Since the beginning of July, Czech Railways has been the first railway company in the country to test Starlink satellite internet from SpaceX on board its trains. So far, passengers on selected routes in Moravia and Bohemia have been able to benefit from the new technology, which promises significantly faster and more stable Wi-Fi.
České dráhy (ČD) are the first railway company in the country to adopt SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet. For nearly a month now, an InterPanter unit has been equipped with the technology, bringing fast internet via orbit to Czech rails. The so-called “satellite train” has primarily operated on the routes Brno – Česká Třebová – Prague as well as Brno – Břeclav – Přerov – Olomouc.
From the beginning of August, the Starlink-equipped train set will also operate on additional routes in the Czech Republic. On Tuesday, 5 August, the InterPanter will embark on a test journey from Brno via Prague to Ústí nad Labem, Cheb, Pilsen, and back to Prague. On Wednesday, 6 August, the test journey will continue to southern Bohemia to České Budějovice and then further to Moravia – from Přerov to Břeclav, ending in Brno.
“We have now completed the first month with Starlink high-speed internet on board. Passenger feedback has been positive so far, which is also reflected in the significantly increased use of the on-board Wi-Fi in this InterPanter unit. Nearly one terabyte of data was transferred via the Starlink connection in the first month alone. The testing phase is expected to continue until mid-September,” explained Michal Krapinec, Chairman and General Director of České dráhy.
Technically, the Starlink system was installed on the roof of a power car and connected to the train’s power supply. The antenna is heated to ensure reliable operation even at sub-zero temperatures and can withstand temperatures of up to 70 degrees Celsius. The system is integrated into the existing Wi-Fi and multimedia network of the InterPanter and is used exclusively to provide internet to passengers – the train’s control and safety technology remains unaffected.
Starlink enables fast and stable internet connections worldwide with low latency. Developed by SpaceX, the system relies on a network of satellites in low Earth orbit, allowing applications such as streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing to function smoothly. A special Starlink kit, compliant with European railway standards, was developed for use in rail transport.
