Has anyone tried recently to purchase PKP Rail tickets online? All websites including this one say it is easy and possible to purchase train tickets in advance. I tried several times without success. My Canadian Visa keeps getting declined (it's got a zero balance). So I called the bank and told them we're travelling to Poland soon since the first try went to fraud prevention (can you have too much security?), and they okayed this purchase and future ones, but to no avail. Its the Poland side that is cancelling the purchase.
Has anyone else had this problem. Or can you suggest a workaround?
Thanks for your help.
Posted by
Central Texas
19 posts
I ended up buying train tickets from Warsaw to Krakow through Polrail, a booking service/travel agency. There is a small booking fee added, but I found the site easy to navigate. The website is polrail.com
Posted by
277 posts
I have no problem buying tickets through the Intercity website but foreign visitors who experience problems are often recommended to use this site: https://koleo.pl/en/
Unlike polrail, you pay no commission with koleo
Posted by
8 posts
You may want to try downloading the PKP intercity app also.
I haven't had this problem with a US Capital One card on the app or https://www.intercity.pl
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thank you for your comments. KOLEO was a great referral. I was able to book this ticket, and the customer service is fantastic as he helped me with a problem with PKP. However I need another ticket also and he doesn’t have Krakow to Prague direct route posted. I will go to station and buy ticket when I get to Poland. Note to last poster - I am in Canada not US and using Canadian Visa.
Posted by
39 posts
I am in the US and have been having the same problem trying to buy tix online at PKP. . Note or question to the poster about polrail- the ‘small fee’ to purchase tickets on polrail vs pkp is a $230 usd difference. That’s robbery! Can that be right? I prefer to buy my tix online before we go but I won’t be gouged in a manner such as this. Would love to know if others see the same. Best MT
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Note for previous poster Mit3. See my previous post. I was able to buy tickets from KOLEO for the fast, modern train from Warsaw to Krakow. Unfortunately I was unable to buy our international seats for Krakow to Prague direct (no changes) on any of the sites. So when we got to Warsaw we went to the station and bought them there. Got a reduced rate too.
Posted by
Espirito Santo, Brazil
6 posts
Good evening, chernaivry!
Good to know that you were able to purchase tickets directly on the train station! I hope you did a good trip =)
I currently have a doubt and I hope you can help me: I'll be heading to Krakow next February and I also haven't been able to buy international tickets online from there to Prague. Is it difficult to find tickets on the station with such a short time ahead? I'll be spending 4 days in Krakow. Should I buy them on the first day, just to be sure? Do you believe I'll be able to buy them easily at Krakow's Train Station?
Thanks! 🚉😊
Posted by
OP
7 posts
For previous poster thisisthiago. As we had a 3 city trip Warsaw, Krakow, Prague I bought our tickets in Warsaw for Prague 10 days ahead. You should have no problem buying tickets in Krakow but only one trip a day is direct to Prague and it was pretty busy. Buy as soon as possible. And the station is huge. We had no problem buying tickets in Warsaw. I knew which ones I wanted and made a screenshot on my phone to show the agent. But otherwise there was an information kiosque with someone who spoke English. Buy ASAP and should be no problem. The train was EC114. but the website is confusing and there is another trip that looks like you have to change.
Posted by
39 posts
I’m in Poland now. I’m from Canada and it took several tries to book my first ticket. I have downloaded the Pkp intercity APP and all other ticket purchase have been easy.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
I’m glad it worked for you. I found the KOLEO site helpful when my card didn’t work
Posted by
39 posts
I had this same problem with PKP - after many attempts using different Visa cards, I tried a Mastercard and it worked like magic. Not sure if it's the card issuer or not but this is what finally worked for me!
Posted by
Espirito Santo, Brazil
6 posts
Dear chernaivry,
I haven't been able to book in such an advance. I couldn't find direct trains on the PKP Intercity website (which isn't very user friendly) and Koleo doesn't give me dates either. So, I'm trying get acquainted with the trains schedhule. For what I could see, the only direct train leaving Krakow to Prague leaves at 5:39 AM. Is that really it or am I missing something?
Thanks a lot!
Posted by
OP
7 posts
For thisisthiago. You can only purchase Poland domestic tickets 30 days ahead and Poland international 60 days ahead. I deleted my itinerary but there was around an 11 AM trip we took from Krakow to Prague that got in around 6 PM and it was direct.
Posted by
Lake District, England
9275 posts
@thisisthiago- Looking at diebahn there is a direct train from Krakow Glowny at 1045 daily arriving at Praha Hl N at 1748.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Yes, that was the train we took.
Posted by
Espirito Santo, Brazil
6 posts
I was able to check prices and schedules on polishtrains.eu. Also, the navigation was better than Intercity’s website! Apparently it is also a way to purchase tickets and, as my trip approaches, I might buy the tickets there. I’m just not sure if the international branch works on Sundays (which is when I would leave Krakow to Prague). But, since there’s some time ahead, I can fix the itinerary.