Which train in Poland am I less likely to get shanked on?

goin g to Poland for a wedding, staying at my wife's family place (przemysl) and will also be visiting my family in wroclaw. Ive taken the train "Pospiesny" before from wroclaw to warsaw and warsaw to przemyl last year but this time the only available trains from

przemysl to wroclaw are "TLK" and "InterRegio" , both average around the same price a tkt (~80zl)

now my question... which train will I have less trouble on / more frequent conductor/ticket checks

last year the tkt check came by every 1.5 or so, so i felt kinda safe

can I get your guys opinions? anyone ride this specific route that Im taking?

I rode on TLK 3 weeks ago, but on the different route (Szczecin - Warsaw). It was very safe, clean and AC was ON ( I know). The tickets were checked quite frequently. I felt very safe and the trip was very nice.

What I usually do when I pick a place to sit with people, who look safe eg. a nun, or a soldier. I know, but nobody is going to attack a nun, or a soldier. If there is lack of the latter, I would just find somebody in Przemysl who is going all the way to Wroclaw, so you can travel together.

enjoy!

might want to hire an armed escort, dangerous polish trains and whatnot.

unless you're a minority, you probably don't have anything to worry.

yeah, i felt safe on the pspiesny in the past just wanted to see what the dif. is when it comes to TLK and InterRegio

thanks

btw

is there a big difference between TLK and InterRegio, other then like 20zl?

is there more cabin seating? etc..

I would not know to be honest, since those are some new additions. I think it could be hit or miss, all depending on the quality of trains they have at the moment.

Is Interregio more expensive?

here is the odd thing, InterRegio is the one that is like 20zl less expensive and the travel time is like 30mins shorter too

odd :P

neither has a stop over/transfer

odd indeed, I have only traveled on TLK. I am sure more people will be able to advise you:)
I honestly think that you will be OK.
Have a good trip:)

I've never felt unsafe on a polish train, then again, I cut my hair very short and, I've been told, I look like an angry f*cker so people tend to leave me alone.

so if you fell unsafe shave your hair off, coz nobody wan't to mess with a hardass, or at least one that looks like a hardass

TLK is better in all ways, except that they are usually a little more expensive.

Long trips with Interregio is not recommended (very low comfort).

Going by trains during day-time is usually very safe. If not a big soccer game etc.

TLK is usually the best choice of all trains in PL, if you want an inexpensive and rather comfortable trip.

Both TLK and Interegio are largely OK. I agree with SzwedwPolsce that TLK are a bit better. The trains with the really bad reputation are the nighttime 'osobowy' ones (daytime is OK), but it's worth mentioning that security has been stepped up quite a bit recently and I've traveled on them often without problem.

It's nevertheless a good idea, if the train is nearly empty or at night, to sit in the first carriage nearest the conductor/s (and security guard if one is there.)

This is because the comfort in IR is very low. IR is always less expensive.

There is a ticket you can buy at Empik for 165 Plz it will give you two second class tickets and one first class ticket for travel anywhere in Poland, It can be used on Intercity,Tlk or interegio.

He is going to travel 8-9 hours. With Interregio this means severe butt ache. And on a hot summer day it means getting fried.

Those hard orange seats!

I've done journeys like that, and they aren't ideal, but also aren't too bad as long as the carriage or compartment isn't too crowded.

so TLK is like "pospiesny"? did the "TLK" brand replace "pospiesny"? cause I dont see "pospiesny" listed anywhere on pkp.pl

cause I remember the seats on pospiesny not being too shabby, my ass didnt feel like a pin cusion

and you guys are saying that IR have hard plastic seats?

if so, then I think i will go with TLK, got protect my most valuable "ASS-et" (pun intended) :P

Now there are 3 main standards for longer trips:
1. Intercity
2. TLK
3. Intercity

That changed the whole system, so a little difficult to compare. But TLK is okey. They usually have AC and rather comfortable seats.

However if you want new and really comfortable trains, Intercity is the only option. But you pay for more than you get i.m.o.

bloody spoiled Canadians;)

greetings from TO:)

yeah, I was really hoping that TLK would be more like this :'(

I see guys that Torontonian has got your drift and some sense of humor! good job :D

Poland is not Brampton;)


yah, he just needs to travel to Poland with a pillow;)

I spent so much time on this thread that I would need a pic from this TLK train trip as a reward.

on another subject... wish I went mid june to poland when $1 = 3.30zl at one point, now its only 2.97zl, less beer for me :(

Is cost a factor? If not, you should try and get tickets for the overnight sleeper train - it's the most civilised way to do the 9 hour journey. As I recall, you can either take the Polish train that terminates in Szczecin, or there's also the sleeper train that comes from Lviv. Both go through Wroclaw and are really a much, much more civilised way to travel and certainly safe as houses. But - I would advise against travelling in the normal compartments on the overnight train. I've done it, it's safe - but it's utterly unpleasant and you're bound to end up stuck in a compartment with moaning students.

Otherwise, take the TLK. If you go 1st class, you can make a reservation - which is highly recommended at this time of the year.

Having said this, InterRegio can be fine as well - the only issue is that you're not guaranteed any quality on the train. I've travelled on IR trains that were superbly comfortable (double deck, with ridiculously comfy seats) - and also ones that had plastic seats, it's really hit or miss.


I dunno - during peak times, the guaranteed seat and compulsory reservations for all make it a much, much better way of travelling. I wouldn't dare travel on Friday afternoons or Sunday evenings on anything but EIC.

pmsl :)

"Shanked" is what happens in London (usually by an "aspiring rapper" you've allegedly "disrespected").

In Poland, it's a handkerchief full of ether you have to watch out for :D

You mean Bramladesh!

Ha..those crazy Indians riding on the outside of the train....you would not get that in Eastern Europe..........would you.....????

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Interesting thread. What happens to people who ride the trains in Poland? I thought Poland was a safe place. No?

Probably safer to rent a car when traveling through Poland?

A few years ago my things were stolen when I was slipping in a train. The train was "osobowy" and it was a mess (especially the toilet but all around was also dirty). The PKP wasn't good those days and "osobowy" trains looked mostly like hell. I haven't travelled by train since then and things might have changed for the better but I am not aware of the actual situation.

not really. the worst thing that can happen to you on a train is that you might get a kicking, driving on Polish roads is far more dangerous due to accidents. you can be killed relatively easiliy if you are not paying attention and driving accordingly.

when travelling on the sleeper trains the guards always advise you to keep the windows closed as thieves can climb in through the window when it stops at stations and rob you blind

in fairness this was on the Warsaw Prague route. I have never taken a sleeper anywhere else

travelling from Warsaw to Lodz by train two weeks ago with some colleagues, some drunken f*ckwits tried to roll us. they saw the suits and thought we would be an easy mark. we weren't

cost is not a factor as the exchange rate is still pretty good. I wont be going overnight so dont need the "luxury" of a sleeper train. All in all I get the impression that TLK and IR are close to the same, I'll just take which ever one is available at the time that Im leaving.

thanks.

btw I will watch out for a hankercheif of ether, thanks for the warning :P

travel first class and you'll be ok.