From the Thomas Cook rail map this does not appear to be the case, but in checking the schedules at Bahn.de I find only 1 train that doesn’t go through Belarus (the Kalingrad section of Russia does not appear to be a problem). The direct overnight “train” at 23:00 (I think it’s actually a bus run by the rail company) appears to be the best bet. It goes from Warsaw Centralna ZOB (perhaps the bus station?) to Bialystok, Poland to Kaunus, Lt. to Vilnius. Number is Fernbus 99928

Flying, compared to 17 hours on a bus, seems like a good deal. Check Air Baltic. I got an e-mail from them the other day about specials for travel in April, May and June.

We enjoyed Vilnius and a day trip to Trakai.

Thanks for your help much appreciated
I just found a train that runs daily between warsaw and vilnius that has a change in Sestokai, that does not cross through Belarus. Its a 10 hour ride so i’ll look up flight between the two and see which is the better option as i don’t really want to waste a whole day on a train.

I checked that on the rail map, and you’re correct, it doesn’t appear to go into Belarus. When I originally checked it, I confused the stops at Czarna Bialostocka and Dabrowa Bialostocka with Kuznika Bialostocka which is the border crossing with Belarus.

Looking at Eurolines, the bus doesn’t appear to go into Belarus either…..

Still seems like an ugly long train trip. Air Baltic comes to 190 euros with all fees and involves a connection in Copenhagen, so that’s not a great option either. I don’t know of any other low fare airlines on this route, so you might want to post this on “cheap flights” to see if any of those folks can help.

There is no direct train between Warsaw and Vilnius. The Polish State Railways operate an overnight substitute bus service. I’ve heard it’s not very comfy. Or you can travel during daytime, with one change (where the English and Russian rail gauges meet) and it will take up the whole day. The Polish search engine returned this:
Leave Warszawa Wschodnia, 07:34, fast train no. 91001
Arrive Sestokai 14:48
Leave Sestokai 15:03 train 194RJ
Arrive Vilnius 17:56

Note: this is a 9-hour trip, not 10, but Lithuania is one hour ahead of Poland.
This trip, and also the night bus trip, doesn’t pass through any other country than Poland and Lithuania. No Belarus, no Russia, no nothing.

But still, I’d fly if at least possible.

LOT Polish Airlines has WAW-VNO for $102 USD one-way, total, midweek mid-June (I didn’t know when you needed to travel, but this should give you an idea). This is a nonstop flight scheduled for 1h, 25m. www.lot.com