Railway aid to Ukraine

More than 100k Ukrainian citizens have traveled free of charge on PKP Intercity trains already. Over the past few days, more than 62,4k refugees boarded trains departing from border stations and heading for various corners of Poland. Information desks have been set up at many railway stations, with mobile stewards and volunteers providing an additional layer of assistance.

Since February 24, a crisis response team has been working around the clock at PKP Intercity to coordinate all the relief efforts currently provided by the carrier. The company is in close cooperation with the Polish authorities as well as the crisis management centers and local authorities.

Railway operations between Poland and Ukraine continue. Together with Ukrainian Railways, PKP Intercity maintains rail connections to Kyiv, Lviv and Odessa, enabling passage to Poland to refugees. Most of them arrive in Przemyśl, Chelm and Warsaw, where they receive the necessary assistance, meals and information regarding further transportation options directly at the stations. The PKP Broad Gauge Metallurgical Line has also joined the effort to help transport refugees from Ukraine.

Over the past few days, more than 62,4k refugees boarded PKP Intercity trains departing from border stations and heading for various corners of our country. Local government carriers are also involved in aiding the transportation of Ukrainian citizens around Poland. Between February 24 and March 4 this year a total of nearly 200 trains departed as a part of the effort, including 140 extended regular service trains, 32 additional trains operated by PKP Intercity and 26 trains operated by regional carriers.

PKP Intercity continues to monitor the train occupancy levels and deploy additional wagons as necessary. In addition to the company’s own rolling stock, 20 wagons were supplied temporarily by the Czech Railways.

Starting on March 4 this year, PKP Intercity launches an additional special train between Warsaw and Frankfurt (Oder), with a schedule coordinated with Deutsche Bahn’s regional connections to Berlin. The train departs at 5:17 from Warsaw East station. The timetable of the Berolinum train operating between Warsaw and Berlin has also been extended to include weekends. As far as connections between Poland and Ukraine and extra deployments are concerned, PKP Intercity maintains constant communication with Ukrainian Railways and responds to needs as they emerge.

Free tickets

Since February 26 this year, more than 100k Ukrainian citizens have traveled free of charge on PKP Intercity trains. After crossing the Polish border, they can board 2nd class carriages of TLK and IC trains free of charge. These are economy train categories operated by PKP Intercity. The refugees can travel to any destination in Poland, changing trains (within the categories specified) as necessary. Any document confirming Ukrainian citizenship may be used to confirm passenger’s eligibility. Free tickets are distributed by ticket offices as well as on-board staff.

2nd class carriages of TLK and IC trains, which can be used free of charge by Ukrainian citizens, are being fitted with bilingual labels, too.

Free of charge domestic passage is also offered by rail carriers from Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary, making it much easier for the refugees to travel to other destinations.

Sanitary trains with aid traveling to Ukraine

Apart from operating scheduled connections between Poland and Ukraine, PKP Intercity helps to transport essential products to our eastern neighbors. From February 27 onwards Kiev Express departing from Warsaw to Kiev is supplied with basic provisions on a daily basis. In addition, since February 28 PKP Intercity, upon request of the Ministry of Infrastructure, runs a daily humanitarian train between Przemyśl and Mostyska. The cars carry essentials issued by the Government Strategic Reserve Agency into Ukraine. On the way back, the train takes passengers waiting for transit towards Przemyśl.

Moreover, as part of cooperation between PKP Intercity and the Ministry of Health, PKP Intercity has prepared a special sanitary train. It consists of 10 wagons, some of which have been adapted as sanitary facilities for the wounded (with medical equipment and portable cots), while the remaining cars can be stocked with essential provision, including non-perishable food and blankets for the refugees. Currently, the train remains on standby and is being used as required.

Information at railway stations, helpline in Ukrainian

On February 28 PKP Intercity started operating a helpline in Ukrainian. The line has already provided assistance to more than 500 callers. It is dedicated number for Ukrainian citizens wishing to obtain information regarding PKP Intercity timetables and other passenger issues in their native language. The lain is available 7 days a week, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. at

+48 22 473 00 86  - call fee dependent on operator’s tariff,

and 800 033 022 - toll-free line for all domestic operators.

More information is available on our website and social media accounts in two language versions – Polish and Ukrainian.

PKP Intercity employees remain involved 24/7, some of them working at railway stations in Przemyśl, Lublin or Warsaw, coordinating the passenger transport, passenger streams and boardings. Mobile stewards and volunteers provide another layer of assistance, handing out necessary information in Ukrainian, too.

A selection of railway stations also have reception and information desks set up by PKP S.A. More information is available on the following pages, in two language versions: https://pkp.pl/pl/pkp-aktualnosci/3146-pomoc-dla-obywateli-ukrainy-na-dworcach-przemysl-glowny-i-chelm and https://pkp.pl/pl/pkp-aktualnosci/3147-2022-02-26-00-31-41.

Safe journeys

Anyone traveling on PKP Intercity trains or using the railway stations may feel absolutely safe, with specialized security staff overseeing the situation at the stations and Railroad Protection Guard and Police officers present on board of some PKP Intercity trains. Our priority is to enable safe and efficient transit on all PKP Intercity trains. The operator makes every effort to implement that for all passengers.