Quick visit to the Czech Republic

July 24, 2020 / European Trains, Railfanning, Travel

I visited the Czech Republic several times in the early 1990s. Since then, however, work and lack of time has prevented a return visit (along with the desire to avoid crowds of tourists normally found in Prague!). With the Covid situation this year, time became available and no overseas trips are possible, so it seemed like a good time to revisit Prague and several other cities.

All travel was by train, from Bydgoszcz, Poland to Prague and return, and below you will find some of the railway photos I made during my travels. The Czech Republic has an excellent rail system, and I hope to return to see more of it soon.

The first step of the journey was to take the Polish intercity train “Piast” from my home in Bydgoszcz to the city of Wrocław. (14.07.2020)

At Wrocław, it was time to transfer to a Koleje Dolnośląskie class 45WE EMU (a Newag Impuls), for a trip down through Kłodzko and across the border into the Czech Republic, to the station of Lichov. (14.07.2020)

Interior arrangement of KD’s Impuls EMU. (14.07.2020)

At the small station of Lichkov, it was time to transfer to a DMU operated by Leo Express. The DMU is an Alstom Lint 41, previously used in Germany. This train will take me to the main line at Ústí nad Orlicí. (14.07.2020)

Interior of the Leo Express DMU. Wifi and charging points available! (14.07.2020)

A westbound České dráhy (Czech Railways) makes a brief stop at Ústí nad Orlicí. (14.07.2020)

A class 813 DMU, named “Kristýnka”, belonging to the Pražské integrované dopravy (Prague integrated transport) is seen at Praha Masarykovo station, a small station serving some local commuter trains. (15.07.2020)

A CD train approaches the Vltava River bridge in Prague. In a few minutes it will arrive at the main railway station. (15.07.2020)

On Day 3 of the trip, I made a trip from Prague to the city of Plzeň (Pilsen). On some trains, CD still uses printed seat reservations markers, such as this one. The seat number (76) is shown at the top-left, and the numbers below indicate date (16-07), train number (358), and carriage number (262). Newer trains display the reservation on a digital panel. (16.07.2020)

The main hall in the CD station at Plzeň. (16.07.2020)

Plzeň is the home to the world-famous Pilsner Urquell brewery. In the visitor centre, they have this boxcar on display, once used to make beer deliveries by rail. (16.07.2020)

A CD “Regioshark” EMU sits at the platform at Plzeň station. These trains were built in my city of Bydgoszcz, Poland by the PESA company. (16.07.2020)

A CD class 242 locomotive starts a inter-regional train from Plzeň station. These locomotives were built between 1975 and 1981 in the Škoda Works, in the former Czechoslovakia. (16.07.2020)

A CD class 914 “Regionova” DMU rests between trips at Plzeň. These trains are used for regional trains, and 2 or 3 units can be coupled together to provide more capacity. (16.07.2020)

An Alex diesel sits at Plzeň. Alex is a private German rail company. Through trains from Prague to Munich are operated jointly by CD and Alex, and at Plzeň there is a change from CD electric to Alex diesel power. This locomotive is of the Eurorunner type, built by Siemens. (16.07.2020)

A CD express train pauses at Plzeň, led by a class 362 electric. This class was built by Skoda Works between 1999 and 2010. (16.07.2020)

A CD class 242 electric locomotive on a regional train at Plzeň. This class of locomotive were built in the former Czechoslovakia by Skoda Works from 1975-81. (16.07.2020)

Main booking hall in the station at České Budějovice. This station is a bit run-down, but renovation work is underway. (17.07.2020)

An ÖBB (Austrian Railways) 2nd class coach in the CityShuttle livery, seen at České Budějovice. Trains run from here to Linz, Austria. (17.07.2020)

ÖBB train to Linz seen at České Budějovice. The locomotive is a class 1116 “EuroSprinter”, introduced by Siemens in 1996. (17.07.2020)

Interior of Praha hlavní nádraží (Prague Main Station); although refurbished, it maintains a 1970s vibe. (19.07.2020)

A CD class 193 locomotive at Praha hlavní nádraží. This locomotive is a Siemens Mobility “Vectron” type. These are used mainly on EuroCity international trains. (17.07.2020)

CD class 660 "InterPanter" EMU at Prague

A CD class 660 “InterPanter” EMU to Brno arrives at Praha hl. n. This will be my first train on the journey back to Poland. These EMUs are being built by Skoda Transportation, starting in 2015-16. (19.07.2020)