On Board the EIP: The Premium High-Speed Train of Poland
The EIP high-speed train is the most premium train service in Poland, and although it may not be as fast as the TGV in France or the ICE in Germany, it will get you to your destination quickly and comfortably.
As part of #AllTheLinesEurope, in which I aim to travel on every railway line in Europe with scheduled passenger services, I took the EIP numerous times during my Polish rail travels.
In this short guide, I’ll take you on board this premium Polish train and show you what it’s like to ride it!
An EIP high-speed arrives at Kraków Główny. ©AndyBTravels
Express Intercity Premium
EIP, which stands for Express Intercity Premium, refers to the high-speed train service in Poland operated by Polish State Railways (PKP).
The rolling stock used by the Polish State Railways for their high-speed services is the ED250, a tilting Pendolino train.
These trains are manufactured in Italy by Alstom, which refers to this particular Pendolino model as the ETR 610.
The same Pendolino trainsets – or adaptations of them – are also used in Italy by Trenitalia, in Switzerland by SBB, in Spain by RENFE, and even in China.
Routes
In Poland, the EIP high-speed train is primarily used on the main north-south route from Gdansk to Warsaw, and from Warsaw to Katowice and Krakow.
Also on the Warsaw-Wroclaw route, as well as on the Warsaw-Poznan-Szczecin route, you’ll find some services operated by EIP trains.
The top speed achieved by the EIP high-speed train in Poland was 182 miles per hour (293 kilometres per hour) on the Grodzisk Mazowiecki–Zawiercie railway line, which links Warsaw with Katowice.
However, the maximum operational speed for everyday passenger services is 155 miles per hour (250 kilometres per hour).
Express Intercity Premium services link the main Polish cities. ©AndyBTravels
Different classes
On board the EIP high-speed train, you’ll find first-class seats (in a 1+2 seating configuration) and second-class seats (in a 2+2 configuration).
In first class, you receive a welcome snack from a dedicated menu, along with two drinks of your choice (a hot drink, either coffee or tea, and a cold drink, such as mineral water, juice, or Coca Cola).
Passengers in second class receive only a complimentary bottle of water.
In both classes, there are power sockets at each seat, and Wi-Fi is available.
First class seats on the EIP high-speed train. ©AndyBTravels
In first class, you get a complimentary snack, water, coffee, tea, or a soft drink. ©AndyBTravels
On-board bistro
The EIP high-speed train also has a dining car, which is more of an on-board bistro with just a couple of bar tables.
Meals will however be delivered to your seat if you are travelling in first class, while in second class, you can buy food and take it to your seat or eat it at the bar tables in the dining car.
Note that alcoholic beverages can only be consumed in the dining car and cannot be brought back to your seat, as drinking alcohol on Polish trains is forbidden outside the confines of the restaurant car.
The catering service on Polish trains is provided by WARS, and you’re in for a treat if your train has a dining car or on-board bistro.
Polish dining cars have an extensive menu, and there’s always something to your liking, although I can particularly recommend the żurek, a traditional Polish sour rye soup!
Bistro counter on the EIP train. ©AndyBTravels
A bowl of Żurek from the dining car. ©AndyBTravels
Conclusion
The EIP, an abbreviation that stands for Express Intercity Premium, is the premium high-speed train service in Poland.
Running at speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour, these trains provide a comfortable way to travel between Poland’s main cities, such as Warsaw, Krakow, Katowice, Gdansk, Wroclaw, and Szczecin.
