Przemyśl 2025-09-25

PKP InterCity Train “Galicja” Przemyśl Główny – Berlin.

PKP InterCity train 37000/1 “Galicja” is theoretically an international train. It has been operating on its current route since December 2024. The starting station is Przemyśl Główny station. The route includes stations: Rzeszów, Kraków, Katowice, Wrocław, Legnica, Zielona Góra Główna, Rzepin, Frankfurt (Oder), and Berlin Hbf. However, there are times when the train only goes as far as Frankfurt (Oder), and sometimes terminates at Rzepin station in Poland.

Just as during the communist era, the “Friendship” train Moscow-Warsaw-Berlin, now the “Galicia” train exemplifies the love between Germans and Ukrainians, as the majority of passengers are Ukrainians and Germans. The train provides easy access to Kyiv and is the shortest and fastest rail connection between Kyiv and Berlin.

It is worth mentioning that since February 26, 2022 (the second day of the war in Ukraine), Ukrainian citizens have been able to travel free of charge on PKP InterCity trains in the IC and TLK categories. By June 30, 2022, over 2.3 million Ukrainian citizens took advantage of free travel on these trains (IC and TLK) within Poland. In theory, free travel for Ukrainians ended on June 30, 2022. In fact, many Ukrainians still enjoy discounted travel on PKP trains (until 2025). Most trips were made on routes from the border regions (Przemyśl, Chełm) to Germans and Czechs, as well as to large cities in Poland: Warsaw, Krakow, Wrocław, and Gdańsk. Special Ukrainian trains have even been launched on the LHS line, all the way to Olkusz. Not to mention other unparalleled social benefits worldwide: housing, healthcare, tax, and school benefits.

What do Ukrainians receive in Poland? Key benefits and relief?

Ukrainians who arrived after February 24, 2022, have temporary protection status, which gives them the right to legally reside and work without the need to obtain additional permits and access certain public services. They receive child benefits; Family 800+. Children have priority for admission to nurseries, preschools, and schools over Polish children. “Good Start”; one-time financial support for school supplies. An additional benefit for families with young children, the so-called Family Care Capital. Free education and healthcare. They were often accepted at health clinics out of turn. Income or unpaid benefits (e.g., housing assistance, meals, medical treatment) received by Ukrainians may be exempt from income tax (PIT). Individuals or institutions (companies, NGOs) that provide assistance to Ukrainians may also recognize expenses related to this assistance as tax deductible costs. Easy extension of legal residence. There’s talk of it even extending to 2026. Additional burdens imposed by the government on municipalities, for example, free travel on local public transport. By June 30, 2022, over 2.3 million Ukrainian citizens had taken advantage of free travel on these trains (IC and TLK) within Poland. Ukrainians are showing zero gratitude. They don’t even want to allow the exhumation of victims of crimes in the former Polish Borderlands to begin. Admittedly, those Ukrainians who arrived in Poland before 2022 for work purposes are angry at their compatriots for tarnishing their reputation in Poland.

Why does the IC Galicia train sometimes go to Berlin, another time to Frankfurt (Oder), and another time only to Rzepin station? 

In reality, these decisions are the responsibility of DB (Deutsche Bahn), not PKP InterCity. The German company explains that this depends on track availability, network capacity, and agreements between the carriers. Trains are sometimes routed directly to Berlin or terminate in Frankfurt (Oder), where passengers can transfer to German regional or long-distance trains. According to DB, the Rzepin–Frankfurt (Oder)–Berlin section is one of the busiest rail corridors. If there are no available slots on the route, the train is shortened, even to Rzepin. The German company also reports that this route is frequently undergoing repairs. PKP InterCity recommends passengers plan their journey with a transfer in Rzepin and travel by other means of transport. Even if a train terminates in Rzepin or Frankfurt (Oder), it is still possible to easily continue their journey on German trains to Berlin or beyond. Of course, such a journey will be more expensive. We know that the summer holidays were the hardest. In September 2025, the situation improved, and the IC “Galicja” train runs regularly to the Berlin terminus, except on Fridays.

In this article, we only discuss the IC Galicja train. We do not analyze other connections. The train’s current route has been running since October 3, 2024.

For your convenience: The EC 59 Galicja train runs from Berlin to Przemyśl. The EC 58 Galicja train runs from Przemyśl to Frankfurt (Oder). This has nothing to do with the PKP (Polish State Railways) markings.

In September 2025, the price for an IC Galicja ride on the Przemyśl Główny – Frankfurt (Oder) route was PLN 112 in Second Class and PLN 146 in First Class. This is higher than other PKP InterCity trains on this route. The train departs Przemyśl Główny at 9:20 AM and arrives at Frankfurt (Oder) at 6:09 PM. The route takes 8 hours 49 minutes.

Intercity train schedule: Galicja EC 58. Przemyśl Główny 09:20. Przemyśl Zasanie 09:22-09:23. Jarosław 09:43-09:44. Przeworsk 09:54-09:55. Łańcut 10:07-10:08. Rzeszów Główny 10:19-10:22. Dębica 10:44-10:45. Tarnów 11:00-11:02. Bochnia 11:20-11:21. Kraków Płaszów 11:37-11:38. Kraków Główny 11:43-11:53. Katowice 12:46-12:49 (Although Katowice station is currently undergoing renovations and other trains are using the coal main line). Zabrze 13:03-13:04. Gliwice 13:11-13:15. Kędzierzyn Koźle 13:41-13:43. Opole Główne 14:04-14:06. It is not known why the train does not stop at Brzeg station. Wrocław Główny 14:45-15:06. Legnica 15:40-15:41. Lubin Górniczy 15:56-16:02. Głogów 16:27-16:28. Zielona Góra Główna 17:00-17:02. Rzepin 17:46-17:49. Frankfurt (Oder) 18:09.

Timetable IC Galicja EC 59. Frankfurt (Oder) 09:50. Rzepin 10:09-10:12. Zielona Góra Główna 10:55-10:57. Głogów 11:29-11:31. Lubin Górniczy 11:57-12:02. Legnica 12:17-12:19. Wroclaw Główny 12:53-13:15. Opole Główne 13:54-13:56. Kędzierzyn Koźle 14:17-14:18. Gliwice 14:44-14:46. Zabrze 14:52-14:53. Katowice 15:09-15:13. Krakow Główny 16:03-16:18. Krakow Płaszów 16:22-16:23. Bochnia 4:39 PM – 4:40 PM. Tarnów 4:58 PM – 5:00 PM. Dębica 5:16 PM – 5:18 PM. Rzeszów Główny 5:40 PM – 5:47 PM. Łańcut 5:58 PM – 5:59 PM. Przeworsk 6:12 PM – 6:13 PM. Jarosław 6:22 PM – 6:23 PM. Przemyśl Zasanie 6:44 PM – 6:45 PM. Przemyśl Główny 6:48 PM. Journey time: 8 hours 58 minutes.

Siemens EuroSprinter EU44 locomotive. In 2006, IPS Tabor in Poznań tested the EuroSprinter ES64F4, number E189-911. It was the first locomotive from the EuroSprinter family to appear in Poland. The first EuroSprinter appeared in regular service in Poland in 2007. It was a type ES64F4 locomotive (Germanic designation E189) owned by Siemens-Dispolok and operated by CTL Logistics. At the beginning of 2010, CTL Logistics operated three type ES64F4 electric locomotives. Przewozy Regionalne; On February 2, 2010, Przewozy Regionalne presented an ES64F4 locomotive at the Szczecin station. Test runs then began as part of interREGIO service. In March 2010, the carrier leased another eight locomotives. Test runs were completed on July 5, 2010. The PKP InterCity ES64U4 Husarz, as EU44, began service in 2012. The contract for the delivery of 10 locomotives was signed in June 2008. On the night of May 28-29, 2009, during tests on the Central Main Line, the tested locomotive broke the speed record for a train composed of a locomotive and wagons on Polish tracks, reaching 235 km/h.

The locomotive is a Siemens EuroSprinter EU44-004 Husarz. EVN number: 91 51 5 370 004-1 (PL-PKPIC). Serial number ES64U4-21663/2009. Manufactured in 2009. The locomotive also bears the numbers ES64U4-D and 5 370 004 1251.

PKP InterCity “Galicja” EC 58 – 37000/1, EC 59 – 73000/1:

Carriage No. 272, type A9mnouz, type 139A, Class 1, 9 compartments, 54 seats, air conditioning, 230V power outlets, toilets.

Restaurant car No. 271, type WRmnouz, 42 seats, air conditioning, toilets.

Carriage No. 270, type B10bmnouz, type XBNMg2-FPS, Class 2, 56 seats, 2 wheelchair spaces, air conditioning, 230V power outlets, toilets.

Carriage No. 269, type B11mnouz, type 136A-IC, Class 2, compartment car, 66 seats, air conditioning, 230V power outlets, toilets.

Carriage No. 268, type B11 mnouz, type 170A, Class 2, compartment car, 66 seats, air conditioning, 230 V power outlets, toilets.

Carriage No. 267, type B9mnopuz, type 159Av2, Class 2, non-compartment car, 77 seats, air conditioning, 230 V power outlets, toilets.

Carriage No. 266, type B11mnouz, type 136A-IC5, Class 2, compartment car, 66 seats, air conditioning, 230 V power outlets, toilets.

Carriage No. 265, type B11mnouz, type Z2B, Class 2, compartment car, 66 seats, air conditioning, 230 V power outlets, toilets.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman