Bicycle in the train – rules and cost of transport | PolishTrains

Bicycle in the train – rules and cost of transport

Long-distance and regional trains are increasingly better prepared for the needs of travelers on two wheels. You can comfortably and safely get on a train with a bike. Special places (sometimes even wagons) adapted for the transport of bikes are usually available.

You can usually securely attach your bike to a special holder. There will also be room for larger panniers or other luggage. The cyclist also has a guaranteed seat. However, that seat is not always directly next to your bike. Remember that as the owner, you are responsible for your equipment. You must place it in a way that does not bother other passengers.

The PolishTrains search engine will also help you with this. Thanks to it, you can check whether a bicycle wagon is available on a given connection. When buying a ticket, if you plan to travel with a bike, you must know whether it will be possible to transport it. Without this, unfortunately, it may turn out that you will not get on the selected train with your bike. 

Lacking a ticket is a significant risk.

How to transport a bike on a train? – Bicycle wagon

How to transport a bike on a train? The best solution is to buy a place in a special bicycle wagon. There are adapted hangers in it, where you can comfortably place your bike.

Unfortunately, a bike wagon is still a rarity. There are definitely too few of them on trains. Such a wagon usually has space for as many as 24 bikes, assuming a reservation of a place for its owner. In many cases, the entrance to such a wagon opens like in freight wagons. So there is no problem with narrow passages.

PKP Intercity plans to modernize its existing wagons and introduce more of them to the fleet. There is a lot of space, and bikes with luggage can be arranged most comfortably. It’s the perfect way for a longer journey. Look for special markings reserved for these types of units in the wagons.

The Lower Silesian Railways provide the most bicycle wagons for their passengers. That’s why the Lower Silesia region is the perfect place to explore from the bike saddle. Special ticket promotions also help with this.

How to hang a bike on a train?

Places in the train designated for transporting bicycles usually have special hooks to which the bikes are attached. In many cases, you don’t even need to unhook the bags for this. Those up to 7-8 kilograms should also easily fit in the narrow wagon entrance. There is also no need to dismantle the wheel. However, for safety, it’s better to remove the water bottles.

How to hang a bike on a train? For a longer trip, it is worth securing the bike. Depending on the train, passenger spaces are in the vestibule right next door or further away. For the sake of your own equipment, it’s better to secure it.

Bicycle ticket in PKP – do you have to pay for a bike in the train?

Do you have to pay for a bike in the train? The fee for transporting a bicycle depends on the specific train.

For TLK and IC trains, it is 9.10 zlotys and is independent of the length of the route. Bicycles can be transported only in designated places or in the first vestibule of the first wagon and the last vestibule of the last wagon, so it causes as little inconvenience to other passengers as possible. In the case of EIC and EIP trains, transport is only possible in designated places. It can never be a restaurant car, sleeping car, or lying places.

In the case of PKP Polregio bicycle transport, passengers can buy a ticket with a guarantee and without a guaranteed space. The former have priority in occupying the bicycle rack. Transport is only possible in designated places or in the first vestibule of the first wagon or the last vestibule of the last wagon. The transport fee is 7 zlotys regardless of the length of the route. You can also buy a monthly card for 60 zlotys.

The company Arriva applies the same rules for bike transportation in their trains as their predecessors. The fee is 5.50 zlotys.

The Lower Silesian Railways charge a one-time fee of 7 zlotys for bike transport. Passengers using the “Weekend with KD”, “KD+Czech Republic” or “Joint Municipal Ticket” offers, can buy a bike spot for 10 zlotys.

Malopolskie Railways are cheaper in terms of bike transportation and they charge a fee of 4 zlotys (35 zlotys for a monthly ticket).

Mazowieckie Railways make a concession towards cyclists by offering them free bike transport (one unit per person).

Silesian Railways also allow free bicycle transport as part of the “Cycling around Silesia” offer. It lasts from Friday from 3 p.m. to Sunday until midnight. So it’s a great opportunity for a budget weekend getaway. Outside the promotion, transporting a bicycle in a designated place costs 5 zlotys regardless of the length of the route. Bicycle transport is paid for at the time of ticket inspection, without fees for lacking a valid ticket.

In the case of Wielkopolskie Railways, bike transportation costs 7 zlotys, regardless of the route length.

The Lodz Agglomeration Railway also offers free bike transport (one unit per one passenger).

The Fast Urban Railway in the Tri-City allows transporting a bicycle if it does not disturb other passengers and does not block the possibility of getting on and off the train. A flat fee is charged. There are no marked hooks for mounting the bike.

SKM Warsaw allows free bike transportation under the same rules that apply in ZTM. The transport is free, but the bike must be placed only in designated places.

Warsaw Commuter Railway allows the paid transport of the bicycle. The fee depends on the travel time. In zone 1, it is 4.10, in zone 2, it is 5.50, and in zone 3, it is 8 zlotys. For 51.50, you can buy a monthly ticket for transporting a bike valid in the whole WKD Warsaw network.

As you can see, transporting a bicycle by train is possible with all Polish carriers, and the fee is not high. Moreover, more and more wagons adapted for bicycle transport are going on the route. During the holiday season, you can easily take a trip around Poland and not only with PKP.

It’s worth buying a bicycle ticket in PKP in advance to be sure that the place will be available at all. Especially during long weekends or holidays, there are often more enthusiasts than available places. Without a reservation, bicycle transport can only be done at your own risk – this means that the conductor can ask you to leave the train with the bike.
Therefore, don’t risk it, but check in the PolishTrains search engine whether there will be designated space for bike transport in a given train and buy a ticket in advance with a special surcharge. In this case, you can be sure there will be room for your bike. Then, a longer or shorter trip will become a pleasure. After all, more and more bike routes are being created in Poland and Europe, which are asking to be tested.