Poland Trains
Everything You Need to Know About Poland Train Travel
Poland trains are one of the best ways to explore this vast and varied country — connecting Warsaw with major Polish cities across a rail network that has been significantly upgraded in recent years and continues to expand. Whether you're booking a high speed train from Warsaw to Krakow, travelling west to Wroclaw, heading north to Gdansk, or crossing into other countries on an international connection, trains in Poland offer a fast, comfortable, and straightforward way to travel.
Polish railways are operated primarily by PKP Intercity — the national long distance rail company responsible for express intercity and high speed services across the country. PKP Intercity connects Warsaw with all major Polish cities and provides international connections to Berlin, Prague, Vienna, and other European cities. The rail network radiates from Warsaw Centralna — the capital's main railway station — with lines extending in all directions across the country. Express intercity and Pendolino trains cover the main corridors at speeds of up to 200 km/h on upgraded high speed rail lines, making rail the fastest practical option for city-to-city travel across Poland.
Beyond PKP Intercity, the network also includes TLK trains on longer distance conventional routes and regional services operated across all parts of the country, meaning virtually every city and town in Poland is reachable by rail. All train tickets for domestic and international Polish routes can be compared and booked in advance through HighSpeedTrains.
High Speed Trains in Poland — Express Intercity and Pendolino at 200 km/h
Poland's high speed rail services are operated by PKP Intercity under the Express Intercity Premium brand, using Pendolino trains built by Alstom. These high speed trains reach a maximum speed of 200 km/h on upgraded high speed rail lines — the fastest trains in Poland and among the fastest in central and eastern Europe. The Pendolino connects Warsaw with Krakow in around 2 hours 15 minutes, Warsaw to Wroclaw in around 2 hours 25 minutes, and Warsaw to Gdansk in around 2 hours 25 minutes, making journey times between major Polish cities highly competitive with driving or flying.
Express intercity trains offer two travel classes — first class and second class — with comfortable seats, free WiFi, power sockets, air conditioning, and a restaurant car on most services. Train classes on Pendolino trains include a premium first class section with wider seats and more legroom, well suited for business travellers on longer journeys. Seat reservations are compulsory on all Express Intercity Premium services and are included when you book train tickets through HighSpeedTrains.
Popular high speed routes include Warsaw to Krakow, Krakow to Warsaw, Warsaw to Wroclaw, Wroclaw to Warsaw, Warsaw to Gdansk, and Gdansk to Warsaw. Book all Express Intercity and Pendolino train tickets through HighSpeedTrains.
Popular questions
Popular questions
Poland trains fall into several categories. Express Intercity Premium trains — the Pendolino — are the fastest, reaching 200 km/h on high speed rail lines between major Polish cities. Express Intercity trains serve the same main routes on conventional rolling stock at slightly lower speeds. TLK trains operate on longer distance conventional routes across the country. Regional trains connect smaller cities and towns across the Polish rail network.
The easiest way to book train tickets for Poland is online in advance through HighSpeedTrains. You'll receive an instant e-ticket, choose your preferred seat and class, and avoid queuing at the railway station. Booking in advance is particularly important on Express Intercity and Pendolino services, where the best fares and seat reservations fill up quickly on popular routes. Train tickets are also available at station ticket machines and counters, but online booking gives you the widest choice of travel times and train classes for your trip.
The CPK program — Centralny Port Komunikacyjny — is Poland's flagship infrastructure project, combining a major new airport hub between Warsaw and Lodz with a new network of high speed rail lines across the country. All this new infrastructure is designed to cut travel times between Polish cities and to improve international connections to other countries across Europe. The first phase of the project covers the new airport and the initial high speed rail lines linking it with Warsaw and other major cities. Once complete, the CPK program is expected to transform rail travel in Poland, with new lines designed for speeds well above the current 200 km/h maximum on existing Polish tracks.
Yes — Poland has international connections to several European countries. Express Intercity trains link Warsaw with Berlin, Prague, and Vienna, with journey times of around 5 to 6 hours to Berlin and Prague. Rail Baltica will provide high speed rail links to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia once construction is complete. Night train services also connect Polish cities with destinations in other countries including Austria and Hungary. International train tickets from Poland can be searched and booked through HighSpeedTrains, with instant e-tickets and seat selection at the time of booking.
The fastest trains in Poland are the Pendolino trains operated by PKP Intercity under the Express Intercity Premium brand. These high speed trains reach a maximum speed of 200 km/h on upgraded high speed rail lines, connecting Warsaw with Krakow in around 2 hours 15 minutes and with Wroclaw and Gdansk in around 2 hours 25 minutes. The Pendolino fleet uses modern rolling stock with comfortable seats, free WiFi, power sockets, and a restaurant car on board. Future high speed rail lines under the CPK program are expected to allow even higher speeds once the new infrastructure enters commercial service.
Rail Baltica is a separate but complementary high speed rail project connecting Poland with the Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania — via a new line running north from Warsaw through Bialystok to the Lithuanian border. Rail Baltica will provide fast connections between Warsaw and Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn, significantly improving international connections between Poland and the rest of northern Europe. Book all current Poland train tickets through HighSpeedTrains while these infrastructure projects develop. Rail Baltica is one of the largest rail infrastructure projects in Europe, funded in part by the EU, and is expected to enter commercial service in phases over the coming years. Once complete, it will link Warsaw with the Baltic capitals at speeds far above those currently possible on the existing conventional lines.
Free WiFi is available on all Express Intercity Premium Pendolino trains and on most Express Intercity services operated by PKP Intercity. Power sockets are provided at seats throughout both first class and second class carriages on high speed trains, making it easy to work or charge devices during the journey. TLK trains on conventional routes may not always offer WiFi or power sockets depending on the rolling stock in use. Regional trains generally do not offer onboard WiFi.
Poland's high speed rail services make city-to-city travel fast and convenient. Warsaw to Krakow takes around 2 hours 15 minutes on a Pendolino — covering a distance of approximately 300 km. Warsaw to Wroclaw takes around 2 hours 25 minutes, and Warsaw to Gdansk is similarly around 2 hours 25 minutes on the fastest express intercity services. Krakow to Wroclaw takes around 2 hours. These travel times make high speed trains the fastest practical option between major Polish cities, outperforming driving on the same routes and avoiding the time overhead of flying.
Yes — night train services operate on select routes within Poland and on some international connections to other countries. Overnight trains are a practical option for covering longer distances without losing a day of travel time — departing in the evening and arriving the following morning. Sleeper and couchette options are available on some services. Night train tickets should be booked well in advance, particularly during busy travel periods.
Train tickets for Express Intercity and Pendolino services in Poland are released well in advance of the departure date, and booking early gives you the widest choice of seat reservations, travel classes, and departure times. This is especially important on busy routes like Warsaw to Krakow and Warsaw to Gdansk during peak travel periods, public holidays, and weekends when trains fill up quickly. For night train services, advance booking is essential as sleeping accommodation is limited. Book your Poland trains in advance through HighSpeedTrains for an instant e-ticket and full seat selection at the time of purchase.
The main railway stations in Poland used for long distance travel include Warsaw Centralna — the capital's central station and the main hub for all Express Intercity, Pendolino, and international departures — along with Krakow Glowny, Wroclaw Glowny, Gdansk Glowny, and Poznan Glowny. All major stations are well connected to local public transport, making onward travel straightforward on arrival. Warsaw Centralna is located in the city centre and connects directly with the Warsaw metro, making it easy to reach from anywhere in the capital.