From the end of August, Czech Railways will, for the first time, deploy a Pendolino on the route between Prague and České Budějovice. Thanks to recent track upgrades and tilting technology, the modern high-speed unit is set to set new records on Czech rails and noticeably shorten travel times. The launch is scheduled for 31 August.
Czech Railways (České dráhy) plans to introduce a regular Pendolino high-speed service on the Prague–České Budějovice route from late August. The train will take over one of the daily “Jižní expres” connections, reducing the travel time between the capital and the South Bohemian city while also setting a new speed record in the country’s regular passenger service. On modernised sections of the so-called fourth railway corridor, the Pendolino is expected to travel at more than 160 km/h for the first time – the current maximum on Czech tracks.
The IC 591 “Pendolino” is scheduled to depart Prague at 20:27 and arrive in České Budějovice at 22:02. The inaugural run is planned for Sunday, 31 August. Heading south, the service will operate as an extension of the SC 500 fast train from Bohumín, creating for the first time a direct connection between Ostrava, Olomouc, Pardubice, Prague, Tábor and České Budějovice without the need to change trains. In the opposite direction, the IC 590 will depart České Budějovice at 05:59 and arrive in Prague at 07:29 – starting on Monday, 1 September. The shorter journey time is made possible by recent track improvements between Votice and Sudoměřice, as well as between Doubí and Soběslav. In addition, the Pendolino’s tilting technology allows for higher speeds on curves than conventional trains. No other train in the Czech Republic can currently offer such performance on this route.
“The Prague–České Budějovice connection has been undergoing modernisation for years, with the goal of reducing the travel time to under two hours,” said Transport Minister Martin Kupka. “Last year, we were able to reach speeds of up to 200 km/h on a test section. With the regular deployment of the Pendolino, travel time will now be cut by seven minutes heading south and eleven minutes towards Prague.”
Michal Krapinec, Chairman of the Board of Czech Railways, also described the new service as a milestone: “Czech rail transport will become significantly faster in the coming years, and we are ready for it. Having the Pendolino, a symbol of modern rail travel in our country, exceed 160 km/h in regular operation for the first time is an important step forward. Passengers can look forward to shorter journeys, high comfort and excellent onboard services.”
Czech Railways currently operates six Pendolino trains, after one of the original seven units was destroyed in a 2022 accident in Bohumín. Each trainset consists of seven carriages, is 185 metres long, offers 327 seats – including 52 in first class – and has a top speed of 200 km/h. Amenities include Wi-Fi, power sockets, an onboard entertainment portal, a bistro, a children’s cinema and a quiet carriage.
At present, Pendolino trains mainly operate on the Prague–Ostrava–Bohumín route, with extensions to Plzeň and Cheb. From late August, the new service on the Ex7 “Jižní expres” line will add a daily connection to South Bohemia. On the Prague–České Budějovice route, there are currently up to eleven fast trains per direction on weekdays and Sundays, and up to ten on Saturdays, four of which continue to Linz in Upper Austria.
