In my post about the public transportation system in Gdańsk, I briefly referred to the possibility of taking an SKM train from Gdańsk to the seaside resort of Sopot and the port city of Gdynia.
This post provides more detailed information about the SKM – a public rapid transit and commuter rail system in the Tricity area (Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia).
SKM in a Nutshell
PKP Szybka Kolej Miejska w Trójmieście Sp. z o.o. is typically abbreviated to SKM (from Szybka Kolej Miejska). The approximate English translation of the company’s name would be Tricity Rapid Transit Rail Ltd.
In addition to serving the Tricity area, the distinctively coloured yellow and blue commuter-train network also extends to places such as Kościerzyna, Kartuzy, Lębork and Wejherowo.
On the main SKM line between Gdańsk Śródmieście and Wejherowo, there are 28 stops. There are nine stops in both Gdańsk and Gdynia, with three separate stops in Sopot.
How can you search for a service for an SKM train from Gdańsk to Sopot and Gdynia?
First of all, there is a Wyszukaj połączenie page on the SKM website. Wyszukaj połączenie translates as ‘Search for a connection’ in English. For each connection searched, this page provides a number of details, many of which are unnecessary. For example, it gives the track number, train number, departure and arrival platforms, the number of spaces available for storing bicycles and departure times from all the stations in between the departure and arrival stations. However, all of this information is only in the Polish language. Besides, most of the information provided on the Wyszukaj połączenie page is largely irrelevant if your only goal is to get from A to B.
Should you wish to carry out an online search for a connection for an SKM train from Gdańsk to Sopot or Gdańsk to Gdynia, your best bet would be to head to the main ‘Online SKM tickets page’ on the official SKM website. If you click on the link to the ‘Online SKM tickets’ page above, you can search for connections in English. Most tourists in Tricity would only need to buy Single fare tickets:
The SKM website is a bit clunky, both on mobile and desktop. For example, when you click on ‘Single fare ticket’, the next page automatically switches to the Polish language. Nevertheless, you can click on the English language option at the top of the page again to check train services in the Tricity area:
I will provide more information about buying SKM train tickets through the official SKM website and other means in the next section.
How and where can you buy SKM Tricity Train Tickets?
As I alluded to in the previous section, there are various ways in which you can buy tickets for the SKM train from Gdańsk. Let me go over these means to purchase tickets now:
1. Via the Official online SKM ticket shop
In the previous section, I was well on the way to explaining how you can buy tickets via the Official online SKM ticket shop.
Continuing the search I started in the previous section, it’s plain to see that everything is rather self-intuitive:
After clicking on ‘Buy ticket’, everything would be even more self-intuitive if the following page wasn’t accompanied by a ‘404 page not found’ error when you click on the English language option:
Nevertheless, here are the English translations if you need them:
Adres email – email address
imię – first name
nazwisko – surname
zniżka – discount
When you travel between Gdańsk and Sopot, you will be presented with the special offer “Bilet Miejski” for 5,50 zł:
Payment methods – Official online SKM ticket shop
As you can see below, local citizens and tourists can pay for SKM train tickets in various ways, including VISA, Google Pay and Apple Pay. Click on ‘INNE’ to see other payment methods, such as Google Pay, Apple Pay and BLIK:
2. At PKP SKM Ticket Offices
If you wish to take the SKM train from Gdańsk to Sopot or Gdynia, you can buy tickets at ticket offices located inside Gdańsk Central Railway Station (Gdańsk Główny) and Gdańsk Wrzeszcz Railway Station.
In my experience buying SKM tickets at Gdańsk Wrzeszcz Railway Station, there are two separate ticket booths. It’s not possible to buy paper tickets (see image below) at both booths. The ticket booth on the left as you walk into the station sells traditional printed tickets which are valid for three hours from the moment the ticket is printed. As for the booth on the right, it sells printed tickets as well as paper tickets which must be validated in the paper ticket validator machines located by the stairs which lead up to the platform. On a recent visit to the station, the cashier in the right-hand both told me that it was not possible to buy “Bilet Miejski” and “Bilet Trójmiejski” tickets at her booth.
With regard to the paper tickets, according to the official SKM website:
The validity of a card ticket begins from the moment the ticket is validated in the electronic validator and is valid for 3 hours from the moment the ticket is validated.
Tourists may buy various types of tickets at PKP SKM ticket offices, including:
- single tickets for the “TAM“* journey,
- “Bilet Miejski” (Gdańsk-Sopot; Sopot-Gdynia),
- “Bilet Trójmiejski” (e.g. Gdańsk to Gdynia),
- zone tickets: 24-hour and 3-day,
- collective/group tickets for the “TAM” journey,
- weekly tickets for the “TAM I Z POWROTEM“** journey,
- monthly tickets for the “TAM” or “TAM I Z POWROTEM” journey,
- half-yearly network tickets “Mobilny Senior” (for those over the age of 70),
- tickets for the transport of goods under the care of the traveller,
- reservation of a designated place for bicycle transport,
- monthly tickets for bicycle transport,
- single and monthly tickets for persons eligible for concessionary fees.
* tam = ‘there’ (i.e. one-way)
* tam i z powrotem = ‘there and back’ (i.e. return)
3. Buying SKM Tickets at Ticket Machines
It’s possible to buy tickets for the SKM train from Gdańsk at ticket machines located within stations and on platforms where PKP SKM trains stop.
You may purchase the following ticket types from ticket machines:
- single tickets for the “TAM” journey,
- “Bilet Miejski” (Gdańsk-Sopot; Sopot-Gdynia),
- “Bilet Trójmiejski” (e.g. Gdańsk to Gdynia),
- zone tickets: 24-hour and three-day,
- weekly tickets for the “TAM I Z POWROTEM” journey,
- monthly tickets for the “TAM” or “TAM I Z POWROTEM” journey,
- half-yearly network tickets “Mobilny Senior” (for those over the age of 70),
- tickets for the carriage of goods under the care of the traveller,
- single and monthly tickets for persons eligible for concessionary fees,
- reservation of a place for bicycle transport (in selected ticket machines)
- monthly tickets for bicycle transport.
The validity period of a single ticket depends on the distance of travel. For a distance of up to 50 km, the validity period is three hours from the date and time of issue of the ticket.
Important!
You can pay for tickets at ticket machines with cash or by card.
4. Paying for SKM tickets via Mobile App
There are several mobile apps with which you can buy your ticket to travel on an SKM train from Gdańsk.
SkyCash
The Sky Cash application can be used by all owners of Android or iOS phones.
Through the SkyCash application you can purchase:
- single tickets for the “TAM” journey,
- zone tickets: 24-hour and 3-day,
- weekly tickets for the “TAM I Z POWROTEM” journey,
- monthly tickets for the “TAM” or “TAM I Z POWROTEM” journey,
- half-yearly network tickets “Mobilny Senior” (for those over the age of 70)
- tickets for the transport of goods under the care of the traveller,
- single and monthly tickets for persons eligible for concessionary fees,
- reservation of a place for bicycle transport “TAM”,
- monthly ticket for bicycle transport.
Jakdojade
Through the Jakdojade application you can purchase:
- single tickets for the “TAM” journey,
- zone tickets: 24-hour and 3-day,
- weekly tickets for the “TAM I Z POWROTEM” journey,
- monthly tickets for the “TAM” or “TAM I Z POWROTEM” journey,
- half-yearly network tickets “Mobilny Senior” (for those over the age of 70)
- tickets for the transport of goods under the care of the traveller,
- single and monthly tickets for persons eligible for concessionary fees,
- reservation of a place for bicycle transport.
KOLEO
Through the KOLEO application you can purchase:
- single tickets for the “TAM” journey,
- zone tickets: 24-hour and 3-day,
- weekly tickets for the “TAM I Z POWROTEM” journey,
- monthly tickets for the “TAM” or “TAM I Z POWROTEM” journey,
- half-yearly network tickets “Mobilny Senior” (for those over the age of 70)
- tickets for the transport of goods under the care of the traveller,
- single and monthly tickets for persons eligible for concessionary fees,
- reservation of a place for bicycle transport,
- monthly ticket for bicycle transport.
BILKOM
Through the BILKOM application you can purchase:
- single tickets for the “TAM” journey,
- tickets for the transport of goods under the care of the traveller,
- single tickets for persons eligible for concessionary fees,
- reservation of a place for bicycle transport.
Important – Buying tickets via all Mobile Apps
To present your ticket via a mobile app application during inspection, you must have an Internet connection.
5. Purchasing SKM tickets via Internet Platforms
There are two main Internet platforms on which you can purchase SKM tickets for travel in the Tricity area:
KOLEO
On the Internet platform, KOLEO, you may purchase:
- single tickets for the “TAM” journey,
- “Bilet Miejski” (Gdańsk-Sopot; Sopot-Gdynia),
- “Bilet Trójmiejski” (e.g. Gdańsk to Gdynia),
- zone tickets: 24-hour and 3-day,
- weekly tickets for the “TAM I Z POWROTEM” journey,
- monthly tickets for the “TAM” or “TAM I Z POWROTEM” journey,
- half-yearly network tickets “Mobilny Senior” (for those over the age of 70)
- tickets for the transport of goods under the care of a “TAM” traveller,
- single and monthly tickets for persons eligible for concessionary fees,
- reservation of a place for bicycle transport “TAM”,
- monthly ticket for bicycle transport.
Remember!
If you have a ticket purchased through the “KOLEO” online platform, you must show the correct ticket displayed on your mobile device or hand over a ticket printed on an A4 sheet of paper during inspection.
BILKOM
On the Internet platform, BILKOM, you can purchase:
- single tickets for the “TAM” journey,
- “Bilet Miejski” (Gdańsk-Sopot; Sopot-Gdynia),
- “Bilet Trójmiejski” (e.g. Gdańsk to Gdynia),
- tickets for the transport of goods under the care of a “TAM” traveller,
- single tickets for persons eligible for concessionary fees,
- reservation of a place for bicycle transport “TAM”.
Remember!
If you have a ticket purchased through the “BILKOM” online platform, you must show the correct ticket displayed on your mobile device or hand over a ticket printed on an A4 sheet of paper during inspection.
6. Buying SKM tickets within the Tricity area on board the train
It’s possible to buy most ticket types from the train manager/conductor on board the train. These include single tickets (“TAM”), return tickets, 24-hour and 3-day zone tickets, and single and monthly tickets for persons eligible for concessionary fees. It’s also possible to reserve a place to transport a bicycle.
In order to purchase or validate a ticket, it’s vital to report to the train manager/conductor immediately after boarding the train. The passenger is obliged to enter the train through the first door counting from the front of the train (direction of travel) and report to the train manager/conductor. In the absence of the train manager/conductor, you should wait for his/her arrival in this part of the train.
For issuing a ticket on the train, a fee is charged in the amount specified in the SKM Price List (4 zł for a single ticket, and 8 zł for a season ticket).
SKM Tricity Single-Use Ticket Fares
Train fares for SKM trains vary according to the number of kilometres a passenger travels.
The prices in red colour below are valid as of July 2024:
On the SKM website, there’s an informative page with fee tables according to the number of kilometres a passenger travels. To give you an example, the distance between Gdańsk Główny station and Sopot is between 7 and 12 kilomteres. Therefore, a single-use ticket (bilet jednorazowy TAM) for adults not entitled to concessionary fees costs 6,20 zł:
As for travelling from Gdańsk Main to Gdynia Main, the price of a ticket would be 9,00 zł as the distance is between 19 and 24 kilometres.
The fact remains that it’s cheaper to purchase single-use tickets between Gdańsk and Sopot (5,50 zł – “Bilet Miejski”) and Gdańsk and Gdynia (8,00 zł – “Bilet Trójmiejski). It also costs 5,50 zł to travel between Sopot and Gdynia Main (“Bilet Miejski”). I wouldn’t like to say that the prices above based on distance represent an outrageous con. However, I’m sure many foreign tourists get caught out in this situation.
Between Sopot and Gdynia Orłowo – a distance of around 5 km – it would be better to choose the minimum single-use ticket fare of 4,80 zł for a distance travelled of between 1-6 km. It makes no sense in this case to choose the “Bilet Miejski” as it has a fixed price of 5,50 zł. Similarly, it’s better to choose the PRZEJAZD TAM option for 4,80 zł when travelling between Sopot and Gdańsk Oliwa – a distance of around 4 kilometres.
SKM in the Tricity – Frequency of Services
On the central section between Gdańsk and Gdynia, SKM trains tend to run at intervals of between 7 to 30 minutes during the day. The frequency of SKM train services very much depends on:
(a) whether it is a weekday or weekend
(b) what time of day it is
At peak hours on weekdays – between roughly 6:30-9:00 a.m. and 15:00-17:30 p.m. – trains run every seven to eight minutes. At all other times during the day, SKM trains run every ten minutes. Between 20-22 p.m., trains run every 15 minutes. After 22 p.m., you can only expect services every 30 minutes until midnight. From midnight until around 4 a.m., trains run every hour. Thereafter, services resume at half-hour intervals until around 5 a.m., followed by 15-minute intervals up until around 6 a.m. Between 6-6.30 a.m., there are a couple of ten-minute intervals before the seven to eight-minute intervals become operational.
On weekends, services are less frequent. Between 7-9 a.m., you shouldn’t have to wait more than 15 minutes for a train. After 9 a.m., expect regular ten-minute intervals until around 20 p.m. On weekends between 20-22 p.m., trains run at 15-minute intervals. After 22 p.m., services run every 30 minutes until midnight. From midnight until around 4 a.m., trains run every hour.
Example Journey Times for Popular Routes on the SKM Tricity Network
If you take an SKM train from Gdańsk Main Train Station to Sopot, the travel time is 19 minutes. From Gdańsk Wrzeszcz to Sopot, the journey time is 12 minutes.
Gdynia Main Train Station is the fourteenth stop from Gdańsk Main on the northbound SKM network. The journey time is around 34 minutes.
If you wish to travel from Gdańsk Main to Gdańsk Oliwa, it is seven or eight minutes quicker travelling by SKM train compared with travelling by tram. The journey time by train only takes 13 minutes.
Special offers on SKM train tickets in the Tricity area
This post has already made passing reference to some of the special offers which SKM Tricity passes on to passengers who wish to take an SKM train from Gdańsk. Allow me to summarise the main special offers offered by SKM:
1. “Mobilny Senior” – Financial relief for people over the age of 70
There exists a “Mobilny Senior” concessionary fee for those over the age of 70.
Conditions
The half-yearly Mobilny Senior network ticket entitles passengers to an unlimited number of journeys within the Pomeranian Voivodeship on trains operated by PKP SKM.
The half-yearly Mobilny Senior network ticket is issued for a period of one half-year (e.g. from April 15 of a given year to October 14 of the same year, or from November 10 of a given year to May 9 of the following year).
A person travelling on the train on the basis of a half-yearly Mobilny Senior network ticket is obliged to have a valid photo ID on the train confirming identity and being over 70 years of age.
Fee
10 zł
2. “Senior” – Financial relief for people over the age of 60
People over the age of 60 are entitled to travel on trains operated by PKP SKM based on the following concessionary fees:
(a) single-use tickets with 25% discount,
(b) monthly registered fees with a 10% discount.
This particular “Senior” ticket is valid together with an identity document that includes a photograph of the holder.
3. Daily Zone Ticket
A Daily Zone Ticket (Dobowy Bilet Strefowy) entitles passengers to an unlimited number of journeys within 24 hours from the date of purchase/validity start time. For example, a ticket issued at 2:50 p.m. on August 1, 2024 is valid until 2:49 p.m. on August 2, 2024.
After the ticket expires, the passenger has the right to continue travelling to the nearest train stop.
The Daily Zone Ticket is valid for travel on any section with the following last stations/stops: Gdańsk Lipce – Gdańsk Śródmieście – Żukowo – Żukowo Zachodnie – Reda – Wejherowo.
Fee
A flat-rate fee is charged for travel based on the Daily Zone Ticket. The passenger may make an unlimited number of journeys.
Fee for adults (Bilet normalny): 20 zł
Other concessionary fees apply.
4. Three-Day Zone Ticket
A Three-Day Zone Ticket ( Bilet Strefowy Trzydobowy) entitles passengers to an unlimited number of journeys within 72 hours from the date of purchase/validity start time. For instance, a ticket issued at 3:55 p.m. on August 1, 2024 is valid until 3:54 p.m. on August 4, 2024.
After the ticket expires, the passenger has the right to continue travelling to the nearest train stop.
The three-day Zone Ticket is valid for travel on any section with the following last stations/stops: Gdańsk Lipce – Gdańsk Śródmieście – Żukowo – Żukowo Zachodnie – Reda – Wejherowo.
Fee
A flat-rate fee is charged for travel based on the Three-Day Zone Ticket. The passenger may make an unlimited number of journeys.
Fee for adults (Bilet normalny): 40 zł
Other concessionary fees apply.
5. Weekly Return Ticket
A weekly return ticket (Bilet Tygodniowy TAM I POWRÓT) can be used between any two stations/stops defined at the time of purchase.
Fees
The fee for a weekly return ticket depends on the distance between the route selected.
Example 1:
Gdańsk Główny-Sopot – 55 zł.
Example 2:
Gdańsk Główny-Gdynia Główna – 73 zł.
Two concessionary fees apply:
(a) A 10% discount is available to those aged over 60,
(b) A 50% discount is available to those whose employer has purchased the right to a 50% relief.
6. Monthly City Ticket: Gdańsk-Sopot/Sopot-Gdańsk or Gdynia-Sopot/Sopot-Gdynia
If you plan to travel frequently between Gdańsk and Sopot or Sopot and Gdynia during the course of one calendar month, it may be worth buying the “Miesięczny Miejski tam/powrót” ticket.
When purchasing the ticket online, for example via the official SKM ticket page, specify which route you need – Gdańsk-Sopot or Sopot-Gdynia:
Fees
Fees for adults (Bilet normalny): 112 zł
Other concessionary fees apply.
7. Monthly Tricity Ticket
If you plan to travel frequently between Gdańsk and Gdynia (via Sopot) or Gdańsk to Gdynia (via Gdańsk Osowa) during the course of one calendar month, it may be worth buying the “Miesięczny Trójmiejski” ticket.
When purchasing the ticket online, for example via the official SKM ticket page, specify which route you need – via Sopot or via Gdańsk Osowa.
Fees
Fees for adults (Bilet normalny): 164 zł
Other concessionary fees apply.
8. Bilet Miejski
As previously stated, it’s possible to purchase single-use/one-way “City tickets” between Gdańsk and Sopot Kamienny Potok or Sopot and Gdynia for a specially discounted price.
Any person can purchase a City Ticket (Bilet Miejski). This ticket is not dependent on the distance between two stations.
Fee:
5.50 zł
Example route 1:
Sopot to Gdynia Chylonia – 5,50 zł
Example route 2:
Gdańsk Głowny to Sopot Kamienny Potok – 5,50 zł
9. Bilet Trójmiejski
The Tricity Ticket (Bilet Trójmiejski) is issued for one-way travel only on the route chosen by the traveler in the area of: Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia on the section limited by the following stations/stops: Gdańsk Lipce, Gdańsk Śródmieście, Gdynia Cisowa, Gdańsk Osowa and Gdańsk Kokoszki.
Any person can purchase a Tricity ticket (Bilet Trójmiejski). This ticket is not dependent on the distance between two stations.
Fee:
8 zł
Example route 1:
Gdańsk to Gdynia Główna – 8 zł
Example route 2:
Gdańsk to Gdynia Cisowa – 8 zł
FAQ – SKM Train from Gdańsk to Sopot and Gdynia
For one-way journeys, the official SKM website states that each connection ”does not include trains requiring mandatory seat reservation for bicycle transport.” Therefore, you can transport your bicycle and you don’t need to make a reservation for its transport.
However, it’s worth stating that SKM trains can only transport as many bicycles as there are places adapted for their transport. There are at least four places designated in each train for bicycles. Each bicycle should be placed in one of the bicycle racks.
A group trip is an offer for at least 10 people, excluding guides/guardians.
Each group participant is issued a ticket with a 40% discount, and for every 10 group participants – one guide/guardian benefits from free travel. If the number of guides/guardians is more than one for every 10 people, a 40% discount applies to them.
In order to obtain a discount, the organiser of a group journey should contact PKP SKM via the PKP SKM website. The application should be completed at the bottom of this page:
https://www.skm.pkp.pl/dla-pasazera/zgloszenie-przejazdu-grupowego
The order should reach PKP SKM:
- at least 2 business days before the planned date of departure of the group – in the case of groups of up to 100 people. For example, if the group’s journey is to take place on Thursday, the order should be received by PKP SKM on Monday by 24.00,
- no later than 4 business days before the planned date of departure of the group – in the case of groups of more than 100 people. For example, if the group’s journey is to take place on Saturday, the order should be received by PKP SKM on Monday by 24.00.
Children under four years of age can travel for free on SKM trains.
A document confirming the child’s age is required. This may be for example, an ID card, passport or birth certificate of the child.