Post by Bonobo on Dec 5, 2021 10:50:24 GMT 1
A report from Warsaw Berlin train journey. The author complains about some minor issues but I see that a lot has improved since I last travelled by train about 25 years ago.
podroze.onet.pl/aktualnosci/pojechalismy-z-warszawy-do-berlina-pociagiem-oto-co-nas-zaskoczylo-relacja/ecrns93
NEWS
We went from Warsaw to Berlin by train. Here's what surprised us [REPORT]
KAROLINA WALCZOWSKA Dec 3, 10:50 am
You can read this text in 5 minutes
Low-cost airlines have accustomed us to the fact that for a few zlotys we will get from the nearest city to virtually every capital in Europe. However, it is difficult to find such connections to Berlin. So how do you get there any other way? You can travel this way like we do, by direct train from Warsaw.
We went from Warsaw to Berlin by train. Here's what surprised us [REPORT]Photo: Karolina Walczowska / Onet
How does a train journey from Warsaw to Berlin look like? We checked [REPORT]
We took the PKP Intercity train from Warsaw to Berlin
The journey in a fairly old train took over 6 hours.
The compartments were tidy. We went to the restaurant car for a little dinner
The price of tickets may surprise you. We bought a ticket just a few days in advance for PLN 143.22
Many passengers put on or corrected their masks only on the border with Germany
More interesting materials can be found on the Onet homepage
We did not expect that planning a few days trip to Berlin could cause us so much trouble. It turned out that we do not have a chance to fly with low-cost airlines. Only LOT Polish Airlines can fly from the capital airport in Warsaw, and you have to pay several hundred zlotys for tickets a few days in advance . There was a choice of a bus, such as the Flixbus, which takes 7-8 hours. and costs from PLN 59 (depending on the time of departure) and PKP Intercity. Ultimately, we chose the latter option.
We booked a train ticket just a few days in advance on the official PKP website. What surprised us the most was ... the price. Ticket for On November 12, on Thursday, November 25 in the traditional tariff without any discounts, in a class II car without compartments, it cost PLN 143.22. When we checked the price a week earlier, the ticket in the promotional offer was even cheaper - PLN 119.27. It is worth noting that this is a lower price than, for example, PKP Intercity tickets from Krakow to Warsaw, for which you have to pay PLN 150.
Ready to go
We showed up at the Central Station in Warsaw a moment before departure. The train was already waiting on its platform. It was puzzling for us that the composition is quite ... old. Maybe we did not count on Pendolino, but we would like to travel between the two large capitals by a newer train.
We quickly found our place in the wagon . Half the seats are facing the direction of travel and the other half facing backwards. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to hit and we had to sit backwards, although we do not like it. It is a pity that it was impossible to check it during the booking.
Most of the seats were occupied, but there was no problem with arranging the luggage on the shelf. The train started on time, the journey took 6 hours and 13 minutes as scheduled . The following stations were on the route: Warszawa Zachodnia, Kutno, Konin, Poznań, Zbąszynek, Świebodzin, Rzepin and Frankfurt on the Oder.
When we sat down comfortably, the loudspeakers broadcast a message in which the crew of PKP Intercity on the Warszawa Wschodnia - Berlin Główny train welcomed the passengers. Moments later, they were invited to use the services of the Wars restaurant car.
On the way to Berlin
It was quiet inside the car . The route to Poznań was the most full. Then, when the train was a bit empty, we decided to walk through the train . We paid attention to the arrangement of the armchairs, as some of them fall against the wall that connects the two windows. We managed to sit by the window, but if we had drawn such a seat on a full train, we would have been disappointed.
Each armchair has folding armrests and fold-out tables. What was particularly important to us were the electrical sockets. Those in the non-compartment car were under each seat. Unfortunately, the disappointing thing was the lack of WiFi. In what seems to be a "business" combination, it should be the absolute basis . Fortunately , there was coverage throughout the trip , so we used the internet on the phone.
The carriages and compartments were at a pleasant temperature and order . A lady who kept things tidy and asked if there was any rubbish passed through the corridor on a regular basis.
With a view of Jesus in Świebodzin
The information about free refreshments was a pleasant surprise. After a while you appeared in the car with a cart full of ... bottles with sparkling and still water. Although we remember the times of free coffee and tea on Polish tracks, we accepted the free gift with a smile.
- You must keep an eye on Świebodzin after Poznań. A fantastic attraction awaits you, the statue of Christ the King! - said a colleague from work before our trip. Unfortunately, it was dark outside the windows as we passed, and from the sight of the great thread monument. We decided to drown our sorrows ... in the coffee served in Wars.
In a tasty range
In the restaurant's spacious car, most of the tables were occupied. We heard both Polish and German among the guests . On the spot, it turned out that only one gentleman was serving the guests, because my friend was ill. He was really experienced and quick - we waited just a moment for a card and then the possibility of placing an order.
The menu had quite a wide range, there were also options for vegetarians. We asked for black coffee and Russian dumplings. We got the coffee after a while, we waited for the dumplings for about 10 minutes. The food was tasty, it seemed fresh and beautifully presented.
The prices are affordable. We will pay PLN 16-24 for breakfast, PLN 22-25 for salads, PLN 14 for soup, and PLN 22-33 for the main course. Cappuccino costs PLN 12.5. Beer 0.5 l - PLN 13. You can pay for the order in cash or by card. It is worth remembering, however, that the terminal supports card payments only in Poland.
If there is no place in Wars or we just want to eat in our place - it is possible . From time to time, the staff walks around the wagons asking if anyone wants to place an order. On the way back from Berlin, we asked for tea and a sandwich. The service lady brought our order in less than a quarter of an hour.
Without or with? There were no crowds
Walking along the compartmented car we noticed some voids. Those in the wagon without compartments were not as strongly felt as here. Many passengers even sat alone. Is a compartment wagon a better choice? In our opinion, it depends on the volume of traffic and preferences.
Although it seems that the place in the compartments is used for work or reading books, with full occupancy (6 passengers), we can accidentally touch each other with our knees, it happens that someone does not have a mask, or instead of going out into the corridor, he talks on the phone in front of everyone. Of course, if we are traveling in a group of people, it will be more comfortable to sit in one room.
Descriptions of similar trips cannot be complete without an account of the toilet. Bearing in mind the old and, unfortunately, often smelly bathrooms in TLK driving 14 hours from Krakow to the Polish sea, we were also pleasantly surprised.
Border control and two coronavirus worlds
During the six-hour journey, the conductor checked our tickets several times. Just in case, we had them in electronic and paper versions. Interestingly, when we got to the border, no one was checking covid passports or other documents, although the border guards went through the compartment.
However, we had the impression that at the border, everyone suddenly put on masks, because on the way to Germany many people either did not have them or were wearing them under their noses . Meanwhile, in Germany, but also on the way back according to the "Ordnung muss sein" rule, everyone had their mouth and nose covered.
Ecological and comfortable, but not very modern and without internet
Starting with the advantages of the Warsaw-Berlin connection, the price of the ticket should be mentioned, which in our opinion is adequate to the current quality. The train is not going at dizzying speed, the train is old, but from the center of one capital we reach the center of the other.
Can the train compete with the plane? Considering the fact that there are not many of these air connections, flight prices reach several hundred zlotys, and you have to arrive at the airport earlier and transport to and from - choosing a train may not only be more profitable, but also time comparable . What speaks in favor of traveling by train is, of course, ecology! Railway is the most ecological means of public transport. It emits three times less CO2 than road transport and over eight times less than air transport.
However, the journey on this route is not perfect. Internet access for passengers in 2021 should be a basic functionality. Although the journey is comfortable, on such an international route, one would like to sit on a slightly newer train. At the double-decker expressways in Berlin, the Polish train was slightly different from the rest.
***
Do you want to talk to the author? Write: karolina.walczowska@redakcjaonet.pl
Creation date: December 3, 2021 10:50 AM
KAROLINA WALCZOWSKA
Editor of Onet Podróże
podroze.onet.pl/aktualnosci/pojechalismy-z-warszawy-do-berlina-pociagiem-oto-co-nas-zaskoczylo-relacja/ecrns93
NEWS
We went from Warsaw to Berlin by train. Here's what surprised us [REPORT]
KAROLINA WALCZOWSKA Dec 3, 10:50 am
You can read this text in 5 minutes
Low-cost airlines have accustomed us to the fact that for a few zlotys we will get from the nearest city to virtually every capital in Europe. However, it is difficult to find such connections to Berlin. So how do you get there any other way? You can travel this way like we do, by direct train from Warsaw.
We went from Warsaw to Berlin by train. Here's what surprised us [REPORT]Photo: Karolina Walczowska / Onet
How does a train journey from Warsaw to Berlin look like? We checked [REPORT]
We took the PKP Intercity train from Warsaw to Berlin
The journey in a fairly old train took over 6 hours.
The compartments were tidy. We went to the restaurant car for a little dinner
The price of tickets may surprise you. We bought a ticket just a few days in advance for PLN 143.22
Many passengers put on or corrected their masks only on the border with Germany
More interesting materials can be found on the Onet homepage
We did not expect that planning a few days trip to Berlin could cause us so much trouble. It turned out that we do not have a chance to fly with low-cost airlines. Only LOT Polish Airlines can fly from the capital airport in Warsaw, and you have to pay several hundred zlotys for tickets a few days in advance . There was a choice of a bus, such as the Flixbus, which takes 7-8 hours. and costs from PLN 59 (depending on the time of departure) and PKP Intercity. Ultimately, we chose the latter option.
We booked a train ticket just a few days in advance on the official PKP website. What surprised us the most was ... the price. Ticket for On November 12, on Thursday, November 25 in the traditional tariff without any discounts, in a class II car without compartments, it cost PLN 143.22. When we checked the price a week earlier, the ticket in the promotional offer was even cheaper - PLN 119.27. It is worth noting that this is a lower price than, for example, PKP Intercity tickets from Krakow to Warsaw, for which you have to pay PLN 150.
Ready to go
We showed up at the Central Station in Warsaw a moment before departure. The train was already waiting on its platform. It was puzzling for us that the composition is quite ... old. Maybe we did not count on Pendolino, but we would like to travel between the two large capitals by a newer train.
We quickly found our place in the wagon . Half the seats are facing the direction of travel and the other half facing backwards. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to hit and we had to sit backwards, although we do not like it. It is a pity that it was impossible to check it during the booking.
Most of the seats were occupied, but there was no problem with arranging the luggage on the shelf. The train started on time, the journey took 6 hours and 13 minutes as scheduled . The following stations were on the route: Warszawa Zachodnia, Kutno, Konin, Poznań, Zbąszynek, Świebodzin, Rzepin and Frankfurt on the Oder.
When we sat down comfortably, the loudspeakers broadcast a message in which the crew of PKP Intercity on the Warszawa Wschodnia - Berlin Główny train welcomed the passengers. Moments later, they were invited to use the services of the Wars restaurant car.
On the way to Berlin
It was quiet inside the car . The route to Poznań was the most full. Then, when the train was a bit empty, we decided to walk through the train . We paid attention to the arrangement of the armchairs, as some of them fall against the wall that connects the two windows. We managed to sit by the window, but if we had drawn such a seat on a full train, we would have been disappointed.
Each armchair has folding armrests and fold-out tables. What was particularly important to us were the electrical sockets. Those in the non-compartment car were under each seat. Unfortunately, the disappointing thing was the lack of WiFi. In what seems to be a "business" combination, it should be the absolute basis . Fortunately , there was coverage throughout the trip , so we used the internet on the phone.
The carriages and compartments were at a pleasant temperature and order . A lady who kept things tidy and asked if there was any rubbish passed through the corridor on a regular basis.
With a view of Jesus in Świebodzin
The information about free refreshments was a pleasant surprise. After a while you appeared in the car with a cart full of ... bottles with sparkling and still water. Although we remember the times of free coffee and tea on Polish tracks, we accepted the free gift with a smile.
- You must keep an eye on Świebodzin after Poznań. A fantastic attraction awaits you, the statue of Christ the King! - said a colleague from work before our trip. Unfortunately, it was dark outside the windows as we passed, and from the sight of the great thread monument. We decided to drown our sorrows ... in the coffee served in Wars.
In a tasty range
In the restaurant's spacious car, most of the tables were occupied. We heard both Polish and German among the guests . On the spot, it turned out that only one gentleman was serving the guests, because my friend was ill. He was really experienced and quick - we waited just a moment for a card and then the possibility of placing an order.
The menu had quite a wide range, there were also options for vegetarians. We asked for black coffee and Russian dumplings. We got the coffee after a while, we waited for the dumplings for about 10 minutes. The food was tasty, it seemed fresh and beautifully presented.
The prices are affordable. We will pay PLN 16-24 for breakfast, PLN 22-25 for salads, PLN 14 for soup, and PLN 22-33 for the main course. Cappuccino costs PLN 12.5. Beer 0.5 l - PLN 13. You can pay for the order in cash or by card. It is worth remembering, however, that the terminal supports card payments only in Poland.
If there is no place in Wars or we just want to eat in our place - it is possible . From time to time, the staff walks around the wagons asking if anyone wants to place an order. On the way back from Berlin, we asked for tea and a sandwich. The service lady brought our order in less than a quarter of an hour.
Without or with? There were no crowds
Walking along the compartmented car we noticed some voids. Those in the wagon without compartments were not as strongly felt as here. Many passengers even sat alone. Is a compartment wagon a better choice? In our opinion, it depends on the volume of traffic and preferences.
Although it seems that the place in the compartments is used for work or reading books, with full occupancy (6 passengers), we can accidentally touch each other with our knees, it happens that someone does not have a mask, or instead of going out into the corridor, he talks on the phone in front of everyone. Of course, if we are traveling in a group of people, it will be more comfortable to sit in one room.
Descriptions of similar trips cannot be complete without an account of the toilet. Bearing in mind the old and, unfortunately, often smelly bathrooms in TLK driving 14 hours from Krakow to the Polish sea, we were also pleasantly surprised.
Border control and two coronavirus worlds
During the six-hour journey, the conductor checked our tickets several times. Just in case, we had them in electronic and paper versions. Interestingly, when we got to the border, no one was checking covid passports or other documents, although the border guards went through the compartment.
However, we had the impression that at the border, everyone suddenly put on masks, because on the way to Germany many people either did not have them or were wearing them under their noses . Meanwhile, in Germany, but also on the way back according to the "Ordnung muss sein" rule, everyone had their mouth and nose covered.
Ecological and comfortable, but not very modern and without internet
Starting with the advantages of the Warsaw-Berlin connection, the price of the ticket should be mentioned, which in our opinion is adequate to the current quality. The train is not going at dizzying speed, the train is old, but from the center of one capital we reach the center of the other.
Can the train compete with the plane? Considering the fact that there are not many of these air connections, flight prices reach several hundred zlotys, and you have to arrive at the airport earlier and transport to and from - choosing a train may not only be more profitable, but also time comparable . What speaks in favor of traveling by train is, of course, ecology! Railway is the most ecological means of public transport. It emits three times less CO2 than road transport and over eight times less than air transport.
However, the journey on this route is not perfect. Internet access for passengers in 2021 should be a basic functionality. Although the journey is comfortable, on such an international route, one would like to sit on a slightly newer train. At the double-decker expressways in Berlin, the Polish train was slightly different from the rest.
***
Do you want to talk to the author? Write: karolina.walczowska@redakcjaonet.pl
Creation date: December 3, 2021 10:50 AM
KAROLINA WALCZOWSKA
Editor of Onet Podróże