train from krakow to prague

Old Feb 1st, 2003, 08:36 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
train from krakow to prague

I know there are people here who can tell me how best to deal with the train. 1. Should we take an overnight train as the best option? 2. Do we make reservations here before we leave for Krakow or can we do it when we get there? 3. Should we reserve 1st class or what-we would want to sleep comfortably? 4. There are 4 of us,is there any info you think we should have that I didn't ask? Thanks in advance. By the way, we're going the middle of May.
zwho is offline  
Old Feb 1st, 2003, 11:55 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Timetable. Table 95 shows tour train. Board at Krakow Glowna from about 2215. Train leaves 2245. Wake for frontier check (but stay in bed) about 0030. Arrive Prague Glowny 0720. The cheaper choice is a three berth compartment for three of you, and a berth with strangers for the fourth. That might cost 80 euros per person. For about 120 euros a person you can take two compartments, each of which takes two people.

There are thieves about in both stations. When you book your journey you should ask the numbers of your departure platform, and of your sleeper berths. You should take a taxi straight from your hotel to the roof of the station, which ids a car park. From there lifts go straight down to platforms. There you take a luggage trolley if need be, and walk along to your car. Before you draw into Prague you should take your passport and all valuables except a little money and a credit card, and put them in a packet in the top of your big bag. On arrival at your Prague hotel you can take them out at reception.

[email protected]
ben_haines_london is offline  
Old Feb 3rd, 2003, 03:53 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I took a trip in September. 2002 to Prague, Krakow, Budapest. I flew to Prague and then took a train to Krakow. I took the 7:52 train out of Prague to Krakow. It was scheduled to arrive at 16:13 in Krakow. An 8 hrs 21 min trip. This required a change at Prerov. The trip from Prague to Prerov was a very rough ride. I thought that I was going to get whiplash when I went to the bathroom. We were scheduled to arrive in Prerov at 11:25 and leave at 11:56, but did not arrive until 12:00. Our new train was still there. We rush to our new train and then wait another 15 minutes before leaving. The train from Prerov to Krakow was a lot better. We traveled 2nd class, which cost me around $31 U.S. per person. The cars had the 6 passenger compartments. There was not much difference in 1st class and 2nd class. We wish that we had taken 1st class. Our 2nd class compartment had 5 people in it. We could not get any sleep. Most of the 1st class compartments only had 1 person in them.

denis is offline  
Old Feb 3rd, 2003, 03:55 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I also took a train back from Krakow to Prague. I decided to try the overnight train. The train left Krakow 22:45 and was scheduled to arrive at Prague 07:20. An 8 hrs 35 min trip. I bought the ticket in Krakow the night before I left. The Krakow train station is a large train station. One problem that I had was finding the window that sold international tickets. The person that was at the information window at that time did not speak English. When I did find the international window, the woman at the window spoke good English. It cost around $64 U.S. per person. I am not sure what kind of ticket I got. That is whether it was a couchette or a sleeper. It was a small compartment with a bunk bed for 2 people. As you enter the compartment on the right was a small closet for your luggage and beside that a small table. On the table was a bottle of water and a croissant. We had already bought food for the trip. On the left was the bunk bed. When we got to the train, the conductor took our tickets. When we got on the train, a young couple had the aisle blocked with a huge pile of luggage. They apparently did not read the article that they should travel light when traveling on a train. We had bed number 11 and 13. We were not sure that we were on the right car. The numbers started at 40 when we got on the car, but there was nothing that we could do. The young couple with all the luggage had everybody blocked at the door. It had to be at least 15 minutes before they got all their luggage in their compartment. They also had a problem of finding room in the small compartment to put all that luggage. After they clear their luggage, we go to the back of the car and our compartment was the last one.
denis is offline  
Old Feb 3rd, 2003, 04:02 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There was a bathroom on the end next to our compartment. We move into our compartment and settle in. There was a regular lock on the inside plus a chain lock on the door. I did not see any doors connecting the cars. It looked like we were restricted to that one car. I don't remember the number of compartments on the car, but I believe that it was around five. They were all occupied. There was no smoking allowed in the compartments. When we leave the Krakow station, there was a terrible smell in the compartment. Everybody was concerned and out in the aisle. They were afraid of a fire on the car. The conductor was Polish and did not speak much English, but we did manage to communicate ok. There were diesel fumes from the locomotive coming in through the ventilation system. The conductor said that they would go away when we reached the border and changed locomotives. We had to lower our window in our compartment to get some fresh air. The smell did finally go away. When we get to the Czech border, the Polish border police come around. They knock on the door and check passport. About 10 minutes later, the Czech border police come around. They knock on the door and check passport. It was a very rough ride and hard to get any sleep. There were 17 stops before we got to Prague. When we get near Prague, the conductor gives our tickets back. We arrive at Prague about one hour late. There was only 2nd class coach available on this train. From what I could tell, there was only one class for the couchette/sleeper. There was no 1st or 2nd class. When I got off the train, I saw on the next car what I believe to be two bunk beds in each compartment. It sounds like it was a bad trip, but I would take the overnight train again.

denis is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mileagemaven
Europe
5
Mar 10th, 2011 04:41 PM
laurastu
Europe
4
Jun 8th, 2010 01:11 AM
jimfollin
Europe
4
Apr 12th, 2009 06:59 PM
kate1
Europe
7
Jul 21st, 2006 02:54 AM
Maddie
Europe
4
Oct 3rd, 2003 03:46 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -