Poznan Transportation

The map of Poznan. The map marks the main railway station (Poznan Glowny) and other things position in Poznan.
You can enlarge the map by click on the map.
Map legend: Dworzec PKS = PKS (bus corporation) Station.
Free Polish - English - Polish Translator: http://www.poltran.com/
Jesper

We parked to go for a walk around the city, as soon as we get out of the car, a shabby looking man come up to me and tells me something in Polish, which I do not speak so I call my GF, she is Polish. She gives him some money for him to walk the 10 feet to the machine where you buy parking ticket, he gives us the ticket but kept the changes.

Apparently it is a customary way of begging plus they keep an eye on the parking lot, to ensure that no one will damage or steal the cars. Well my car was not stolen, so if some change, will give me peace of mind, why not.

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In 2006 the situation on highway E30 in area of Poznan changed cardinally. At last the part of a high-speed highway in a detour of the city was finished. Tortures of transit cars and lorries at last ended.

It considerably reduced necessary time for crossing Poland by car. Driving on a tall part of the highway makes 11 zlotys (4$).

I never went on the trains but a friend of mine told me of his experience about the over coruded, rusty things they use. To me they looked ready to run off the tracks! Good luck if you try traveling on one.

Be careful!! There are many aggressive drivers in Poland. Everyone wants to pass..even trucks. This is common with Russian truckers heading to Germany....they're prob. driving along Vodka in hand so please be careful. Also, no need to stop and pick up that extremely blonde woman on the side of the country road...she's working ;0)

A moderately relaxing way of traveling from Germany to Poznan is by train especially from Berlin. The only downside is that the station is way out in the east at Ostbahnhof so it takes some 20/30mins by taxi from central Berlin/Brandenburg gate area to the station. The route would take you via Alexandaplatz and Karl-Marx-Allee where it is so clear that you are travelling in the old Eastern sector due to the huge amount of plain grey concrete office blocks and apartments used during the communist regime. Ostbahnhof for a foreigner is a not as friendly as in the west of the city and the taxi driver even suggested that people should look out for the plates of west Taxi's rather than taking a ride with the guys from the East - possibly simply to drum up more business.

The carriages themselves on the ICE were of the old style compartment variety and the journey took something around three hours each way.
This train commences in Paris, then through Berlin, Poznan, Warsaw and finishes its journey in Moscow. There is little chance of dropping off to sleep as partway into the journey comes the ticket inspector, followed by two heavily armed German Customs Officers and then a few moments later two equally heavily armed Polish Customs officers. They all ask identical questions and need to see the passport. Why just one guy cannot do the Customs bit is a puzzle but then perhaps it is another hang up from the Communist days where work was created. It is about a 1Km walk to the exhibition and conference centers in the center of Poznan which is probably only 15 min brisk walk.

The journey back to Berlin was a repeat of the above but it is important to get the times back to Germany as the trains are not that frequent, and you could be hanging around on a very basic railway station for a couple of hours if not careful. Polish Railways are tendering in 2005 for rebuilding or at least a major refit of the station so perhaps in years to come it will be a little more user friendly there.

The picture is of the Poznan Cathedral on the island Ostrów Tumski. The island is across the Warta River. I decided the most efficient way to get there was by taxi. No problem. Hailed a taxi at the old town square, pointed to where I wanted to go on the map (you see I don't speak Polish - an important fact for later), and off we went. The taxi dropped me off right in front. Great! Very nice church and grounds. Well worth the trip, however, now it was time to return. First problem: there is no traffic and therefore no taxis around the cathedral. No problem, I saw a phone booth. I'll just call for a taxis. Second problem: the phone don't take coins - only phone cards and I don't have one. Back to the cathedral looking for source for a phone card. Finally, through hand signals and gestures was able to communicate to a church goer who took pity on me and GAVE me a phone card. Back to phone booth. Problem three: how do I order a taxi when I can't explain what I want or where I am and they can't see my gestures over the phone??? Probably could of and should of walked!

Poznan's direct rail connections are very good, and it is also a major intersection for changing to trains for other parts of the country, e.g. Krakow.

To help you plan a journey, you can consult the Polish Railways timetable by visiting this website: www.polishworld.com/pwenglish/pwtravel/trapol