Berlin-Poznan query

[johnnychips]

Good evening,

In a couple of weeks I am visiting Berlin and would like to take a day trip to Poznan in Poland. There are direct trains from Berlin via Frankfurt-an-der-Oder, but there is a route via local trains, changing at Kostrzyn.

I was thinking of going out by the local route, and coming back by the EC, which is reservation only. The connection time is only 10 minutes at Kostrzyn.

- Do you think I will be able to buy a through ticket from Berlin for the local trains?

- I take it there will be no problem buying a single from Poznan to Berlin in Berlin

- If there is a problem for whatever reason in Poland, do you know if their ticket offices take debit or credit cards?

I can speak tolerable German, but no Polish at all.

I await the wealth of information that usually follows when I post on this forum! Any 'must-sees' tourist or rail in Poznan?

Thanks

John

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd expect DB will be able to issue all of that for you if you go to a ticket office.

 

[johnnychips]

I'd expect DB will be able to issue all of that for you if you go to a ticket office.

Thanks Neil

I was thinking of going to the Zoo station, which is nearest my hotel, the day before to do that. I was rather surprised the EC trains were reservation only, as they are not high-speed (I naively thought I might be able to do a day in Warsaw till I saw the timetable), but no doubt members on here will advise how busy they actually are.

 

[Zamracene749]

The staff in Poznan station spoke perfect English when I last visited, you are unlikely to have any language problems. Whilst there, walk along past the classic market place to the cathedral on Ostrow Tumski, it's really quite pretty. On the way back, I can recommend 'Proletaryat' bar, just off the market place- quirky place, nice beer and a friendly atmosphere.

 

[Gordon]

Thanks Neil
(I naively thought I might be able to do a day in Warsaw till I saw the timetable), .

You can have five hours in Warsaw from Berlin in a (long) day. You could see most of the main city centre sights in that amount of time. So not impossible (but clearly pretty strenuous)



.

 

[Polrail]

For the Berlin to Poznan trip, do NOT buy a through ticket from Berlin to Poznan from DB. This will be the most expensive option.

*buy a VBB ticket from Berlin to Kostrzyn (PL)
*buy a Przewozy Regionalne ticket from Kostrzyn to Poznan, either from the PR web site or from the conductor for a small extra charge.

For the Poznan-Berlin ticket, buy from the PKP IC web site.

 

[Groningen]

At the Bahn website i see a normal price one way ticket for 44,20 euro, but there is also a Sparpreis for 19 or 29.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I was thinking of going to the Zoo station, which is nearest my hotel, the day before to do that. I was rather surprised the EC trains were reservation only

It's because they are basically Polish trains operated mainly by PKP IC (though DB I think have some kind of interest, and some of the coaches are in a blue pseudo-DB livery), and PKP IC have compulsory reservation on all trains.

 

[duesselmartin]

For the Berlin to Poznan trip, do NOT buy a through ticket from Berlin to Poznan from DB. This will be the most expensive option.

*buy a VBB ticket from Berlin to Kostrzyn (PL)
*buy a Przewozy Regionalne ticket from Kostrzyn to Poznan, either from the PR web site or from the conductor for a small extra charge.

For the Poznan-Berlin ticket, buy from the PKP IC web site.

not with early booking though!

 

[Polrail]

not with early booking though!

Why do you need to (for the Berlin-Kostrzyn-Poznan route)? There are no seat reservations involved (unless you will use a PKP IC train from Krzyz-Poznan). Just buy the ticket to Kostrzyn from a VBB ticket machine in Berlin or on the train (about 11€), and the onward trains book on the Polish web site(s)....

 

[30907]

Good evening,

- If there is a problem for whatever reason in Poland, do you know if their ticket offices take debit or credit cards?

I can speak tolerable German, but no Polish at all.

John

It's some years since I was there, but in general CC facilities were limited and machines rare (but I believe that has changed).

I would be very surprised if you had problems with German at Kostrzyn or on train. Otherwise, writing you destination (and train number?) on paper works.

If you can get to Poznan Market Square by noon, watch the clock perform!
I second the cathedral area, lovely and amazingly quiet.
There's also a ng railway at the big lake east of town.
And a huge variety of trams.

 

[johnnychips]

Thanks for all your fantastic replies.

I bought a single from Poznan to Berlin on the Polish website for €39-ish which allowed me to choose my seat and print at home.

I will get a ticket in Berlin to Kostrzyn, then buy one off the conductor to Poznan with zloty - it seems to stop everywhere, and is classed as 'light rail' so I expect he/she will be used to issuing tickets. The problem is, I suppose, being British and expecting to be hit with a penalty fare or worse if you haven't bought the ticket in advance!

I will be getting a train back at 2030, so any other bar recommendations will be gratefully received. And reading the info about trams, is there a day ticket - if I can buy it on a tram, what should I ask for?

 

[30907]

Thanks for all your fantastic replies.

I will get a ticket in Berlin to Kostrzyn, then buy one off the conductor to Poznan with zloty - it seems to stop everywhere, and is classed as 'light rail' so I expect he/she will be used to issuing tickets.

And reading the info about trams, is there a day ticket - if I can buy it on a tram, what should I ask for?

There is a special fare to Gorzow €12 which is very good value but you have to buy it on the RB26 train from Berlin operated by NEB Niederbarminer Eisenbahn. You can then rebook on board the Polish train before reaching Gorzow (or at Kostrzyn where you have 10 mins). Didn't realise there was a through Kostrzyn-Poznan DMU!

There is certainly a day ticket for Poznan, there are multilingual machines at key stops including (some years ago) outside the west entrance to Glowny station (I think the tram layout has been altered since but can't imagine it will be less easy.)

 

[Polrail]

Thanks for all your fantastic replies.

I bought a single from Poznan to Berlin on the Polish website for €39-ish which allowed me to choose my seat and print at home.

I will get a ticket in Berlin to Kostrzyn, then buy one off the conductor to Poznan with zloty - it seems to stop everywhere, and is classed as 'light rail' so I expect he/she will be used to issuing tickets. The problem is, I suppose, being British and expecting to be hit with a penalty fare or worse if you haven't bought the ticket in advance!

I will be getting a train back at 2030, so any other bar recommendations will be gratefully received. And reading the info about trams, is there a day ticket - if I can buy it on a tram, what should I ask for?

Yes, there is an additional fee for buying on-board. Why not buy the ticket now from the Regional Railways (Przewozy Regionalne) web site?

 

[johnnychips]

Yes, there is an additional fee for buying on-board. Why not buy the ticket now from the Regional Railways (Przewozy Regionalne) web site?

You are wonderful - £6 (PLN29).