Prague – Warsaw sleeper

[A S Leib]

I'm trying to make a reservation for the sleeper service from Prague to Warsaw on 28 June; I think 60 days is the furthest you can book in advance for PKP services and that's around ten weeks away, so is there any better option than repeatedly checking over the next two or three weeks to see when reservations become available? Is there a noticeable price difference between booking via ČD, PKP or ÖBB / others? There's also a reference to closures between Lipník and Hranice; would that affect the overnight service?

 

[Wandering Pom]

The "Man in Seat 61" site - see https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Prague.htm#Prague-Warsaw - recommends booking with ČD. That page confirms that bookings normally open 60 days in advance; it also states specifically:

There are normally berths available even on the day of departure, but the sleeper can leave fully-booked, so book in advance to be sure.

That implies to me that it's very unlikely to sell out rapidly, if at all.

The ČD notice for the Lipnik - Hranice engineering work - see https://www.cd.cz/jizdni-rad/omezeni-provozu/vyluka/15787/ - includes EN443 (the train including the Warsaw sleeper cars) in the list headed "Delay on double track 0-10 minutes" (Zpoždění na dvoukolejné trati 0–10 minut) so it doesn't look as if there's any significant impact.

 

[rvdborgt]

If you want to book a ticket plus reservation, compare at least ČD and PKP.
If you want to book a reservation only, then AFAIK ČD is your only option to book online.

 

[A S Leib]

Thank you.

 

[37201xoIM]

All other things being equal, I would always recommend ČD's website and booking engine, as it's one of Europe's best.

 

[quantinghome]

There's also a reference to closures between Lipník and Hranice; would that affect the overnight service?

I went through this section yesterday (sleeper from Krakow to Linz) and there was only a few minutes delay.

 

[A S Leib]

(Google Translated from ČD)

Booking restrictions

Due to a breakdown in communication with foreign reservation systems, it is not possible to purchase reservations for most trains abroad, or for trains traveling from abroad to the Czech Republic. We are working hard to fix the problem. We apologize for the problems caused.

A Friday evening at the end of June's probably too busy to risk going to a ticket office on the day or the day before; which other options are there? Trying to email or call ČD or PKP? There's 51 days until I'm planning on travelling, so tickets should be available by now.

 

[rvdborgt]

Indeed you shouldn't wait until the day before but it rather looks to me like reservations for the summer timetable (starting 9 June) haven't been opened yet. Same for the day trains.
I don't see that warning anywhere (anymore?) and on dates until 8 June (7 June for the night train) I can get prices for reservation only on cd.cz.

 

[doc7austin]

I think 60 days is the furthest you can book in advance for PKP services and that's around ten weeks away,

Yes, this might be true.
But often on bookings only open 4 or 6 weeks before travel, because engineering work timetables are only fixed at the last minute.
Timetables for trains to/from/in Poland are traditionally finalized only at short notice.
If you really need to take this train, I'd recommend to check availability for June 28 on cd.cz each day from now on.

 

[A S Leib]

I don't see that warning anywhere (anymore?) and on dates until 8 June (7 June for the night train) I can get prices for reservation only on cd.cz

The same for me; the warning comes up on the app but not, as far as I can find, the website.

 

[Robski_]

The Polish summer timetable will not be confirmed until 18th May (comes into effect 9th June).

 

[A S Leib]

Dear customer,

purchase is currently not possible due to an outage in the reservation system.

We have already reported this problem as a technical error of the ČD e-shop, we are currently working on its elimination.

It will therefore be possible to purchase a seat later.

We apologize for the complications caused when purchasing reservations.

Best Regards

Contact center of Czech Railways

Hopefully that's just until PKP confirms its timetable next Saturday, then.

 

[Cloud Strife]

The Polish summer timetable will not be confirmed until 18th May (comes into effect 9th June).

As per usual. The inability of this country to finalise a timetable is beyond belief.

 

[A S Leib]

I have a booking for Prague – Warsaw now; I'm now waiting for bookings for Krakow – Kostrzyn to open, which, according to the ČD website, won't be until thirty days before travel. I'm waiting for Warsaw – Vilnius as well, but as I think email's one of the only ways to do it from outside Poland or Lithuania, I've just set a scheduled email for when it should be soon enough to make a reservation.

 

[rvdborgt]

I'm now waiting for bookings for Krakow – Kostrzyn to open, which, according to the ČD website, won't be until thirty days before travel.

That's correct. You then have to be quick though: sleepers can be fully booked shortly after.

I'm waiting for Warsaw – Vilnius as well, but as I think email's one of the only ways to do it from outside Poland or Lithuania, I've just set a scheduled email for when it should be soon enough to make a reservation.

That's correct: either at a PKP IC ticket office or via e-mail to LTG Link.

 

[Ksp]

As per usual. The inability of this country to finalise a timetable is beyond belief.

Polish rail system is a complete joke. As a polish person living in UK and used to being dependant on trains over there it will make any person complaining about delays in UK change their mind! While fares are really low it's because there's a lower income so despite what you might call cheap it will be expensive for regulars. Now it's even worse as TLK trains which are budget intercity trains have merged with PKP ICC meaning their crap rolling stock could be part of regular rolling stock on flagship express trains. The practises of ICC and TLK are atrocious often selling standing seats. Many people opt to buy tickets on the same day of their departure and will spend the same or sometimes more then passengers who purchased their seated tickets in advance. This is all a smart plan for PKP to make as much money with the least amount of effort.. I highly recommend avoiding polish intercity trains unless they're express train services like EIP, EIC, or European foreign sleepers like Nightjet or EuroNight.