Do you want to know what are the benefits and discounts in PKP?

Traveling by train is not only convenient and fast. It’s also an opportunity to take advantage of various discounts offered by the Polish State Railways. In this article, we will take a closer look at what types of benefits are available at PKP and who can use them. Regardless of whether you are a student, a senior, a disabled person, or a parent, here you will find information on how to travel cheaper by train. 

What are the types of discounts at PKP?

There are various types of discounts and benefits at the Polish State Railways (PKP) that passengers can use depending on their status, age, health condition, or other conditions. Based on a basic criterion, we can divide them into statutory and commercial benefits.

Statutory PKP benefits, as the name suggests, result from applicable laws. The ability to use discounts to the greatest extent is regulated by the act on entitlement to concessional trips by means of public transport. There are also other legal acts that grant the benefits to individual groups of travellers. Among them, we can mention people with disabilities, the blind and their caretakers, combatants, families with the Large Family Card, or officers of certain services.

On the other hand, commercial benefits depend on the tariffs of individual carriers. They are not required by law, but individual companies offer them to encourage certain groups of people to travel. Examples include discounts for non-students up to the age of 26 and a cheaper “senior ticket” upon reaching the age of 60.

It’s worth noting that statutory and commercial concessions do not accumulate. This means that carriers are not obliged to apply statutory discounts when the passenger uses a commercial discount.

Who is entitled to the senior ticket at PKP?

The senior discount at PKP is an example of commercial concessions intended to encourage people over 60 to travel around Poland. The discount you can get depends on the chosen railway company.

The Senior Ticket (PKP Intercity) – offers a 30% discount on domestic journeys in first and second class carriages.

REGIO Senior (POLREGIO) – offers a 25% discount on one-off tickets or 10% on period tickets.

In both companies, the condition to use this offer is to be over 60 years old and show a document confirming the age.

Discounts for soldiers at PKP 

Soldiers of the Military Gendarmerie and military law enforcement bodies can count on free travel. The condition for using this benefit is to travel while on duty. This fact should be confirmed by an ID card of the gendarmerie, a military booklet with an appropriate entry, or a certificate from the unit commander about the official duties performed.

The law also provides for a 78% discount for professional soldiers. This can be used by people who are currently undergoing training related to professional military service (e.g., WOT training or active reserve). In this case, an updated entry in the military booklet confirms the entitlement to the discount.

Do holders of the Large Family Card get a discount at PKP?

Holders of the Large Family Card can also use discounts within the PKP system, which is an important element of support for large families in Poland. The rail travel discount is a form of recognition for families that are dealing with higher daily living costs. As a result, traveling becomes more affordable and economical for them.

To use the PKP discount with the Large Family Card, the parent must present it when buying a ticket and during the ticket inspection on the train. It will also be necessary to present an ID or other identification document. The discount for one-time tickets is 37%, while for named monthly tickets it is 49%. This is significant support that helps families reduce the costs of travel and commuting.

PKP discounts for children and youth.

Polish law defines in detail the conditions for granting discounts in PKP to children and young people, including people with disabilities. The benefits cover different age groups, from free travel for the youngest children, to benefits for children and young people based on different criteria. Below we detail all the discounts for children in PKP.

Children up to 4 years of age travel for free.

It is required to get a free ticket. Sometimes it is also necessary to present a document confirming the child’s age during control.

For children aged 4 to 6 years

(until the start of compulsory preschool preparation), there is a 37% discount for single tickets. It will be necessary to show a document confirming the child’s age.

The situation looks similar for children and young people who have started compulsory preschool preparation or are studying in Polish schools up to the age of 24. The discount for single tickets is 37%, while for monthly personalized tickets it is 49%. The required document is a certificate of preschool education or a school ID card issued in Poland.

Discounts also apply to children and young people with disabilities up to the age of 24.

In this case, the discounts for this group are significant, as they amount to 78% for both single tickets and monthly personalized tickets. However, they only apply to journeys from the place of residence or stay to the appropriate school, educational or medical institution. In order to take advantage of this discount, you must present documents confirming disability, student status, and a medical referral or other notification indicating the need to attend a specific institution.

Another group includes children and young people learning Polish language, geography, Polish culture or other subjects taught in Polish abroad, up to the age of 18 at the most. To obtain a discount, a student ID issued by the consul of the Republic of Poland must be presented.

Student ticket in PKP – do students get discounts?

Students, who are not yet 26, can get a 51% discount on all types of trains in second class.

This applies to both single tickets and monthly named tickets. A student must show a valid student ID or mStudent ID. If the ID does not contain information about the age, it is also necessary to show an identity document.

The situation looks similar for students studying abroad, who are also under 26. The PKP student ticket in second class is 51% cheaper. Required documents are a Polish or international student ID (ISIC), which must be presented with an ID or another document confirming identity and age.

Students with disabilities or disabled people who have not yet turned 26 can count on a bigger discount.

For them, the discount is 78%, provided that they travel from the place of residence or stay to the educational, educational or medical institution. Usually, it is required to show a student ID and a document confirming disability. In some cases, a certificate or medical referral may also be needed.

Discounts and benefits PKP – summary

Discounts offered by PKP are a perfect excuse to travel around Poland cheaply and comfortably. You need to remember that in addition to statutory benefits, rail companies introduce their own commercial offers. Therefore, before the trip, it is worth getting acquainted with the current tariffs to make sure you get the best price. Commercial discounts can be introduced for a specific period.

Planning a trip, also remember not to forget the required documents. Without them, you may not receive a discount at the ticket office, and during the inspection it can cause additional costs. If you want to book a ticket or check departure times, our rail connections search engine will help you. During the booking on our portal, you have the ability to choose the right discount for yourself.