Warsaw to Rijeka train service could be on track for a summer launch, offering a new and scenic route from Poland to the Croatian coast. Polish Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak has announced that there is a real chance the direct connection will begin operating on July 1, with fares starting around PLN 200 for a full journey.
Though the plan had seemed unlikely earlier this year, Minister Klimczak surprised many by revealing the update during a recent conversation on Radio Zet. “Lunch in Warsaw, breakfast in Rijeka,” he said, describing the schedule that could soon make it possible to leave Poland in the afternoon and arrive in Croatia the next morning.
The proposed night train would depart Warsaw at around 2:00 p.m. and arrive in Rijeka before 9:00 a.m. the next day. The return journey is scheduled to leave Rijeka in the evening and reach Warsaw before 2:00 p.m. This sleeper train would not only connect Poland and Croatia, but also improve travel links with the Czech Republic, Austria, and Slovenia, running through Maribor and Ljubljana along the way.
While the idea is being seriously considered by PKP Intercity, its actual launch depends on international cooperation, particularly with Austrian rail partners. The final ticket price, service quality, and sleeper car availability will also depend on these agreements. Klimczak noted the challenge of limited rolling stock, especially sleeper cars capable of serving cross-border routes, which could complicate the launch.
Despite the hurdles, support for the route appears strong. The Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism, along with the Polish Tourism Organisation, is set to help shape the service and promotion. The minister emphasized that the train is not only for Poles heading to the Adriatic, but also for inviting Croatian travelers to visit Poland, citing the warm relationship between the two countries.
This isn’t the first time a Poland–Croatia rail route has been discussed. In recent years, Czech operator RegioJet received approval for a Kraków–Rijeka–Split connection, but those plans never materialized. After four successful summer seasons, RegioJet also stopped running its popular Croatia–Prague night trains, citing rolling stock shortages and shifting priorities toward growing demand on routes to Ukraine.
For now, passengers dreaming of a relaxed, overnight train ride to Croatia can be cautiously optimistic. If all goes to plan, a Warsaw to Rijeka train might be pulling out of the station as early as July—offering one of the most scenic and convenient ways to reach the Adriatic coast.
