KRAKOW - VIENNA - night train

Abhishek
Traveller
9 comments

Hi!

I am planning to go from Krakow to Vienna by the night train which leaves at 22:11, sometime in April. I don't know where to book the tickets :|
Is it possible to book the tickets in Poland itself, approximately 2 days before? I am traveling with an Interrail pass. 8)

Also, Is a 6 bed couchette available on this train. I called up the Deutsche Bahn office and they tell me that only 2 or 3 bed compartments are available. Is it true?? Doesn't sound believable though xo .

Thanks so much for replying :))

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hi!

You can make the reservations at major railway stations in Poland but also at train stations of other countries - at least in neighbouring countries.

Regarding the couchettes - I just checked (and updated the above info) and the couchettes are running from April 29 to September 26 only. :|


Flo 8)

Abhishek
Traveller
9 comments

O, Thats why! Thanks for the reply flow. I was struggling with this thing for the last two days. In fact, I am 6 days too early, on 23rd April.

One more thing. Are the reservation tickets available 1-2 days before the trip, or its necessary to book them well in advance? Again, in the month of April.

Thanks!

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Well, since 23rd April ist a friday it might be a good idea to book the reservation a few days in advance, since there's only one sleeper carriage running Krakow - Wien. Since you know the date already you are probably fixed on this date? If so, get the reservation as soon as possible, so you dont have to worry about it anymore. If you want to stay more flexible, wait for the week before you go - I guess that should be fine too, but I cant guarantee it. ;)

Abhishek
Traveller
9 comments

Thanks for the prompt reply! You said only one sleeping carriage, does that mean I can go without a sleeping carriage too?? I mean is it possible to go with some kind of seats which are lesser expensive than the 39 euro 3-bed compartment??
thanks once more!

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

The T3sleeper compartment is 26€, 39€ is for T2. ;) However, there unfortunately is no other through carriage Krakow - Wien at this time than the mentioned sleeper - no 2nd class coach. :(

What you could do: Go from Krakow to Katowice and get the Warszawa - Wien sleeper train there - it has sleeper, couchette and 2nd class accomodation the whole year through. If you are relying on the 1900 rule you would need a regular ticket to Katowice then but that wouldnt be that expensive.
The mentioned train would leave Katowice at 2357 and arrives at 0622 at Wien (this is the train where the Krakow - Wien carriage is attached to). Hope that helps.

Flo 8)

Abhishek
Traveller
9 comments

Know what Flow?? You made my day. Thanks so much, this was the missing link and it seems to have been solved.
Merci beaucoup.
If you ever need any information for travel in Europe (in which you are surely a bigger expert) or Asia, don't hesitate.
Have a nice day!

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

No problem, glad I could help you - that is what the forum is here for. :)
Have a nice trip!

natsophlucy
Traveller
3 comments

Hey guys,
We are just wondering, that when you use the rail pass shop for a reservation, do you actually get the reservation or do you just pay to see if it is available? Also is it necessary to reserve Krakow to Vienna. We are confused on how the reservations work right now.
Thanks

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Buy it at the station in Prague or at an other station on your trip, for example in Germany.
Don't buy this reservation online.

kiki-chan
Traveller
3 comments

Hi!

I want to book this overnight train on Saturday, May 22th. We'll be 3 girls. We won't have an InterRail pass (we're just going to take the train once). It seems complicated to book on OBB and impossible on Deutsche Bahn. So, do you know the price and how to book since we live in Canada?
We're going to be in Munich on May 4th.
Thank you so much!
Christine

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hi!

It is not possible to book tickets for this train online. You'll have to do it directly at a station. It will be cheaper to get the (regular tariff) tickets in Poland than in Germany or Austria. If you are going to stay in Austria before going to Krakow you can try to get cheap SparSchiene tickets in advance.


Flo 8)

kiki-chan
Traveller
3 comments

Thank you so much! But we're going to be in Poland before Austria (we'll visit Germany, then Poland, then Austria). We'll be in Poland in May 20th. So, do we buy tickets on this day at a train station? And do you know the price?
Thanks a lot.

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Yeah, buy it the day you'll arrive in Krakow. Sorry, cant give you details about prices...just made a quick search on the website of PKP but they dont show the prices for this connection.

kiki-chan
Traveller
3 comments

Ok.. thank you for your research and have a nice day!

Maxmorch
Traveller
1 comments

Hi there.
Sorry to drag up an old topic but im after advice. Im looking at getting a night train from krakow to vienna bit cant seem to find info on wether they will run on a sunday night? The 27th march 2011 to be precise. I know they dont have couchettes available but do they have sleepers that arent too expensive? Also is it possible to book online as I realy dont fancy waiting till i get to Krakow to do it, and I dont speak polish!
Cheers

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi.
The train mentioned above is running on the 27th March, but only with sleepers. The cheapest fare is the T3 sleeper and you can not book it online in advance. It depends on your route but you can try to get the reservation already before in other countries at bigger stations, for example in Germany or the Czech Rep.
The topics are always up to date and not old ... :)
Have a nice trip, Peter :)

Hetman
Traveller
364 comments

try call to die bahn call center (they speak german and english) and then i think it's possible to book a place in this train.

amysuds
Traveller
1 comments

Hi, My brother and I want to use this night train and as I understand from previous posts there is no way to book or make a reservation until we are in krakow on the 16th May - we need to be in vienna on the 20th (cycle danube). Even by phone we cant make a booking? Do you think that this train will be fully booked..are we risking a lot? We are from New Zealand so have no contacts for any one to book for us before hand. Please help thank you very much

anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments

Hi amysuds!
I'm not an expert but what I can tell you is the following:
The timetable of Polish National Railways shows that a reservation is not obligatory, so you don't have to have a reservation to enter the train.
You are in Kraków on the 16th of May - it's Monday. If you decide to go Vienna on Wednesday (the 18th) or Thursday (the 19th) the train shouldn't be crowded and there will be rather no problem with buying a reservation on 16th May.
If the reservation in Kraków wouldn't be possible, you can try go from Kraków to Katowice (it's 2-hours journey by regional train) and from Katowice you've got a train at 23:46 and at 06:22 you are in Vienna (it's a train Chopin: Warsaw-Vienna). This train has sleeping cars, couchette cars and normal seats also. I've been travelling by this train from Katowice to Vienna a few times (including weekends) and there were always non-occupied seats. I don't know anything about the situation in sleeping cars, because I always had a normal seat (it's comfortable and the journey to Vienna is not so long so normal seat is ok for me).
I hope you will have a nice journey
Bye :)

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hi!

- I dont think the train will be fully booked when you arrive in Krakow. However, there are no seats on this Krakow - Wien night train, so you would have to book beds in a couchette or sleeper.
- If you dont want to spend the money on couchette/sleeper or if the train would be fully booked you have two options: You can either go to Katowice and then with the Warszawa - Wien night train as described or travel with the night train from Krakow to Praha until Bohumin where you can change to the Warszawa - Wien night train as well. There are regular seats on both trains.
- Another option would be daytime travel, then you would have to go via Katowice and Breclav, including one or two changes of trains.


Flo 8)

ErinTravels
Traveller
2 comments

Im chiming in a year later here, but I'm hoping you can still help...
Im traveling from Krakow to Vienna on Feb 14 (2012) and I'm wondering if the prices are still the same as what was listed at the beginning of this topic?
Also, I am a single traveler and I want to know if the prices for 1 couchette in a 4-6 couchette is available for a single person? In other words, is it like a dorm in a hostel or would I have to purchase the single couchette?
Finally, if I can book just 1 couchette in a room for 4-6, is it safe for a single traveler to do this (in terms of my luggage) or would it be better to just get a single and pay the extra?
Thanks!

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi Erin.
Here now your answer... :)

Prices are like mentioned at the update link:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/krakow-vienna-d-402/407/70[/u]

The prices mentioned are always PER PERSON. So if you book 1 place in a Couchette (it is like in a dorm), 3 or 5 (depends on the size) other travellers might join your compartment.

In general it is save as you can lock the door. You will have to buy this reservation at a railway station, so ask for woman-only couchettes.

Peter :)

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hej,

the couchette car does not run during the winter - until 3rd May only the sleeper car runs.


Flo 8)

ErinTravels
Traveller
2 comments

Thanks Peter and Flo!
So now my question is: what is the difference between a couchette and a sleeper car? And what is the difference in price?
Thanks a million! You guys are saving my sanity right now! haha (no seriously!)
~ Erin

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hej Erin,

are you travelling with a Rail Pass or do you want to go with a regular single ticket? The prices mentioned in the link apply to travellers with a Rail Pass - if you travel with a regular ticket, other more expensive fares apply.

A couchette consists of compartments with either 6 or 4 bunks and are mixed sex. However, on some routes you can book women only compartments. Usually linen is provided but it is common to sleep in your day clothes. At the end of each carriage there a separate lavatories.

A sleeper consists of compartments with 1 - 3 beds each (on Talgo and some CNL services also 4) and are separated male/female. Proper bed linen is provided as well as a en-suite lavatory. On many services you find a common shower at the end of the carriage, some services also offer Deluxe accomodation with WC+Shower en-suite.

For price examples you can browse here :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train[/u]


Flo 8)

vianey
Traveller
2 comments

First of all Thank you this information is very helpful.

So I tried to check the train from Krakow to Katowice and there is a train from Krakow at 6pm arrives Katowice at 8:09pm BUT I cannot find the NIGHT train from Katowice to Vienna? Which link do I use to book the NIGHT TRAIN from Katowice to Vienna? We are traveling on January 3rd, 2013 and there are (3) travelers and if traveling by night we prefer a private couchette or sleeper where we can lock the door and not worry about our luggage. Thank you again for your help.

P.S. is it just easier to leave on a direct train early on Jan. 04, 2013 from Krakow to Vienna ?

nltrainer
Traveller
1404 comments

vieney; please read! you did NOT say if you need a full ticket+reservation or go with railpass and only need the RES. Also it has been said several times clearly that PKP=POLish rail does NOT (yet?) allow online booking for just the sleeper. Stick to that old-fashioned world of going into a station-ANY in POland or in fact ANY in West-Europe that does INTERnational bookings and go to the right desk and explain-and they'll do it for you. BUT maybe-there is a catch, as I somehow think that PKP only does actual REServations 30 days before-not the usual 2 month. If so-station can tell you.

vianey
Traveller
2 comments

yes I do need the full ticket+reservation we do not have a railpass. i do not have a problem walking into the station and buying tickets in Krakow, my concern is the cost of the full ticket+reservation ??

b/c in the previous posts you and on the website page you only list the cost of the reservation with the railpass

category Rail Pass special full
Couchette 6 | 6-bed-compartment | 2nd class EUR 13,40
Couchette 4 | 4-bed-compartment | 2nd class EUR 20
Sleeper 3 | 3-bed-compartment | private washing facility | 2nd class EUR 26
Sleeper 2 | 2-bed-compartment | private washing facility | 2nd class EUR 39
Sleeper 1 | 1-bed-compartment | private washing facility | 1st class EUR 91

Category: only the available categories are listed.

Rail Pass: supplement for Rail Pass (InterRail and Eurail) travelers.

Special: very limited special offer. Only available if you book several weeks in advance.
The specified date and time are binding. This fare includes the basic ticket fare AND the reservation fees.

Full: The regular full reservation fee. You have to add the standard ticket fare.

Important: the given prices may vary due to service or handling fees. Depending on whether you purchase the reservations/tickets online, at a ticket machine or at a railway station.

[u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/krakow-vienna-d-402/407/70[/u]

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi.
The price for a point to point ticket may change depending on availability, time, date, etc ...
So it is simply not possible to research all prices for individual connections over the whole Europe beside keeping this project and information for free.
I just had a fast lock on the website of the Austrian railway ÖBB in the reverse direction. One-way by day train standard fare is about EUR 66, then add the pass fares for the night train and you will be close to the fare you have to pay for your point to point ticket. :)
Peter :)