How to take the journey by train from the Czech to Polish capital cities

Taking the IC/ EC trains:

All trains also call at: Katowice

These direct trains are usually scheduled to depart from Praha hl.n station daily at:

• around 06:20, this train is named the 'Sobieski'
• around 10:20
• around 14:20, this train is named the 'Slilesia'.

On the first two trains for the first phase of the journey, as far as Bohumin, the train heading to Warszawa, will be joined to another train heading to Krakow.
So if you only see a train heading to Krakow on the departure screens at that time, the info will also apply to the train heading to Warszawa.

It is a particularly unexciting journey across mainly farming landscapes, so having something with you to watch or read is highly recommended.

So you won't be missing out on a thrilling travel experience, if you opt to take the overnight train instead.

Taking the Leo Express trains:

There are now typically 2 x departures per day:

• 12:23; arrives Warszawa at 21:43
• 21:23 travels overnight and arrives Warzsawa at 06:15
  The journey time is around 1hr 30mins longer than the EC / IC trains as the Leo Express trains travel via Krakow.

Arriving in Warszawa:

These trains all call at three stations in Warszawa/Warsaw, so check your final location in your city to see which of these three stations will suit you best - leaving the train at Warszawa Centralna may not be your best option.

They will call first at Warszawa Zachodnia, so take care not to leave the train there if you are heading to the city centre.

They will terminate at Warszawa Wschodnia which is on the eastern side of the the city centre.ro

Booking the EC train:

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: 8 weeks ahead - see our guide to booking tickets on the CD website.

Something to look out for is that CD won't automatically include a reservation for these trains when booking tickets, but it will give you an option to add a reservation.
You'll need to be proactive and add the reservation, because reservations are required on this train for the part of the journey in Poland.

Rail Pass users will also need to reserve prior to boarding, these can be booked online on the CD website or from the International ticket desk in Praha hl.n. station.

Booking the Leo Express train:

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: 12 - 14 weeks ahead of the travel date

When booking tickets for the Leo Express trains you choose your seats on a seating plan.

If the timings suit, it's particularly worth comparing prices with the EC train if you're considering booking 1st class tickets, as Leo Express also offers a Business Class

Final Destination: Warszawa Wschodnia

The train also calls at: Krakow

The train is usually scheduled to depart Praha hl.n at around 22:15 and arrive in Warszawa shortly after 09:00.

For the part of the journey between Praha/Prague and Bohumin, these coaches heading to Warszawa, will be joined to another train that will be heading to Hummene in Slovakia.

If on the departure screens, you only see a train heading to Hummene departing at 22:15, then the departure details, will also apply to this train.

Arriving in Warszawa / Warsaw

This train will call at three stations in Warszawa/Warsaw, so check your final location in your city to see which of these three stations will suit you best - leaving the train at Warszawa Centralna may not be your best option.

It will call first at Warszawa Zachodnia, so take care not to leave the train there if you are heading to the city centre.

And then call at Warszawa Centralna

It will terminate at Warszawa Wschodnia which is on the eastern side of the the city centre.

Book early and save: Yes*

Online bookings open: 2 months ahead of the travel date

The train conveys:

- Compartment Seats (Sitzwagen)
- Couchettes (Liegewagen); 4 berths AND 6 berths
- Standard sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
- Deluxe sleeping cars with showers in the cabin  (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins

*It's worth making the effort to book ahead if you want a bed in a sleeping cabin, but you'll save less than €10 compared to booking at the station if you want to travel in a seat or couchette.

A plus of booking online is that you will have ensured your place on the train. Your first choice of accommodation MAY be sold out if you don't book in advance.

There's much to be admired regarding the CD website, the online booking service of the Czech national rail operator, České dráhy, but how to book a berth in  a couchette, or a bed in a sleeping cabin isn't particularly obvious.

Hence our step-by-step guide to booking overnight accommodation on the CD website, which you can find HERE.

The couchette and sleeping coaches/cars are attached to an IC service between Praha and Breclav and then on arrival there, they're re-attched to a train which will then head off to Budapest.

Travelling with a rail pass:

Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains, and reservations CAN be booked online - follow the same steps as for booking tickets, except when initially looking up the journey, select, 'I want a reservation' instead of 'Buy'

OR reservations can also be arranged and paid for at the CD Travel desk at Praha hl.n station - ideally do this when you first arrive in Prague/Praha hl.n on the preceding train on your itinerary.

The reservation desk does not remain open until late it in the evening, so it will be closed if you attempt to reserve just prior to boarding.