New PKP Intercity Timetable: Faster Warsaw–Kraków Trains

25 August 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

PKP Intercity timetable shortens Pendolino trips Warsaw–Kraków by 31 minutes and adds new Poznań routes and stops including Spychowo.

PKP Intercity timetable changes take effect from 30 August. Consequently, passengers will see faster links and new direct services from September.

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PKP Intercity timetable: Faster Warsaw–Kraków and what changes

PKP Intercity announced a broad autumn schedule correction on 30 August. Moreover, the most visible change affects the Warsaw to Kraków corridor. The infrastructure manager finished work on line 8 in August. Therefore trains can return to the main route instead of a longer detour. As a result, the fastest Pendolino will cut its travel time from 2h46m to 2h15m. In addition, older timetable entries in booking systems may still show the longer travel time for a short period. Passengers should recheck schedules before booking.

New routes and extended services

From 4 September the operator launches two new routes from Poznań. Firstly, the IC Gopło will run Poznań–Olsztyn as the seventh daily pair. Moreover it stops in Gniezno, Inowrocław, Toruń, Iława and Ostróda. The journey will last around 3h18m. Therefore the train offers new direct long-distance links for these towns. Secondly, a new IC service will connect Poznań with Gorzów Wielkopolski. Consequently this one-way trip will take about 90 minutes. In addition the modern SD85 train will provide power sockets, air conditioning and spaces for bikes and groups.

Also the IC Gryf will run further east from 1 September. It will extend from Olsztyn to Ełk and temporarily to Białystok until mid-December. Moreover the train will call at smaller stations such as Szczytno, Pisz and Grajewo. For the first time a long-distance PKP Intercity train will stop at Spychowo. Therefore locals gain direct connections to Tricity and Szczecin. Ticket prices for the new sections start from 19 PLN and rise by route length.

Temporary disruptions and replacement buses

However not all news are improvements. From 14 September to 24 October engineers will resume work on line 404. Consequently several trains from Kołobrzeg will travel a longer, indirect route via Koszalin. In addition some services will use replacement buses between Kołobrzeg and Białogard. Also work on line 311 will force bus-only travel between Jelenia Góra and Szklarska Poręba until 24 October. Therefore travellers should allot extra time and check connections.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: Foreign residents can buy tickets via the PKP Intercity website or app, and on third-party apps like Koleo. Moreover e-tickets work on phone screens, so you need no printed ticket. However expect occasional replacement buses; so allow extra time for tight connections. In addition some discounts require local documents. For reference, PESEL is the national ID number, NFZ runs public health insurance, and ZUS covers pensions and social security. Also accessible COMBO carriages serve passengers with disabilities and families.

If you travel frequently on Warsaw–Kraków, plan now using the updated travel time. Moreover check the specific start dates for each new service before booking. Therefore always confirm departure days in the booking system. Also remember that temporary engineering works can change seat availability and timings.

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