train trip from Berlin to Krakow
Jul 11th, 2011, 09:01 PM
#1
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train trip from Berlin to Krakow
We are looking at travelling from Berlin to Krakow on the train in Oct..
Ive looked at the DB bahn train site for bookings and it lists 2 trips ..
1. The local train that takes 10 hrs to get to krakow...
2. And then a combo trip that combines the local and a high speed train which takes 8hrs..
the second one sounds good for us, we would get there 2 hrs earlier and get to ride a high speed train..... But
my concern is that when we get off the local train, How do we find the high speed train if its on a totally different platform????
And how Long do we have to find it before it leaves????
As we dont know what station this change over happens on, we are not sure of any assistance that would be there to assist us find the other train...
Soo my Q is... Has anyone done this trip and was it easy to find the 2nd train?????
any help would be great.......
Ive looked at the DB bahn train site for bookings and it lists 2 trips ..
1. The local train that takes 10 hrs to get to krakow...
2. And then a combo trip that combines the local and a high speed train which takes 8hrs..
the second one sounds good for us, we would get there 2 hrs earlier and get to ride a high speed train..... But
my concern is that when we get off the local train, How do we find the high speed train if its on a totally different platform????
And how Long do we have to find it before it leaves????
As we dont know what station this change over happens on, we are not sure of any assistance that would be there to assist us find the other train...
Soo my Q is... Has anyone done this trip and was it easy to find the 2nd train?????
any help would be great.......
Jul 11th, 2011, 09:26 PM
#2
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I'm not sure why you think you could find the first train and not the second? That has me wondering. It works the same way. You look at the departure board and see what platform your train leaves from and go to that platform. How were you planning to find the first train?
If you've ever been to an airport it's the same. You look at the departure board, especially if you're taking a connecting flight.
Are you taking the 9:40 train that takes 8 hours 45 minutes and connects in Warsaw? If so then you have 15 minutes to transfer. You click on the arrow on the left to see the train detail.
It is difficult to give particulars if you don't say what train you're taking.
It's easy to find both the first and second trains.
If you've ever been to an airport it's the same. You look at the departure board, especially if you're taking a connecting flight.
Are you taking the 9:40 train that takes 8 hours 45 minutes and connects in Warsaw? If so then you have 15 minutes to transfer. You click on the arrow on the left to see the train detail.
It is difficult to give particulars if you don't say what train you're taking.
It's easy to find both the first and second trains.
Jul 11th, 2011, 10:17 PM
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There are no real high speed trains like ICEs or TGVs involved in neither connection.
The direct train is a EuroCity train which is not a local, but a long-distance train. For some reason, it just sits in one station in PL for 30mins which adds to the longer travel time.
The direct train will be more comfortable if you travel with heavy luggage.
And a 15min connection time in some Warsaw suburb railway station would be too tight for my taste as that amount of delay would be nothing out of the norm.
The direct train is a EuroCity train which is not a local, but a long-distance train. For some reason, it just sits in one station in PL for 30mins which adds to the longer travel time.
The direct train will be more comfortable if you travel with heavy luggage.
And a 15min connection time in some Warsaw suburb railway station would be too tight for my taste as that amount of delay would be nothing out of the norm.
Jul 11th, 2011, 10:19 PM
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thx guys,
the first train i figured would be easy cause it just tells us what station it leaves from, we get there with plenty of time to spare and find the platform and get on..
The second train, i couldnt find on the DB site where the changeover happened or what time... So i guess i panicked a bit, not having been to europe b4 and not knowing how the train system worked or how to navigate around the platforms..
Soo used to using our own cars in Auss, its been years since ive used a train...
thx again for feedback......
the first train i figured would be easy cause it just tells us what station it leaves from, we get there with plenty of time to spare and find the platform and get on..
The second train, i couldnt find on the DB site where the changeover happened or what time... So i guess i panicked a bit, not having been to europe b4 and not knowing how the train system worked or how to navigate around the platforms..
Soo used to using our own cars in Auss, its been years since ive used a train...
thx again for feedback......
Jul 11th, 2011, 10:34 PM
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Each connection shown on DB's website has an arrow-shaped bullet point on its left side.
If you click on that arrow, details of that connection unfold and you can see where you have to change to which other train(s).
If you then click on the number of the trains (e.g. EC43), it will tell show in a new window the routing of the train, and how many stops it makes.
Berlin main station is a pretty huge one. It's wise to get there a bit earlier (but not more than half an hour). The direct EC to Krakow leaves from the lower /underground tracks.
If you click on that arrow, details of that connection unfold and you can see where you have to change to which other train(s).
If you then click on the number of the trains (e.g. EC43), it will tell show in a new window the routing of the train, and how many stops it makes.
Berlin main station is a pretty huge one. It's wise to get there a bit earlier (but not more than half an hour). The direct EC to Krakow leaves from the lower /underground tracks.
Jul 11th, 2011, 10:50 PM
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thx Guys,
Not sure what (tief)means, but after i followed ur steps on the Bahn site i found the transfer in warsaw and we have 24 mins???
So maybe that is enuf time for us novices to get to the other train...
Berlin Hbf (tief) Su, 09.10.11 dep 09:35 EC 249 Eurocity
Krakow Glowny Su, 09.10.11 arr 19:47
or
Berlin Hbf Su, 09.10.11 dep 09:40 EC 43
Berlin-Warszawa-Express
Subject to compulsory reservation,
Warszawa Zachodnia Su, 09.10.11 arr 15.00
Transfer time 24 min.
Adjust the transfer time
Warszawa Zachodnia Su, 09.10.11 dep 15:24 EIC 5310
Express InterCity
Subject to compulsory reservation, Bar coach
Krakow Glowny Su, 09.10.11 arr 17:53
also trying to pick diff between 2nd an 1st class tickets???
and if worth dbl the fare????
Not sure what (tief)means, but after i followed ur steps on the Bahn site i found the transfer in warsaw and we have 24 mins???
So maybe that is enuf time for us novices to get to the other train...
Berlin Hbf (tief) Su, 09.10.11 dep 09:35 EC 249 Eurocity
Krakow Glowny Su, 09.10.11 arr 19:47
or
Berlin Hbf Su, 09.10.11 dep 09:40 EC 43
Berlin-Warszawa-Express
Subject to compulsory reservation,
Warszawa Zachodnia Su, 09.10.11 arr 15.00
Transfer time 24 min.
Adjust the transfer time
Warszawa Zachodnia Su, 09.10.11 dep 15:24 EIC 5310
Express InterCity
Subject to compulsory reservation, Bar coach
Krakow Glowny Su, 09.10.11 arr 17:53
also trying to pick diff between 2nd an 1st class tickets???
and if worth dbl the fare????
Jul 12th, 2011, 12:35 AM
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Both the direct and the chnage-at-Warsaw options involve comfortable, modern air-con trains. So no difference there.
The direct berlin-Krakow train will be bookable online at www.bahn.de, with fares from 29 euros 2nd class, 69 euros in 1st class. Personally, I'd splash out on first class if i got a good rate, but it's hardly necessary if you're on a budget, as 2nd class is very good.
The option with a change won't be bookable online, you can book Berlin-Warsaw online but will need to book Warsaw-Krakow at the station and won't have time for that really, not if the Berlin train arrives a bit late.
Warsaw Zachodnia is a bit of a dump, a station with few facilities on the outskirts of warsaw, though of course if you stayed on the train to change at warsaw Centralna I bet that would reduce the interchange time from 24 to zero minutes!
So for price and bookability I'd tend to go with the 'Wawel' which is the name for the direct EuroCity train Berlin-Krakow. Take a bottle of wine and a picnic, a good book, and enjoy the ride.
The direct berlin-Krakow train will be bookable online at www.bahn.de, with fares from 29 euros 2nd class, 69 euros in 1st class. Personally, I'd splash out on first class if i got a good rate, but it's hardly necessary if you're on a budget, as 2nd class is very good.
The option with a change won't be bookable online, you can book Berlin-Warsaw online but will need to book Warsaw-Krakow at the station and won't have time for that really, not if the Berlin train arrives a bit late.
Warsaw Zachodnia is a bit of a dump, a station with few facilities on the outskirts of warsaw, though of course if you stayed on the train to change at warsaw Centralna I bet that would reduce the interchange time from 24 to zero minutes!
So for price and bookability I'd tend to go with the 'Wawel' which is the name for the direct EuroCity train Berlin-Krakow. Take a bottle of wine and a picnic, a good book, and enjoy the ride.
Jul 12th, 2011, 03:12 AM
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<i>Not sure what (tief)means</i>
tief means "low", as in lower level. Where the train to Krakow departs from.
J62 is spot on.
On Oct. 9, you can fly Berlin-Krakow nonstop with Airbelin.com for €81 one-way (fees, taxes, etc incl.) at comfortable times (dep 12.30pm, arr 1.45pm).
tief means "low", as in lower level. Where the train to Krakow departs from.
J62 is spot on.
On Oct. 9, you can fly Berlin-Krakow nonstop with Airbelin.com for €81 one-way (fees, taxes, etc incl.) at comfortable times (dep 12.30pm, arr 1.45pm).
Jul 13th, 2011, 01:39 AM
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thx people.. all info gratefully excepted..
We just wanted to add a "Train trip" on our adventure rather than another flight, thats why we wanted to go by train..
i think we are tending towards the direct route and stay on the eurocity train instead of the changeover..as suggested by man in seat 61.... wine and food and watch the scenery go past..
Does anyone know where we can find pics of 2nd an 1st class on these trains???? would help us make the decision which one to go with...
We just wanted to add a "Train trip" on our adventure rather than another flight, thats why we wanted to go by train..
i think we are tending towards the direct route and stay on the eurocity train instead of the changeover..as suggested by man in seat 61.... wine and food and watch the scenery go past..
Does anyone know where we can find pics of 2nd an 1st class on these trains???? would help us make the decision which one to go with...
Jul 13th, 2011, 04:53 AM
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I've checked a few "railspotter" websites in German, and the usual cars seem to be open-plan 2-2 in 2nd class, and 2-1 in 1st class.
The "Wawel" eurocity does not have a dining or buffet car. So you definetely want to BYO food and beverages!
It will be a long and slow ride: Berlin-Krakow are 600kms, and the train needs more than 10 hours.
If you want to get a first glance at what to expect, go to Google and do a video search for "eurocity wawel"
The "Wawel" eurocity does not have a dining or buffet car. So you definetely want to BYO food and beverages!
It will be a long and slow ride: Berlin-Krakow are 600kms, and the train needs more than 10 hours.
If you want to get a first glance at what to expect, go to Google and do a video search for "eurocity wawel"
Jul 22nd, 2011, 04:04 AM
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2-2 --> two seats on either side of a center aisle
2-1 --> two (wider) seats on one side, and just one (wider) seat on the other
In an open-plan layout, usually not all seats face one direction (like in an airplane), but you will find rows facing either direction, some seats also grouped in "vis-a-vis" sections with a small table in between.
2-1 --> two (wider) seats on one side, and just one (wider) seat on the other
In an open-plan layout, usually not all seats face one direction (like in an airplane), but you will find rows facing either direction, some seats also grouped in "vis-a-vis" sections with a small table in between.
