Krakow Travel Forum

Hi. Just wondered if anyone could give me info on seat reservations on Polish trains. One of the trains I will be travelling on says seat reservations are mandatory so I should automatically be given a seat reservation ticket. Is this true? How do I get a seat reservation for the other trains (I will be travelling on POS trains)? I have written the details down for the trains as I know that most of the people working in the station don't speak English.
When travelling in Slovakia I bought a train ticket for a train in which seat reservations were apparently mandatory. The ticket did not contain a seat reservation so I had no seat for the first hour of the journey as the train was full. I don't want this happening again :(

When you buy a ticket for a train with mandatory reservation in Poland (IC, EC, Ex, TLK) you are automatically given a seat reservation ticket.
Only in case you buy your ticket late, just before the train leaves and there is no seats available, you may get a ticket without seat reservation.
In POS (pospieszny = fast train, which doesn't mean it's really fast ;) ) trains there is no possibility to make a seat reservation. Try to be the first on the train ;)

Thanks for the info. For one of the routes (Tarnow-Katowice) there are only POS or OSO trains. I can't be first on the train as there are about 5/6 stops before Tarnow. As I can't make a seat reservation would it be best to travel 1st class? Apparently it's not as crowded. Also, if there are no seats in 1st class, can I sit in 2nd class with a 1st class ticket?

Yes you can use your 1st class ticket in 2nd one. Trains might be busy so if there are only POS or OSO trains I'd recommend to by a first class ticket.

Hi, if u are going to travel by train POS class u must know, that this kind of train is cheap but...with no seat :( I'm sorry. If u want seat u must take IC or EXpress train. There u are sure that u will have a seat :).
If u want to make a reservation by net it is a page www.pkp.pl. This is eanglish version: https://bilet.intercity.pl/irez/.
So take care and good luck
Kasia

p.s. ...it is true that people who warks in train in Poland doesn't know english...ech...But in "information" on train station they should know english. Try :)
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