České dráhy Records Best Half-Year Result in Company’s History

České dráhy recorded the best half-year result in its history in the first half of 2026. Pre-tax profit rose to more than two billion crowns. At the same time, the Czech state railway carried more passengers than at any time since 2019.

The České dráhy Group (Skupina ČD) closed the first half of 2026 with a pre-tax profit of more than two billion crowns. This represents an improvement of almost 1.6 billion crowns compared with the same period last year. According to the company, this is the best half-year result in the Group’s history.

Passenger transport remained the main driver of growth, generating a pre-tax profit of almost 1.5 billion crowns. The other companies in the ČD Group also remained profitable, including the freight operator ČD Cargo.

Photo: České dráhy

Passenger Numbers Rise to 85.5 Million

A total of 85.5 million passengers used České dráhy trains during the first six months of the year. This was five million, or almost seven per cent, more than in the same period last year. Passenger numbers therefore reached their highest level since 2019.

Demand reportedly increased particularly strongly in domestic transport within the Czech Republic. This applied to both commuter services and nationwide long-distance connections. International long-distance transport, by contrast, remained at a level comparable with the previous year.

Photo: České dráhy

Passenger Transport Profit Rises by More Than 40 Per Cent

Revenue from passenger transport increased by 8.9 per cent year on year. Pre-tax profit reached 1.489 billion crowns, more than 40 per cent above the result recorded in the first half of 2025.

According to the railway company, passenger satisfaction has also increased. In the “Můj vlak” app, passengers rated their journeys during the first half of 2026 at an average of 4.25 out of a possible five points. In 2022, the average rating had still been 3.85 points.

At the same time, the company continued to invest in its maintenance and repair facilities. A new maintenance hall was brought into operation in Havlíčkův Brod. Further facilities have been or are being built in Cheb, Olomouc, Brno, Česká Třebová and Hradec Králové. The new facility in Cheb opened in early September 2026.

Foto: ČD CARGO

ČD Cargo also reported a profit

Freight transport also contributed to the Group’s positive result. The ČD Cargo Group recorded a pre-tax profit of 385 million crowns in the first half of 2026. It transported a total of 27.8 million tonnes of goods.

The volume transported was therefore significantly above the company’s projections and roughly at the same level as in the previous year. In addition to an active business policy, the effects of the company’s restructuring measures in recent years reportedly contributed to the positive development.