Adriatic Express sleeper train launches summer route from Poland to Croatia

A new record-breaking night train from Poland to Croatia has proved attractive on its debut journey, with over 90% of seats booked out. Hailed as the first sleeper to connect five European countries and run by the largest Polish rail operator, PKP Intercity, the brand new “Adriatic Express” traces a line southwest from Warsaw towards the tip of the Adriatic, taking 19 hours to complete its trip, passing through Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, and on into Croatia, during the just under 1,200- kilometre route.

With air-conditioned accommodation, sheets provided, and a hot-meal service between Warsaw and Vienna, the Express aims to improve speed and comfort on one of the longest single routes in Europe, slashing what would normally necessitate a three-change, 30-hour itinerary by a third in terms of time. Passengers can choose from 172 seats, 132 of which are second-class, as well as 40 couchettes. One-way fares start at around €50.

“The beginning of a new chapter”

The train is targeting an estimated 11,000 passengers during its maiden season. It is hoped the summer-only service, operating Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays until 28 August, will boost tourism between Croatia and Poland. The northern neighbour already sends 1.2 million Poles down to Croatia, according to Travel Croatia figures but the aim is encourage Croatians to make the trip to Poland too.

Pushed for by Donald Tusk, the project was confirmed as coming to fruition in May, when he announced: “We finally have a DIRECT train service from Poland to Croatia! We are starting from June, four days a week.”

Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak hailed the train’s launch on X as “the beginning of a new chapter for holiday rail travel!” adding, “This is not only a fast and convenient connection, but also a symbol of accessible European holidays – also from smaller towns!”

Opening up small town tourism

Departing Warsaw at around 2pm and pulling into Rijeka before 9:00 am the following day, the return then turns around to leave Croatia at around 7pm, arriving in Warsaw before 2:00 pm the next.

On its way from Warsaw to the Croatian coastal gem of Rijeka, the train will call at Opoczno, Katowice, Rybnik, Chałupki, Vienna, Ljubljana, Postojna, and Opatija, opening up vistas of small town tourism, as Klimczak pointed out, and importantly spreading footfall from more crowded destinations into the regions. However, the sharp-eyed might note there are no Czech stops yet on the route.