Polish intercity trains - worth it?

[SF-02]

I'm thinking of taking a TLK train from Katowice to Warsaw. The EIC is too expensive so its this or a coach. The train is slower but may be more interesting.

However looking at old threads it seems TLK can get very busy. I would be going early afternoon so is it still busy?

Another thing is that people were complaining of not getting a seat with the crowding, but it looks as though TLK now have compulsory reservations. I'm not sure if that's 100% the case though, or on this route. Apparently in some (all?) cases they see how many have booked and add coaches to the train up to maximum possible.

Any help would be great. A half empty TLK train would be good and worth paying the premium over the coach, though it wouldn't have air con. I'm really quite undecided.

 

[gordonthemoron]

TLK trains always fill up. If the train starts from Katowice you should be OK

 

[Searle]

I'm due to travel Ostrava - Warsaw in 3 days time, so I'll let you know what it's like after I've travelled!

 

[30907]

I'm thinking of taking a TLK train from Katowice to Warsaw. The EIC is too expensive so its this or a coach.
A half empty TLK train would be good and worth paying the premium over the coach, though it wouldn't have air con. I'm really quite undecided.

IT will have opening windows though!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I'm due to travel Ostrava - Warsaw in 3 days time, so I'll let you know what it's like after I've travelled!

That would be an EC/EIC wouldn't it, on a through train?
When I travelled that way in May, the Budapest-Warsaw was a ČD train, and the Warsaw-Villach next day was a PKP train.
Loco change at Bohumin.

 

[Searle]

I'm due to travel Ostrava - Warsaw in 3 days time, so I'll let you know what it's like after I've travelled!

That would be an EC/EIC wouldn't it, on a through train?
When I travelled that way in May, the Budapest-Warsaw was a ČD train, and the Warsaw-Villach next day was a PKP train.
Loco change at Bohumin.

Indeed it was an EC/EIC loco hauled service. The journey was relatively full (left Ostrava at 11am), but there were empty seats around. They seem to be doing large scale works on the Warsaw end of the line, a lot of it was down to single line it seemed, so there was a lot of waiting and going slow across crossings all over. We were about 20-30 minutes late in total.