ČD Launches Prague-Przemyśl Night Train: Boosts Access to Ukraine Border

Czech Railways (České dráhy – ČD) has announced a significant expansion of its night train network, launching a new direct service from Prague to Przemyśl in south-eastern Poland effective December 14. This strategic route enhancement will provide crucial improved access to the Polish–Ukrainian border region, directly addressing growing demand for comfortable overnight travel to Eastern Europe.

The new EN 443 Slovakia service will operate daily, featuring a through second-class seating coach and a modernised sleeper coach. The overnight connection from Prague will depart at 22:16, arriving in Przemyśl at 10:10 the following morning, facilitating convenient arrivals in major Polish cities such as Kraków and Rzeszów, as well as the vital interchange at Przemyśl. The return journey will depart Przemyśl at 17:51, reaching Prague at 07:46. Crucially, the timetable has been meticulously adjusted to ensure seamless same-day connections with Ukrainian Railways (UZ) services to and from Lviv, Kyiv, and Kharkiv, with transfer windows accommodating necessary border procedures.

Strategic Impact and Growing Demand

Michal Krapinec, Chairman of the Board and CEO of České dráhy, emphasized the strategic rationale behind the new service. “By launching a direct night train to south-eastern Poland and as far as the Ukrainian border, we are responding to growing demand for comfortable overnight travel to this region,” Krapinec stated. He further highlighted the collaborative effort with Ukrainian national carrier, stating, “Together with the Ukrainian national carrier, we will offer passengers a journey into the Ukrainian interior with only one transfer.” This initiative aligns with the broader resurgence of night train travel across Europe, a trend České dráhy is actively embracing to expand services into high-demand regions like Poland and Ukraine.

Enhanced Passenger Experience and Service Expansion

The new connection introduces an upgraded service concept for the sleeper coach. Passengers opting for a sleeper will benefit from a light breakfast including water and a hot drink, pre-made beds with blankets and pillows, and an onboard attendant dedicated to ensuring safety and a quiet environment throughout the journey. A selection of snacks and drinks will also be available for purchase, enhancing the overall travel experience. This expansion complements existing services and signals a commitment to leveraging rail for efficient and comfortable cross-border travel.

Future Network Growth and Capacity

Looking ahead, České dráhy is projecting substantial growth in its night train offering. By the 2026 timetable, the operator plans to run nine year-round and two seasonal night routes. The carrier will directly provide its own sleeper and couchette coaches on five of these routes. Furthermore, the company will continue its traditional car-carrying service on lines to Poprad-Tatry, Košice, and Humenné. This strategic expansion underscores the increasing importance of night train services for both domestic and international connectivity, with current operations serving over twenty destinations within the Czech Republic and providing year-round connections to more than 60 cities across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary.

The timetable change will also positively impact the existing Prague–Warsaw night service, with the sleeper coach now operating via a shorter route and arriving in Warsaw at 08:00, over an hour earlier than previously scheduled. This optimization further enhances the appeal and efficiency of the operator’s night train portfolio.