EIP (Poland)

These smart Express InterCity Premium' EIP trains are Poland’s fastest trains - they travel up to 200 km/h on the higher speed line south of Warsaw.

They are part of the Pendolino 'family' of trains - a similar type of train is used for some of the services between Italy and Switzerland, but unlike those other Pendolinos, the trains used for these Polish EIP services don't have tilting motion, to enable them to travel faster on curvy railway lines.

There's no need for it as Polish railway lines, particularly the routes south of Warszawa taken by these trains, tend to be comparatively straight.

These trains have very smart interiors, with info and cinema screens.

EIP trains provide most, but not all, of the express train services between Warszawa and

• Gdasnk and Gdynia*
• Krakow

There are also four EIP services per day in each direction between Warszawa and Katowice AND two EIP services per day in each direction between Warszawa and Wroclaw.

*Most of the trains to/from Gdynia via Gdansk travel through Warszawa, providing direct services between those two cities and both Krakow and Katowice.

Note that because of this, when travelling by these trains TO Warszawa, the name of the Polish capital may not be the main destination shown on the departure screens at stations.

All tickets for EIP trains are seat specific, so when you arrive on the peron/platform, check the coach number that you will printed on your ticket.

The peron/platform will be zoned and there will be information on the platform that will show in which zone each coach will be located.

Particularly check in which zone you should wait it on the peron this if you will boarding an EIP train in Warszawa, as most EIP services travel through Warszawa, so the trains arrive at the stations only a few minutes before departure.

Something to be aware of is that EIP trains can’t be boarded until the destination details etc are displayed on the electronic indicator - which shows the departure details of the next train that will be leaving from that specific track.

At the stations where an EIP train will be commencing its journey - the train may be waiting with doors open, it will be fairly obvious that it is the train you will be taking and you'll have a reserved seat.
However, the train may still being prepared for service, and if you board too soon, the conductor will politely ask you to leave.

These EIP trains convey restaurant/gastronomic coaches which can be used by all passengers, including those travelling in 2nd class.

The on board menu can be seen here.

If you don't want to have a hot meal, the catering car/coach also has a bistro counter at which hot/cold drinks and cold food (sandwiches, salads) etc can be ordered and either consumed in the coach (not at the restaurant seats), or taken back to your seats.

If you opt to dine in the restaurant car, you are requested not to take your luggage etc with you, so when boarding initially take your reserved seat and then make your way to the restaurant.

If you are travelling in 1st class, you can also order the full menu of items to be delivered to your seat(s).

In 1st class you will also receive a complimentary drink and light meal - sandwiches, breakfast croissant with eggs and ham etc.

If you want to order (and pay for) a full meal instead, you can tell the catering staff not to bring you the complimentary items.

You need to buy an additional supplement to travel on the EIP trains .which is separate to the seat reservation fee.
Both the supplement and the seat reservation cost PLN 43 (approx €10),

There are four ways to purchase the supplement and reservation for the EIP trains.

1. Buy your supplement online on the PKP Intercity website and the seat reservation will be complimentary.
2. Purchase the supplement at a Polish station and the the seat reservation will be complimentary.
3. Purchase both the supplement and seat reservation on the Eurail and InterRail reservation service, so the cost will be €20 + a €2 booking fee.
4. Book the seat reservations at a station outside of Poland and you can then buy the supplement at a Polish station, or from the conductor on the train.