, destination station, date and number of passengers.

• Choose a connection – select a PKP or other carrier's ticket from the list of results.

• *Enter the details – select the carriage class, enter the passengers' details and ticket type. ### At a glance

• PKP e-tickets do not need to be printed for domestic journeys on PKP Intercity and regional carriers
• The conductor scans a QR code on your phone screen or printout to verify validity
• For international journeys, a printed paper ticket is required - electronic tickets are not accepted at borders
• Tickets can be purchased without registering an account; only an email address and phone number are needed
• Save the PDF offline before boarding to ensure the ticket is accessible without an internet connection
• A VAT invoice for business expenses can be requested at the time of purchase If you have any problems, contact PolishTrains Customer Service.

Wondering if you need to print out your PKP e-ticket? This is the PolishTrains standard for all carriers - regardless of whether you are buying a PKP Intercity, RegioJet or Deutsche Bahn ticket. You do not need to create an account. Simply provide your email address and telephone number. We are already rushing with the answer! There is no need to print your ticket for domestic journeys on PKP Intercity and regional carriers. You can show your ticket on your smartphone screen during the check. All you need to do is open the file with the ticket and give it to the conductor for inspection - he will scan the QR code available on the ticket with a special scanner, thus determining its validity and what data is on it. You can buy domestic tickets on PolishTrains up to 30 days before travelling, and international tickets up to 60 days before travelling. The only thing you need to carry with you is your proof of identity or an electronic version of it - mIdentity in the mCitizen app.

You can check the current timetable after changes on an ongoing basis in the PolishTrains search engine, without looking for it on the carrier's website. If you prefer to have extra security, e.g. in case your phone is disconnected, you can also print out the ticket and use the printed paper version. Verification by the conductor follows the same principle, he scans the QR code available on the printout.

The situation is different for international journeys. Electronic tickets are not accepted for journeys across borders. You must carry a paper version with you. This does not mean you have to buy your ticket at the ticket office - you can buy it online and print it out yourself. In addition, you should take your passport or identity card with you, as the mCitizen app is only recognised for domestic journeys.

Buy your e-ticket conveniently on the PolishTrains website. It is a quick and simple solution, which is the best alternative to purchasing tickets at a ticket office or ticket machine. Most importantly, you can make a reservation for the selected connection almost 24 hours a day, except for service interruptions - for PKP Intercity they take place every day from 23:30 - 0:30, and on the first day of the month they are extended 23:30 - 1:00.

How to buy a PKP e-ticket on the PolishTrains website - instructions in a few simple steps:

• Search for a connection - on the PolishTrains homepage you will find a search engine where you have to enter all the necessary information, such as the starting and ending station, the day of departure and the number of passengers.
• Choose a connection - from the list of results that will appear on the page, select the connection you are interested in.
• Book your journey - select the carriage class, enter your passenger details and type of tickets. This step will be easier if you already have an account with PolishTrains - some of the data will then be filled in automatically.
• Make payment - quick online transfers, credit card transactions, Blik payment authorisation and deferred payments are available.
• Download your ticket - once you have paid for your booking, your e-ticket will be sent to you by email, and you will also find it in your PolishTrains account (if you have previously created one).

Want to use the mobile app? For information on how to buy a PKP e-ticket via the PolishTrains app, see the article: PolishTrains - the app for buying PKP tickets. If you have any problems, contact PolishTrains Customer Service.

You can request a refund for an electronic ticket bought on PolishTrains online, using the form on the website. Refund conditions and fees depend on the carrier and fare, so there is no single rule for all connections. What does a PKP e-ticket look like? First of all, you will find on it the necessary information about the traveller and the connection in question.

• the name of one of the passengers (this person must be in possession of an identity document),
• train number, route,
• the date and time of departure from yourdeparture station,
• date and time of arrival at your destination station,
• train carriage number and seat (for PKP Intercity connections where reservations apply),
• the fare and the concessions you are entitled to (all persons with concessions must have a document confirming their right to use them),
• QR code of the ticket to show to the conductor (each ticket has a different code).

You can check the current rates, fee calculator and rules for other carriers on the PolishTrains help page. You already know how to read a PKP e-ticket. What's more, you can easily check the details of your journey, even when looking at it for the first time. The layout of this electronic document is designed to be clear and easy to read.

Want to know how to return a PKP e-ticket purchased from the PolishTrains website? It's easier than you think! You can return your tickets conveniently online, just use the appropriate forms available on the website.

The rules for returning domestic PKP Intercity tickets in a nutshell:

• Ticket refunds are possible up to 20 minutes before the scheduled train departure.
• The cancellation of a ticket involves a fee - both by the carrier (in the amount of 15% of the ticket price) and the PolishTrains service,
• The refund for the ticket is made through the same channel as the payment. Usually the funds appear in the user's bank account within 3 days. An electronic ticket looks the same regardless of the train class, so on PolishTrains you can buy one both for faster EIC and EIP trains with compulsory reservations and for slower IC trains. When buying on PolishTrains, you receive a ticket in the standard PDF format. Seat reservation is included in the ticket price in each of the 5 classes, from Low Cost to Astra. Refund conditions depend on the fare, so you can check the details on the PolishTrains help page.

Deutsche Bahn

Deutsche Bahn operates domestic ICE and IC connections in Germany as well as cross-border routes, including to Poland. Refund conditions depend on the fare, and you can check the current rules on the PolishTrains help page.

Italo NTV

Italo operates exclusively on domestic routes in Italy, including between Rzymem, Mediolanem, Florencją, Wenecją and Neapolem.

You can also buy a PKP e-ticket for a business trip, and you will be able to deduct VAT as soon as you buy it. PolishTrains is the issuer. If you need an invoice correction or have questions about the settlement, contact PolishTrains Customer Service. To do this, business travellers must tick the 'I want a VAT invoice' checkbox when booking a journey on the PolishTrains website and enter the company details.

Most importantly, the VAT invoice is issued automatically and sent together with the ticket to the email address provided during booking.

If you are going on a business trip, also check out the article: Business travel with PKP - a guide for employees.

The PKP e-ticket is a convenient solution available for purchase online. On PolishTrains, you can buy it without registering, in PLN and with the option of deferred payment. PolishTrains is the issuer. Without leaving home and at almost any time of the day, you can buy your ticket on the website and on the PolishTrains mobile application. If you need an invoice correction or have questions about the settlement, contact PolishTrains Customer Service. The whole process takes only a few minutes. Importantly, for domestic journeys you do not need to print out the ticket, and if you need a VAT invoice - after selecting the appropriate option when booking, you will receive it together with the e-ticket to your email address.

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.

1. what should you do if you have not received an e-ticket in the mail?

First of all, check the SPAM folder. If you have not found your e-ticket there, please contact PolishTrains Customer Service (only available for tickets purchased via PolishTrains).

Do I need to print out my e-ticket?

If you are travelling on domestic trains, an electronic version of your ticket is sufficient. For international connections, you must carry a paper version.

3. Does the return of an e-ticket always incur a fee?

There is a processing fee for returning a ticket, charged by the Carrier and the PolishTrains service. The amount of the deduction depends on the type of ticket (domestic/international).

4: Can I buy an electronic ticket from the conductor?

No. You can only buy a paper ticket from the conductor, which may incur an additional charge. The e-ticket can only be purchased online - for example on the PolishTrains website.