anyone trained it from warsaw to kiev?

katchmoore

Hi guys

Looking to book an overnight train to kiev from warsaw. I've emailed the polish ticketing agency for help - but if they don't get back to me I'll be stuck.

Anybody done this before who could offer me advice or help me book tickets?

Thanks!

Civilian_Target

Yep, me. Don't

Get the train from Warsaw to Krakow (about 3 hours). Then change to Krakow to Przemysl (about 5 hours). Walk across to the Ukrainian Station in Przemysl and get the train from there to Kiev (about 12 hours).

Direct trains are twice the price and not any faster. They're slower between Warsaw and Krakow, you'll spend 3 hours at Przemysl anyway, while they change the wheels.

Civilian_Target

Oh, and personally, I would stop at Lviv for a night, if you're not in a hurry. It's a stunningly beautiful city, with great food and a kicking night life.

katchmoore

aw no - really? that wasn't the answer i was hoping for :-)

it's just that i wanted to travel overnight on a sleeper; didn't want to do all the chopping & changing so much.........???

thanks for the note on lviv - would love to put it into the mix but i'm on a timeline. heard a good bit about it but just can't fit it in to this trip :rolleyes:

Civilian_Target

Well, I mean, you still can. It's just twice as expensive, no faster, and you'll still have to get out and spend a few hours in the cold in Jagodin, but it's less hastle.

I think you're right to try and book your ticket in advance, because it could be sold out, it's probably only a couple of cars going all the way. Unfortunately, you probably have to have a physical ticket, so the best thing to do is to phone a travel agency in Warsaw, get them to book it for you, and pick it up when you arrive there. Otherwise, take your chances at the station.

katchmoore

so what you're saying is that the overnight 'direct' train is not direct; but includes a change anyway? in the middle of the night?? ....crap.

Civilian_Target

No, you'll be in the same bunk all the way, you just have to get out for a few hours while they change the bogeys on the carriage at 1am.

katchmoore

ok thanks civilian. do you have experience travelling on trains in the ukraine?

only, i'm trying to book train tickets from kiev to moscow on NYE, and have been informed by de.bahn that you can only book tickets starting in the ukraine, if you live IN the ukraine -

i arrive into kiev NYE morning and i really don't fancy having to wait until we arrive to book tickets with all the follow on bookings we need to do etc etc.

any ideas?

Civilian_Target

Sure, I replied on the other thread. No - there's no solution: either someone buys the ticket for you at the station (or a ticket office), or you call an agency, or you buy it when you get there. Obviously, a local will be able to get you a ticket at the agency cheaper.

You seem to have very fixed plans - if it's not a leisure journey, it's much easier to fly (and if you're going though an agency to get your train tickets, probably not a whole lot more expensive!)

katchmoore

yeah, caught your other message thanks - maybe we'll just stick to this thread.

yep, checked out the price with an agency; 245 euros for 1 ticket, bloody hell! wonder what % is added by the agency...maybe i'll ask them?

i do have a tight schedule, but i also do want to travel by train, it's kinda the point. didn't realise it would be quite so expensive just...

have a mate seeing if a mate of there's can purchase me a ticket in kiev. fingers crossed.