New 'Adriatic Express' Sleeper Train Completes Inaugural Journey Through Five European Countries

The recently launched 'Adriatic Express' has marked its inaugural journey, connecting the capital of Poland, Warsaw, to Rijeka, a picturesque city located on Croatia’s Adriatic coast. This new rail service covers a distance of roughly 745 miles, traversing five nations, including stops in the Czech Republic, Austria, and Slovenia, along with Poland and Croatia. Among the notable stops on this scenic route are Vienna, the capital of Austria, and Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana. The train set off from Warsaw on Friday afternoon and completed its journey on Saturday morning.

Traveling aboard the Adriatic Express takes approximately 19 hours, which is a significant improvement over the older route that required three service changes and took over 30 hours. One-way tickets for this new service offered by PKP Intercity begin at about £39.50, and the service is scheduled to operate four times weekly in both directions throughout the summer, aiming to remain functional until the end of August. Polish Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak noted that the initial trip saw an impressive occupancy of around 90% for available seats. He celebrated the launch on social media, describing it as a new era in holiday train travel and highlighting the potential for increased tourism between the countries.

The service has a capacity for up to 11,000 passengers, providing a comfortable journey with scenic views across the five countries. It includes 172 seats, divided into 40 couchettes and 132 second-class seats. The train departs Warsaw at approximately 2 PM and arrives in Rijeka by 9 AM the next day. The return trip leaves Rijeka at around 7 PM, arriving back in Warsaw before 2 PM the following day. Conversations regarding the establishment of this rail connection between Croatia and Poland began in 2021, with hopes that it would foster tourism and travel. Warsaw, located along the Vistula River, houses about 3.3 million residents, making it the sixth-largest city in the European Union, while Rijeka is the third-largest city in Croatia, known for its sandy beaches and cultural attractions.