Tomorrow, Thursday June 20, I planned to take the train from Bialystok to Vilnius, with a change in Mockava. I have an interrail, first class, but I did not manage to make the obligatory reservation for the Lithanian train from Mockava to Vilnius. I really want to take that train, because I made appointments.
Does anybody know what will happen when I beg or politely ask the Lithuanian conductor to let me travel, even in the corridor? It seems the train is just fully booked, and that was the reason why making a reservation failed, also at Bialystok station. Will the conductor send me away, do i get a fine, or can I still buy a reservation at the spot?
Or should I try a bus instead?
Answer
Travel fron Poland to Lithania without reservation: what happens?
+1Best answer by hapé
My trip went as follows:
The Polish train from Bialystok had plenty of spaces in first class. I entered an empty compartment. The conductor liked my interrail. No question about reservation. All other people, mainly Poles, left in Suwalki, of before, except a couple with an interrail. They had a reservation for the Polish train, but the company that organized their trip did not reserve the Lithuanian train from Mockava, as that was not necessary and there was no first class. When entering we noticed there was a first class compartment, but the conductor forbade us to enter. So we sat comfortably second class and our mobile tickets were accepted. Later I saw the first class was open. The other conductor said something like "yes” when I asked if it was possible to sit there. Arriving in Kaunas the couple left and when I saw that many many people wanted to enter I decided to give them place and move to the compartment "first”. But just when I wanted to sit the compartment was flooded with young executives in their late twenties or thirties, only man, no women, who all looked for the seat number on their paper tickets. So I had to move to a seat that was not occupied. The conductor barked at me that I had to move out, telling me that it was "business class" and threatened with a fine as if she was still a servant of bad old Stalin. "Business class” was the only English she knew, by the way.
Concluding, after more investigation:
The connection Krakow - Warszaw - Vilnius mainly serves local passengers.
The train from Mockava to Vilnius is supposed to have only second class, although there is a 1th class compartment. You have to reserve it but you can't.
Apparently in Lithuania reservation in 1th class is mandatory, in 2nd class not possible.
On the website of Lithuanian Rail I found that with an interrail pass you are supposed to get a ticket with 100% reductiong, but on my train the mobile IR was good enough.
Shouldn't be a big issue. You might stand for part of the way of course but I'm sure they won't let you stranded.
+1My trip went as follows:
The Polish train from Bialystok had plenty of spaces in first class. I entered an empty compartment. The conductor liked my interrail. No question about reservation. All other people, mainly Poles, left in Suwalki, of before, except a couple with an interrail. They had a reservation for the Polish train, but the company that organized their trip did not reserve the Lithuanian train from Mockava, as that was not necessary and there was no first class. When entering we noticed there was a first class compartment, but the conductor forbade us to enter. So we sat comfortably second class and our mobile tickets were accepted. Later I saw the first class was open. The other conductor said something like "yes” when I asked if it was possible to sit there. Arriving in Kaunas the couple left and when I saw that many many people wanted to enter I decided to give them place and move to the compartment "first”. But just when I wanted to sit the compartment was flooded with young executives in their late twenties or thirties, only man, no women, who all looked for the seat number on their paper tickets. So I had to move to a seat that was not occupied. The conductor barked at me that I had to move out, telling me that it was "business class" and threatened with a fine as if she was still a servant of bad old Stalin. "Business class” was the only English she knew, by the way.
Concluding, after more investigation:
The connection Krakow - Warszaw - Vilnius mainly serves local passengers.
The train from Mockava to Vilnius is supposed to have only second class, although there is a 1th class compartment. You have to reserve it but you can't.
Apparently in Lithuania reservation in 1th class is mandatory, in 2nd class not possible.
On the website of Lithuanian Rail I found that with an interrail pass you are supposed to get a ticket with 100% reductiong, but on my train the mobile IR was good enough.
+8Always good to hear some feedback like this, thanks
+1Shouldn't be a big issue. You might stand for part of the way of course but I'm sure they won't let you stranded.
Thanks thibcabe for your words. I needed them.
Hi! May I ask you a question as I’m traveling on this route this summer? I have a reservation from Warsaw to Vilnius but I guess it’s valid only for the Polish leg. When I change in Mockava where should I seat on the Lithuanian train? Should I just show my travel day ticket to the ticket inspector or should I reserve a seat at the station? I have a 2nd class global pass and I understood that it’s not possible to reserve a seat in second class. Thank you very much!
+1Hi Klodia88,
As I just experienced (June 20, 2024), you don't have to, and cannot, reserve second class in the Lithuanian train from Mockava tot Vilnius. Just enter the train and find yourself a nice seat. However it might be quite full in midsummer.
First class seems to be meant for hard workers. It's a silence compartment, you shouldn't talk there, and reservation is mandatory. That seems to be the case all over Lithuania.
For the train from Vilnius to Riga probably all seats must be reserved.
When i know more I will mention it here.
Thanks Hapé, I will take the train from Vilnius to Klaipeda, Klaipeda to Siauliai and Siauliai to Riga as next stops :) I’ll be waiting for your feedback, enjoy your trip!
May 2025 Mockava to Vilnius
Probably nothing has changed, since last year posts. I did recently buy seat reservation Warszawa-Vilnius via LTG official web with my 1st class Global Pass.
BUT according to mentionen page, there is no 1st class in train. Even actually is. But LGT web doesnt showed/provide 1st class option in this train at all. Even if I tried to buy without Interrail pass.
After I boarded into train, lady refuse me to enter into 1st class compaetment. After couple minutes came another conduxtor to check my pass and said "you CAN sit in 1st class". After checking with the blond lady, he apologized to me and offered feee drink. Becuase in Kaunas there will be many travelers and thats the reason she refused mw entered into 1st class.
I am not first and unfortunatelly last Interrailer, who has been refused with pass to sit in.
She is the Matriarch of this connection.
+1Thanks Voito for your report.
I still have to report here about my return trip from Vilnius to Poland: I tried to reserve in the app. I could see that only one place was reserved and that seat number 1 seemed the best, but I couldn't reserve. Just before departure I went to the counter. The lady told me in English reservation was mandatory in both 2nd and 1st class. I actually hardly believed her, but I did reserve. Without any problem she gave me seat nr. 1. Five euros.
Other passengers in the 1st class compartment were send away by the conductor. She brought me tea and water. After Kaunas I sat there alone. It wasn't rush hour, like it was when I came.
In the Polish train, waiting in Mockava, the first class car was empty. It was no problem that I had no reservation. On the way to Warszawa other passengers entered. The Polish conductor shouted at me when I did not understand him. He spoke only Polish and Russian. In my best Russian I managed to tell him my destination. That was all.
Enter your E-mail address. We'll send you an e-mail with instructions to reset your password.