The train is a common means of transportation in the Czech Republic. All Czech cities, towns and many villages have their train stations and are interconnected well enough to make train travel a convenient way of getting from one place to another.
Trains in the Czech Republic are operated by České dráhy (Czech Railways), RegioJet, and Leo Express. České dráhy had a monopoly until September 2011 and it is still the only operator that covers the entire country. RegioJet brought a breath of fresh air to Czech train travel by offering a high level of service and comfort. It has become the second largest train operator in Czechia but only connects larger towns and cities. Leo Express started operating in November 2012 and provides a third comfortable option with the most limited coverage.
The Czech Republic is well connected with its neighboring countries and the train is often the fastest way to travel around the region.
Buying Train Tickets
Czech Railways
It is usually not necessary to buy your train ticket in advance if you travel with Czech Railways within the Czech Republic. You can simply buy tickets at the train station before your trip, or even on the train for an extra fee. You may want to buy a seat reservation with your ticket to make sure that you can get a place to sit if the train is likely to be crowded, e.g. in peak commute times on Friday afternoons, Sunday afternoons, and Monday mornings.
If you plan on taking the train to another country, then the sooner you buy your ticket, the better. International tickets get more and more expensive as you get closer to your departure date.
Visit www.cd.cz to find information on domestic and international tickets and train connections, or to buy tickets.
RegioJet and LEO Express
If you plan to travel on a RegioJet or LEO Express train, you will be buying a ticket for a particular seat, so you will be guaranteed a place to sit. To buy a RegioJet or LEO Express train ticket, visit regiojet.com or le.cz. RegioJet also has physical ticket offices at many train stations.
Train Schedules
You can look up Czech Republic and international train and bus connections as well as public transit schedules at IDOS.cz:
Train schedules
Bus schedules
Train and bus schedules
Prague public transit
Brno public transit
Ostrava public transit
Olomouc public transit
Karlovy Vary public transit
Pilsen public transit
(more Czech towns and cities are available at IDOS.cz)
Czech Train Travel Dictionary
Below are some terms and phrases you may encounter when traveling by train in Czechia:
vlak – train
(vlakové) nádraží – (train) station
Odjezdy – Departures
Příjezdy – Arrivals
nástupiště – platform
kolej – track
zastávka – stop
jízdenka – ticket
jízdenky – tickets
místenka – seat reservation
pokladna – ticket window
povinně místenkový vlak – seat reservation is required on this train
neúplná cena – incomplete price (usually with international connections; may only show the cost of the ticket within the Czech Republic, not past the border)
Vlak nečeká na žádné přípoje. – The train will not wait for any connections.
