The BEST Stadler FLIRT train? PKP Intercity FIRST CLASS review! (Zakopane to Krakow)

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Today, we are exploring PKP Intercity's ED160 Stadler Flirt trains, which could be among the best of their kind. Join me on this journey from Zakopane in Poland's south, through the Tatra Mountains, up to Krakow in the great comfort of their first class. Enjoy a delicious meal from the onboard dining car while passing through breathtaking scenery.
Train type: PKP ED160 "Stadler FLIRT"
Route: Zakopane to Krakow
Train: IC 3560
Distance: 138 km
Journey time: 2h56m
Average speed: 47 km/h
Price: 39 PLN ~8,80 €

[@igifigi1058]

from september to december, the entire krakow - zakopae section is closed for repairs (again), but it will be opened with a new railroad station in zakopane from december 2023, so you will be able to use it already at the end of this year

[@RobertBogdanik]

The route is open between Kraków and Jordanów and only regional trains travel there. Further on, there is a bus replacement service. Long-distance trains end in Krakow, from which there is a bus replacement service, stopping only in Nowy Targ. Full opening is planned for December 22 and trains are scheduled to run to the main station, but there is still a lot of work to be done and delays are likely.

[@Jessica-tr7tr]

i'm getting the krakow train to zakopane next week- it's already booked it can't be closed?

[@kietero]

It's a very nice preview of what Amtrak's FLIRTS will look like. Great vid!

[@Kolejowy.Poznan]

TYSM FOR REVIEWING POLAND AGAIN!!!

[@Simon-Andersen]

No problem! Love Poland, will deffo do more in the future !

[@iRocketQueen]

According to Polish Infrastructure manager PKP PLK, permanent station in Zakopane should be reopened by 22nd December. 😄

[@mewosh_]

I often use PKP services and I must say that I prefer these over even Pendolinos. They're just as comfortable and often just as fast but cost much less.

[@DS.J]

This is a nice looking train, kurwa. Poland seems to be serious about its railway system which is what I like.

[@igifigi1058]

i am from poland and i travel with pkp intercity on a daily basis. I must admit that you are 100% right that flirt is the best train (EMU) on Polish railways, not the pendolino often referred to as such.

[@markoobid2005]

What about the new generation of Flirts which seems to have worse seats and smaller restaurant? I like Pesa Dart more.

[@mm34639]

For more authentic Polish traditional experience you can take the Regio train "Kasprowy", "Giewont" "Gubałówka" etc in class ED72 EMU 😉 like in 6:54

[@JaNieWie]

I had a chance to actually drive one when I was in Zakopane region. Well, it was quite loud, and on top of that the jounrey from Zakopane to Kraków by that train takes roughly 4 hours. With modern units from PESA, Newag and even Stadler, I think some of these trains are either gonna get modernized, or will be scrapped. This is what is currently happening to EN57s. Many got a complete new cab and better design to support slightly higher speeds.

[@Simon-Andersen]

I have taken plenty of the more classic regional trains, just never filmed one :D

[@markmbalagtas2230]

Simon, as usual very excellent and beautiful videos. Every time I watch your videos I feel like I am actually traveling with you. Thank you

[@Simon-Andersen]

Thanks as usual mark

[@marcodiaz2662]

2:03 „wagony to są zajebiste, nie?” „Wagons are fu*king great, is it true?”

[@truthseeker1278]

What a nuts arrow that points 2 a great train.

[@ericdanielski4802]

Nice video.

[@JanChojnacki-b7s]

This is a train that operates on PKP Intercity, Koleje Mazowieckie, and Łódzkie Aglomeracja Koleje

[@JaNieWie]

I had a chance to go there by train in August 2022, but unfortunately, not by that one. However, I have been on board of one in the past. Also, the ED160 Stadler FLIRT sets are produced in Stadler facility here in my home town - Siedlce. It's on the east from Warsaw.

[@Simon-Andersen]

Tågab would be very intresting! Next time im in Sweden perhaps

[@SchwarzeSonne130]

In germany this is a standard regional and commuter train Never expected it to be a intercity in a other country

[@RobertBogdanik]

In Poland, Flirt II also participates in regional transport with the Koleje Mazowieckie operator (Warsaw and the surrounding area) under the designation ER160 instead of ED160. It is slightly different due to, among other things, the lack of 1 class and the length of 5 instead of 8 units. It is also available in ŁKA operator under the designations L-4268 (2 units) and LM-4268 (3 units)

[@spicehammer5707]

These trains have several changes in their design compared to the normal regional variant of the Flirt 3. Most notably: they have improved sound insulation and are high-floor.

I have calculated the average speed of the S9 that's running between Haltern and Hagen with Stadler KISS 3XL and stops at almost every rural (sometimes middle of nowhere) station to also be at around 47km/h. However, the problem here seems to be the maximum allowed speed, which sometimes only seems to be 50km/h.

[@SchwarzeSonne130]

S6 Hanover-Celle would be a better example to look at

[@srikanthshastry4546]

The German operator DB with BWGT Go-Ahead Mobilität für Baden-Württemberg operate these train sets on Karlsruhe - Stuttgart line as the IRE-1. In my opinion one of the best Regio trains out there

[@marcinklimas2670]

Zakopane will be open at 22.12.2023.

[@Simon-Andersen]

It runs once a week on mondays from Dushanbe at 19:26 to Samarkand and Tashkent

[@andrewm3612]

Hello there Simon! Just wanted to say that I am a big fan of your videos!! I am really happy to see different parts of the world through your train travels, which I might not get the chance to see myself!! However, I have two questions for you in regard to this train. 1. Would you have taken this train for its full length run, which was 11 hours and 5 minutes between Zakopane and Gdynia? 2. If you couldn't do this trip in 1st class, would you do it in 2nd class or would it not be worth doing? Kind regards, Andrew from Zurich.

[@Simon-Andersen]

Hi Andrew, id have no issues doing long distances on these trains, the seats are comfy in both classes and with good food from the dining car! - First class is ussualy not that much more expensive on PKP so its a nice upgrade, but it would not mind doing the journey in standard either.

[@andrewm3612]

@Simon-Andersen I see what you mean, Simon. Personally, I would only do the 11 hour journey, if it was absolutely necessary. However, PKP looks to be an absolutely great train operator, despite Poland not having TGV- style lines, allowing for speeds of 300 km/h and more.

[@brendanjames8234]

Hi Simon! I followed you over here after your adventures with Miles in Transit riding Copenhagen Transport. Just wanna let you know that the train at 3:12 is the model EN57 manufactured by a firm called Pafawag. There is a huge book called Radical Passion that is essentially a sociological study of the culture surrounding the building and use of this particular train model. It’s an excellent book that’s in both Polish and English, and you must track it down and get a copy if you can. Greetings from Warsaw!

[@Simon-Andersen]

That sounds very intresting, im gonna have to see if i can track it down somewhere in Copenhagen, thanks for sharing!

[@SternenruferinPatchouli1]

i wish German Stadler KISS IC would have a real Kitchen onboard...

[@Simon-Andersen]

I think many of their passengers would too!

[@BartomiejZielinski-rf8is]

These trains run on many services: "Żeromski" one of many.

[@JedenSiedemDwa]

And now line is opened, although permanent station is still rebuild, not all platforms are ready, but it works. ;) Happy New Year 2024! ;)

[@markusstudeli2997]

I would not call it the best FLIRT; it certainly is well equipped for longer journeys with its real dining car, its luggage racks in both first and second class compartments, it's staff facilities and multiple toilets. Yet it lacks other features some FLIRTS have, like level access, the ability to run without overhead wires (like the new regional FLIRTs in Schleswig Holstein), a more modern and stylish interior (like the BLS or SOB FLIRTS), the ability to reach 200 km/h (like the Swedish and Norwegian FLIRTS), or a better acceleration and more power thanks to better motorization (like the BLS Flirts). But these are probably features that are not essential for the role PKP uses it for and and it's certainly a good example of the versatility of the FLIRT platform, which started as a light and simple commuter EMU for the SBB 20 years ago. With the new Norwegian overnight train version and the US hydrogen powered FLIRTs, this versatility will again be expanded in the next couple of years. I wonder how many FLIRTs Stadler will end up selling. It's more than 2'500 by now and still going strong, so it might be well double that amount eventually.

[@dezeet]

Vast majority of PKP main lines is electrified - there was no need for a diesel/battery powered version. Higher floor level was required by PKP Intercity - all their EMUs have high (but flat) floor. The max speed of 160 km/h was also required by PKP IC. ED160s serve mostly on Intercity trains - they have more frequent stops, and are operated mostly on lines with top speed 160 km/h or less. For higher speed trains PKP Intercity has Express Intercity Premium trains operated by ED250 (New Pendolino) with max speed of 250 km/h (currently operational max speed is 200 km/h due to modernizing the high speed line between Warsaw and Krakow/Katowice). With the interior I completely agree with you - it look like a waiting room in a hospital, but it's standard across the PKP fleet (excluding Pendolino with a very nice Alstom built interior).

[@Simon-Andersen]

I think the PKP ones are the "best" in the sence that they got basically everything right in terms of the specs for the services they use them on. But yeah its such a versitile platform, the ones for LEO Express or MTRX are also excellent in my opinions!

[@dezeet]

@@Simon-Andersen Next year (probably) PKP Intercity will introduce new Express Intercity trains hauled by Newag Griffin locomotives capable of speeds up to 200 km/h. It might be worth checking out 😉

[@five-o5362]

These sets were built almost 10 years ago, obvs they won't be equipped with features available on latest iterations of this train. Not to mention that this model has a successor. Bigbrainmarkus.

[@marka5478]

My dad's family is from Zubrzyca Gorna, just West ot Nowy Targ.

[@NonstopEurotrip]

LeoExpress says hi 👋🏻

[@Simon-Andersen]

That is a strong contentder, but i think the onboard WARS on PKP takes it over the Premium seats on LEO

[@johannessamuelsson6578]

Something that would be cool, and something that I've even looked at, is an extension of the Szczecin - Zakomane sleeper across the Baltic sea to Malmö (or Copenhagen) via the train ferry to Trelleborg.

[@Simon-Andersen]

That would be a really cool service!

[@RobS64]

I am having shivers just thinking on taking such a long ass trip. I've been not long ago on a sleeper Lodz-Szczecin and that was just too long. But I love trains and my favourite distance is up to 4-5 hours. Enjoyed your content@@Simon-Andersen

[@indiekiduk]

That’s the IC? I’d be interested in seeing the EIC zakopane-krakow

[@Simon-Andersen]

I hope i can do an EIC review in the future. EIC is loco-hauled train with intercity wagons.

[@TRANSPORTEXCELLENCE2011]

Nice 😊

[@Adalbert634]

Try TLK SUDETY or TLK SZCZELINIEC (from 10 december 2023) in full relation from Kraków to Jelenia Góra, operator PKP INTERCITY too, 7hrs on board DMU

[@Simon-Andersen]

Maybe in the future, can't wait to be back in Poland at some point 🇵🇱

[@szymex22]

Cool that you visited Poland again. They are nice trains indeed. The only issue is they didn’t add any compartments, doesn’t even need to be the whole train, but a few per carriage would be great for being able to travel with a group.

[@Simon-Andersen]

That would have been a nice addition, i personally like open seating more but i dont often travel as a group

[@samtrak1204]

How is the ride quality at 100mph? Is it smooth and quiet or noisy and bumpy?

[@RobertBogdanik]

It's very quiet inside unless you have small children in the carriage 😉

[@samtrak1204]

@@RobertBogdanik LOL🤣✌️

[@Simon-Andersen]

Its good, FLIRTS are very quiet and comfortable!

[@sandrad81]

That looks like the ER1… but with just one floor

[@Simon-Andersen]

Both of them are from Stadler

[@Andrew-xg5ge]

Not sure about having to lift the bike up on to hooks inside the train. I would struggle with this. Not everyone who rides a bike is necessarily a weight lifter!

[@Simon-Andersen]

Good point! But it saves space, so i guess its a tradeoff

[@Andrew-xg5ge]

@@Simon-Andersen Maybe they could somehow make a way of hoisting the bike into the vertical position; this might be easier than having to lift it into the vertical position.

[@five-o5362]

@@Andrew-xg5ge majority of bike storage racks on long distance trains across the world are like this. The only silly thing here is that the bike hangs perpendicular to the wall rather than at a 45 deg angle - i.e. eats into the gangway unnecessarily.

These FLIRT trains always look so clean, no matter if they are VRR, Nordbahn or the Polish ones. However, 47km/h average speed seems like an joke to me. The Stadler FLIRT 3XL S-Trains here seem to average at about 90km/h although to be fair, they are more like regional trains. They also have a really good acceleration and from what I know, the Polish variants are slightly worse. Edit: For instance, the S9 that's commuting between Haltern am See and Hagen Hbf (usually only between Haltern and Wuppertal or Hagen and Essen) takes 2 hours and 11 minutes for a distance of around 103km. This equals to almost the exact average speed (roughly 47km/h), not to mention that you don't have to buy a separate IC ticket and that it stops at like every rural station. Sure, it's 2nd class without food, but I'd consider the Polish IC to be more of a cheat IC. Reminds me of the Twindexx IC2 here in Germany.

[@Simon-Andersen]

Its mostly the route in this case, on other services (and sections) where this train is deployed, they can get up to much more respectable speeds.

[@JaNieWie]

It's the track speed limit that's the culprit here. Along the route from Zakopane to Kraków majority of speed limits are between 60 to 90 km/h. Also, it's one track only with passing points. However, thanks to recent renovations of the route, trains can now reach 120 km/h on a stretch between Nowy Targ and Zakopane.

[@AA-yb6jw]

How much pln in class 1? 1 person

[@Simon-Andersen]

39 pln if booked in advance!

[@faxepl]

Soo... your 1st class ticket was actually cheaper than the on-board breakfast 😅

[@Simon-Andersen]

Hahah yes, although i did get food for 2 people, so maybe it would be fair to double the ticket cost :P

[@five-o5362]

Poolregio? Dafaque ru on about?

[@Simon-Andersen]

Sorry that I have an accent 😅

[@five-o5362]

@@Simon-Andersen That's no accent fella, did you go to Pooland or Poland?

[@Simon-Andersen]

@@five-o5362 It is. First of Po-land PO vs POL-regio POL. It's very common in Danish (my mother tung) to drag out the vowels a bit hence the longer O, which some times leaks into my English. If you have watched a few more of my videos you'd probably notice for other words too eventually :D

[@five-o5362]

@@Simon-Andersen "It is" what, fella? Are you saying that Poland is a Land of Po? My god, what a time to be alive.

[@danicao.6778]

Serbia 🇷🇸 has a train like this one but double-decker on two floors!!! Develops the same 200km/h!!! His name is "Soko" (falcon or hawk)!!! And now come from China 9 CRRC trains with same speed 200 km/h!!! In 2025 we complete 18 Stadler FLIRT4 that go 160km/h and FLIRT3 trains I don't even know how many we have and our all is low floor trains!!! We bay much more FLIRT4 and CRRC trains later in future for EXPO-2027!!!😉😏😎😎😎👌🇷🇸⚔️🛡️🇷🇸⚔️🛡️🇷🇸⚔️🛡️

[@Simon-Andersen]

I already have a video on SOKO from a few years ago

[@slavomt5832]

Great review as always 🙂 Can you compare PKP IC to Danske Statsbaner IC in terms of general comfort of travel, cleanliness and speed? 1 to 5 stars for each parameter. Thank you in advance 🙂

[@Simon-Andersen]

It's a bit hard to make such a comparison broadly. Generally Polish IC trains are more comfortable and have more amenities, but Danish trains runs more frequently and have higher speeds on average

[@slavomt5832]

mange tak 🙂

[@alexeveryman5080]

2nd class has little leg room at table seats, when fully packed there is not enough luggage space. Luggage shelves are low and too shallow. I am after 4h journey on one and it feels more like commuter train than long distance IC.

[@pl.sargento]

Better than Pendolino.

[@JaNieWie]

I have been on both ED160 Flirt and ED250 Pendolino, and I enjoyed both to be honest.

[@Simon-Andersen]

Both are great trains!