Barciur

Shouldn't be too long, but keep in mind that as of very recently, the minibuses from the border do NOT travel to the train station, but rather a bus station on the outskirts of the city. There, you have to change to something that will take you downtown.

The train is very nice and I'd recommend it. You can also book tickets online on the Ukrainian website and the price is really dirt cheap.

elpi

The wait in Medyka to cross in to Ukraine is few minutes or none. But on the way back - it can take hoers.

poisson

I'm guessing this is because people are smuggling items from the Ukraine to EU, but not the reverse?

Palal

EU border controls are tighter because more people want to enter the EU than Ukraine :P

P.S. It's "Ukraine" not "the Ukraine"

heraclitus

Does anyone have any experience with this overnight train that they'd care to share?

I had a great time in PL with my wife and kids and we'd like to go back and combine with a side-trip from Krakow to Lviv. However, I'd have to be able to assure my wife, who is a bit skittish when it comes to the prospect of travelling to Ukraine, about the comfort and safety of the train.

Is it possible to get a sleeping compartment for 4 with a locking door?

poisson

No personal experience, but I don't think you'll be getting much sleep (or so I've heard). The train will have to stop near the border to change the gauge of wheels, then stop again for passport control.

The best option is to take the train from Krakow to Przemyśl, then take the direct train from Przemyśl to Lviv. It's about a 6-7hr journey.

heraclitus

Thank you. So the option you recommended is a day train?

poisson

Yes, especially considering the day train route is slightly quicker.

Palal

The safety of the train is fine. If it's a 2nd class compartment (4 berths) the doors lock. You can buy out the entire compartment if you want.

As others have mentioned there is a gauge changing process that takes a couple of hours, and then passport control.

If you do a change of trains at the border during the day - this avoids the problem of having to wait for the gauge changer.

poisson

Is the day train from Przemyśl to Lviv already set up for the correct gauge?

abeyro

The problem of different gauge width at Polish - (then)Soviet Union border was solved in such a way that at one crossing, namely, Terespol (Poland) -Brest (now Belarus) European track continued into the Soviet/Belarus teritory.

At the other crossing, the one we are talking about, (and remember that for may years there existed only 2 rail crossing points between Poland and the Soviet Union) - it was done reversely.
The Soviet track continued into Poland's territory from Mostiska (now Ukraine) to Przemysl (Poland).
Thus Przemysl railway station has a seperate platform with a wide gauge track leading straight to Ukraine.

Christian Richardson

TribalistMeathead

LMGTFY

yurtripper

Which gives 7 results

1. Top-level govt info about buying train tickets in UKR
2. Same as (1) but source is Trip Advisor
3. How to get from London to Kiev
4. Buy a ticket from Warsaw to Kiev
5. UKR train times 2018
6. Rzeszow to Lviv
7. Very general tourist/historical info about Przemysl

(6) is likely to be the most relevant, since it's on the same route, but I'm guessing that the OP was wondering if any people on FT had particular info on this.

AlicorporateUK

Hi and welcome FlyerTalk, Chris - always good to see new members joining up so thanks for being here and indeed for your very first contribution.

The only solution I could think of on top of my head [in order to purchase tickets from Przemyśl Główny to Kiev Pass beforehand/on-line] is either the DB Bahn website (I doubt it will let you but it is certainly worth a shot) or an on-line ticketing agent such as Polrail (https://www.polrail.com/en); I'm afraid the PKP (the main Polish rail operator) website will not let you, yet it goes without saying that you will still be able to get them at the departure station or even at Warszawa Centralna/Wschodnia/Zachodnia (the Warsaw's main train stations) if you happen to be in the capital at any time during your journey, you will most likely find an English speaking agent and you will easily be able to pay by debit/credit card.

Any doubts, please let us know.

G