Berlin-Warszawa-Express

Berlin-Warszawa-Express
Overview
Service type	EuroCity (EC)
Status	Active
Locale	Germany Poland
First service	29 September 2002
Current operator(s)	DB, PKP
Route
Start	Berlin
End	Warszawa Wschodnia
Average journey time	5hr 24min
Service frequency	4x daily
Train number(s)	40–47
On-board services
Class(es)	First and second class
Catering facilities	Restaurant
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Timetable number(s)	EC95 (Germany)
Route map Legend 0 Berlin Hauptbahnhof 5 Berlin Ostbahnhof 85 Frankfurt (Oder) Germany / Poland border 108 Rzepin 161 Świebodzin 183 Zbąszynek 264 Poznań Główny 364 Konin 443 Kutno 566 Warszawa Zachodnia 570 Warszawa Centralna 575 Warszawa Wschodnia

The Berlin-Warszawa-Express (BWE) is a train service that connects Berlin and Warsaw, operated jointly by Deutsche Bahn and PKP. The service, classed as EuroCity, runs four times per day in each direction, with the services given the numbers 40–47. Total journey time is 5 hours, 24 minutes.

History

The Berlin-Warszawa-Express brand began in 2002, replacing the names of individual services which had been added to the EuroCity network over the previous decade. There were four pairs of services (EC 40–47) linking Berlin Zoo and Warsaw Wschodnia, plus a fifth (48/49), which only ran from Berlin to Poznan, and as such didn't take the BWE name. This additional service was dropped in 2004, but restored in 2007, and since 2012, continues from Poznan to Gdansk and Gdynia, under the name Berlin-Gdansk Express.

The service began to serve Berlin Hauptbahnhof after its opening in 2006, no longer serving the Zoo.

Rolling stock

2nd class coach of the Berlin-Warszawa Express at Berlin Ostbahnhof.

Each train is six coaches long, using specially branded carriages provided by both DB and PKP - the livery is white, as per DB Intercity, but with a dark blue stripe instead of the normal red. Four of them (three full 2nd class and handicap car) are provided by PKP, Restaurant/1st class and Fisrst class are delivered by DB.

Since December 2010 the train has been hauled by Siemens ES64 locomotives, provided by PKP and known in Poland as "Husarz". Prior to this the DB Class 180 was the most common traction, with Class 186 and Class 232 seen on occasion.

Summary of services

References