Train enthusiasts gathered on platform 2 in Warsaw as the olive-green carriages of the 11:07 service to Poznań gleamed in the sunshine. The atmosphere was electric, with one passenger in bow tie and braces hurrying to secure his seat. This was no ordinary train but a journey back in time, part of a series of retro rail trips launched to celebrate Polish railway milestones.
The Polish parliament declared 2026 as the Year of Polish Railways, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of long-distance operator PKP Intercity and the centenary of Polish state railways. To mark the occasion, a series of journeys called Nieśpieszny, or 'Unhurried', has been introduced. Every weekend until the end of August, a fully refurbished 1980s train departs from a different region, from the mountainous south to the Baltic coast.
On board, passengers settled into marmalade-coloured compartments with armchair-like seats. The five-hour journey, compared with just over two on a faster service, fostered a sociable atmosphere. The dining car, operated by WARS catering since 1948, served vintage-style dishes including fried eggs, potatoes with dill, kefir, and tripe soup. Fellow passenger Anita recalled that in the 1980s, trains were so packed that people stood in the toilets.
The landscape passed by with wind turbines, Scots pine forests, and cabbage fields, but the main attraction was the train itself, with its handsome interior and opening windows. The author reflected on past rail adventures across Poland, from Katowice to Gdynia, and expressed a desire to explore Lublin and Zakopane. Highlights included the neo-Gothic Wrocław Główny station and a visit to Toruń, where a museum dedicated to adventurer Tony Halik showcased his Jeep journey from Argentina to Alaska.
On a previous trip, the author travelled from Toruń to Gdańsk Główny, another photogenic station, then switched trains to Sopot on the Baltic Sea. There, a walk by sea buckthorn bushes led to Bar Przystań and its famous fisherman's soup.
