Czech Rail Network
The train is a common means of transportation in the Czech Republic. Most Czech cities, towns and many villages have train stations. They are interconnected well enough to make train travel a convenient way of getting from one place to another. International train services to the Czech Republic run from most points in Europe, with direct connections from Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary.
Categories of Czech trains from slow to fast:
- Osobní (Os) - local train that stops everywhere (short: Os)
- Spěšný (Sp) - local train, usually skips little villages (Sp)
- Rychlík (R) - regional train, stops in major towns, commonly used for longer distances (R)
- Expres (Ex) - faster regional train (Ex)
- Intercity, Eurocity (IC, EC) - pretty modern longer distance train, stops in major cities only
- Supercity (Pendolino) - fastest new trains, operates between biggest cities (compulsory reservation)
Prague is the main railway centre. The most important train stations are:
- Hlavní nádrazí (Main Station). The biggest station. It has ticket offices, a train information centre and a Prague Information Service.
- Nádrazí Holesovice (Holesovice Station). This is usually the terminus for trains from Berlin and other destinations to the north.
Both are serviced by line C of the city metro system.
Railway Service
International, long-distance domestic, regional and suburban and related services – sleepers and couchette coaches, dining cars, carriage of handicapped passengers, carriage of baggage, bicycles, and boats, trailer train.
Travel times
Average train travel times in hours between some popular domestic destinations:
- Prague - Brno: 3 hours
- Prague - Ostrava: 4 hours
- Prague - Olomouc: 3 hours
Some international connections:
- Prague - Berlin: 5 hours
- Prague - Vienna: 4 hours 30 min.
- Prague - Warsaw: 8 hours 30 min.
- Prague - Budapest: 7 hours 30 min.
Timetables
On the page Timetables you can download the compact Eurail timetable or use an online international timetable.
A website with specific schedules of trains (and other public transport) in the Czech Republic can be found at jizdnirady.idnes.cz.
