1st or 2nd Class train ticket in Poland
 

Would you recommend 1st or 2nd class train tickets when travelling between Warsaw and Krakow??

If you can afford first class and don't have to make any sacrifices then book it! First will always have some edge over second, even if it is very little.

Thanks m kingdom2,
Does anyone know if its much more expensive, and if so, is it worth it? or is 2nd class quite adequate? My concerns would be cleanliness and safety mainly.

Much is a relative term and "worth it" is a total judgement call. It will be worth it to some, and not worth it to others. You will need to get the prices and determine for yourself it it would be worth it to you.

Second class is just as safe. Actually it may be safer since pickpocketing is common on trains in Poland -- and they target the first class cars not the second.
Cleanliness is hit and miss, but generally speaking there is no reason to think that a first class car on any given train is going to be any cleaner than one in second class.

That said. I took only first class cars in Poland. It was worth it to me.

also took first class train with seat reservation (surcharge) from vienna to krakow..
thinking it was "necessary" to have nicer journey.
but we chuckled when we went through second class and decided there was hardly any difference at all, except our car was empty. (who gets seat reservations in the winter???)

we had a good laugh, and it was very reasonable since we were able to get some special deal since there were two of us..dont know all the details, but if money were an issue.. would not bother with first class unless it is a crowded time of year and you want a window seat or something.

we had difficulty trying to figure out what the rate was going to be on internet and from the train station in spain trying to inform us.. but luckily the ticket person in vienna was very patient and explained it all to us, as we were unaware of all the possible discounts there for train travel.

Keep in mind that the trip is quite short - 2 hours or so. I had 2nd class tickets for the night train a few weeks ago and was fine. If the difference in price is a few dollars, go for 1st class; otherwise, no need to waste extra money.

I went from Vienna to Krakow in December and travelled 2nd class. It was just fine. I like the train cars that have compartments. I would look for one that had another female in it and made a nice friend of a Polish school teacher. The bathroom is a little bigger in first class and there may be one less seat in the compartment; but, three seats on each side are not too cozy and there is plenty of room for the suitcases above the seats.

How old are you? Poland has 1/2 price deal for those over 60. First class has seats for 3. Second class has seats for 4. Same space. Sometimes standees fill access aisles in both classes. Travel between 9 AM and 3 PM. Consult with hotel concierge or travel agent. Search P{oland for PKP. Bus travel, see the country. Search Polski Express.

Thanks GSteed, I'm not in the over 60's catagory yet!! I will be travelling at approx. noon or 1pm on Sat.2nd Oct. Do you think I should reserve a 2nd Class seat in advance or take my chances. If you recommend booking in advance, do I collect the tickets at the train station over there? Maybe at that time of year the trains may not be too full. I'm travelling from Warsaw to Krakow.

I can't tell you what 2nd class in Poland is like. 1st class from Warsaw to Krakow was fine and then we took a sleeper compartment from Krakow to Prague. What struck me as a little funny/strange is that all the people in our car were Americans. It was all sleeper compartments and they were very nice, really. Bottled water, pillows and blankets looked very sanitary, but the bathroom at each end of the car really sucked! In other countries I think the only difference was having a reserved seat. I could be wrong.

Not that it makes much difference, but 2nd class compartments in Warsaw/Krakow trains actually sit 6 (not 4). At least my train did. I was traveling in late August and the train was only half full. That having been said, Eastern European train stations can often get crowded and it may take you some time to purchase your tickets. I would probably show up a day in advance and make reservations (if I'm not mistaken, the cost of reservation on this route is 2 euros). Otherwise, just give yourself extra time on your day of travel and you should be fine.

PKP is cutting its schedules. Too many citizens are opting for automobiles. Visit Warszawa Centralia and inquire about schedules, train class and such. Are you going to return? When? Prepare note. Warszawa to Krakow. How many. When. Class. You can inquire about price difference. Check schedule boards. Odjazdy - depart. Platform? Difficult? Tourist agencies can sell you ticket. Day trains have less troubles than night trains. Warszawa-Krakow route is important to PKP so trains are usually clean, safe and comfortable.

One more note. The taxi fare to Centralia may be more than the train fare to Krakow!

Train travel is easy and efficient in Poland and much safer than traveling by automobile. I lived in Poland for 4 years and rode trains everywhere. All classes of service are relatively safe, the primary difference being who your cabin or seat mates might be. Generally, as you might expect, the more expensive the ticket the more refined the passenger. Just use common sense (e.g. don't leave valuables in your seat if you go to the restroom; don't play with high-tech gadgets, etc.) and your safety won't be an issue.

There are several classes of rail service from Warsaw to Krakow, but the ones that will be of interest are Intercity (IC) and Expressowy (EX). IC trains are a bit nicer. Cars are air conditioned and they tend to be quieter as they are newer. On an IC, 2nd class is quite comforable though not as spacious as 1st class. Also, first class has an attendant that comes around with a coffee/snack cart. Otherwise, you can make your way to the dining car (WARS). Ex trains are comfortable as well though there does tend to be comfort difference between 1st and 2nd class. Again, first class offers a snack cart.

If I recall correctly, the IC from Warsaw to Krakow will cost about 100zl ($25) for 1st class and 75zl ($17) for 2nd. EX trains are slightly cheaper. One other difference is the time the trip takes. The IC makes only a few stops and takes 3 horus. The EX train makes a few more stop and takes around 4 hours.

Finally, as another person suggested, buy your tickets ahead of time, if possible. You won't have a problem getting a seat, but lines at the station in Warsaw can be quite long. Don't worry about a language barrier as most of the ticket seller speak English. Or, write down your route, travel times (posted on big boards above the cashiers' windows), travel class, smoking/non-smoking preference and give that to the cashier. Your ticket will show you which car/wagon your are assigned to and seat number. YOu'll have to check another board to see which track you leave from.

One word of caution, the rain stations are full of pick pockets. Protect your valuables when walking through the train stations.

PKP maintains an English version website. It may be helpful to check it out. http://www.pkp.pl/english/index.php

Thanks ipichiago, you've been very helpful!!