Koleje Śląskie (Silesian Railways; KŚ) is a regional rail operator in the Silesian Voivodeship of Poland. The company is fully owned by regional government. The rail operator launched first passenger trains in October 2011. In the following years Silesian Railways undertook passenger services on all regional routes in Silesian Voivodeship.
Currently, the company operates regional passenger trains within Silesian Voivodeship and fast connection between Katowice and Kraków (once a day – “Gibki Cug”). During summer and winter holiday Koleje Śląskie launches additional trains to Zakopane. There is a special tariff for trains to Zakopane and Kraków.
Koleje Śląskie launches two types of regional trains:
Osobowy – slow train. It stops at all stations and train stops.
Przyspieszony – semi-fast train. It stops at designated stations and stops only.
The best offers for tourists
Koleje Śląskie doesn’t accept Interrail and network tickets offered by Polregio such as REGIOkarnet and Bilet Turystyczny.
For trips between Polish voivodeships by regional trains the only one interesting offer is the Wspólny Bilet Samorządowy (Joint Regional Government Ticket) – a 24-hour ticket valid on nearly all regional trains operated by eight Polish rail carriers. However, it is not valid on PKP Intercity or Polregio, which may require purchasing an additional ticket for parts of longer journeys.
Wspólny Bilet Samorządowy – up-to-date information, validity and prices (Koleje Dolnośląskie)
Silesia24 – a special 24-hour ticket offer, originally called a daily ticket. It is a network ticket and allows to travel across Silesian Voivodeship by trains operated by Koleje Śląskie. It is a perfect offer if you want to explore many cities within one day. It also entitled holders to travel by train across the border crossings in Cieszyn – Český Těšín and Chałupki – Bohumin.
EuroSilesia24 – a special 24-hour ticket offer allowing travel throughout the Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic in second class on České dráhy trains. It is a bit complicated not only for foreigners.
Silesia24 and EuroSilesia tickets 24 – more information
Routes
Most important routes served by Koleje Śląskie:
Katowice – Gliwice via Zabrze
Katowice – Częstochowa
Katowice – Oświęcim
Katowice – Zwardoń via Bielsko-Biała and Zwardoń
Katowice – Lubliniec via Bytom and Tarnowskie Góry
Katowice – Chałupki via Racibórz or Wodzisław Śląski
Katowice – Wisła
Katowice – Cieszyn
Cieszyn – Czechowice-Dziedzice via Zebrzydowice
Rybnik – Pszczyna via Żory
Chałupki – Bohumin
Rolling stock
There are many types of vehicles in the fleet. Most of the vehicles are relatively modern and equipped with air-conditioning for suburban trains. There are some small vehicles such as an Elf 2 – personally I don’t like this electric multiple units.
There is an only one toilet on the board. Toilets are often out of order and in Elf2 trains are very difficult to use.
Most of the trains are adapted for transporting passengers in wheelchairs.
Trains are often crowded between Katowice and Gliwice, Katowice and Sosnowiec, on the route Częstochowa – Poraj and from Katowice to Wisła, especially on weekends.
Koleje Śląskie – official website
Related articles:
Train travel in Poland – a comprehensive guide
