CZECH REPUBLIC: National operator ČD has raised the maximum speed of its fastest passenger trains from 160 km/h to 200 km/h with effect from August 31.
Class 680 Pendolino tilting trainsets can now run at 200 km/h on the Votice – Sudoměřice u Tábora and Soběslav – Doubí sections of the Praha – České Budějovice route, which were realigned and upgraded in 2022-23. This has reduced the southbound journey time from 1 h 42 min to 1 h 35 min and the northbound time from 1 h 41 min to 1 h 30 min. In the early the 1990s the typical travel time had been up to 3 h.
ČD operates six Alstom Pendolino sets, a seventh having been damaged in an accident in 2022.
‘The modernisation of the railway between Praha and České Budějovice is bringing further noticeable results’, said Minister of Transport Martin Kupka. ‘Thanks to the deployment of the fast Pendolino units and infrastructure modifications, it has been possible to shorten journey times and to increase travel comfort. This is a significant step forward for Czech railways, laying the foundations for higher speeds on future high speed lines, on which Czech trains will be running at speeds of up to 320 km/h.’
ČD Chairman Michal Krapinec said ‘I perceive the acceleration of trains and the overall reduction of journey times as one of the key tools in strengthening the competitiveness of railway transport’, adding that the operator’s ComfortJet trainsets and Vectron locomotives are designed for 230 km/h running.
Jiří Svoboda, Director General of infrastructure manager Správa Železnic, said raising the speed limit ‘is more than just an operational change for us – it is a symbolic opening of a new chapter of the Czech railway system’.
He said reducing journey times is one of Správa Železnic’s priorities, with work to begin next year to build tunnels between Nemanice and Ševětín which would straighten the line and ‘save passengers further valuable minutes’.
