The introduction of the new train timetable on December 14 brings not only changes to services in the Czech Republic, but also the extension of exclusive ETCS operation to almost 30 additional kilometers of the corridor from Prague to Kralupy nad Vltavou, and the European signaling system will also begin operating between Brno and Zastávka u Brna. In addition, a new platform will open at Jihlava Město station, and trains in Tabor will return to the rebuilt bridge over the Lužnice River.
Správa železnic, the Czech Republic’s railway infrastructure manager, will extend exclusive ETCS operation to a new section of the Prague–Kralupy nad Vltavou corridor, which is used by over 200 trains daily and provides numerous other international connections.
The introduction of exclusive ETCS operation is being carried out in accordance with the National Plan for the Implementation of the New Digital System, and transport operators have had approximately five years to prepare. The European unified system will also be activated, along with the new timetable, on the busy route between Brno and Zastávka u Brna.
In January 2025, Správa železnic put ETCS into operation on 622 km of the main railway network, representing over 42% of the capacity of the entire Czech network. The new system already supervises over 50,000 trains per day traveling 4 million train-km per month, seven times more than before ETCS was installed.
The Czech Republic aims to equip the entire 5,200 km TEN-T core network by 2030. In February, the infrastructure manager reported the main conclusions of the ETCS-only operations, which showed 99% reliability one month after the launch of ETCS-only operations, when 1,600 trains per day ran and covered over 2 million kilometers.
Another new feature of the new train timetable is that passengers can once again use Jihlava station, which is undergoing complete reconstruction. While work on the modernized station building continues, trains will already stop at the newly built platform.
At the same time, with the new timetable, traffic on the popular Bechyňka line will resume. Správa železnic has completed the reconstruction of the bridge over the Lužnice River in Tábor, and this week the strength test was successfully carried out.
Passengers will enjoy increased comfort with the commissioning of the last platform at the modernized Brno-Královo Pole station, including an additional section of the underground passage and an elevator. The rebuilt platform number five in Kolín is also already operational, and the restrictions associated with the complete reconstruction of the Karlštejn–Beroun section are coming to an end.
Final work on the new station in Bubny, Prague, and on the adjacent section to Výstaviště station is complete, and at Bubny station, the visitor terrace will be accessible again from December 15.
Share on:
