We are after some advice regarding firstly travel from Bratislava (in neighbouring Slovakia) to Prague and secondly for day trips from Prague.
On the first day, a Friday, we have all day to get between Bratislava and Prague and would like to do something a bit 'different' to the main line. We are happy to leave any time from around 0930 onwards and can arrive any time but no later than around 2000.
I was going to suggest you could go the long way round via Veselí nad Lužnicí and Tabor, but it looks like it is bustituted for some of the spring which is a shame, as I was thinking you could stop off in Tábor and do the line to Bechyně, which is a throwback to olden days, being the only line in Czech electrified at 1500V DC and uses centre-cab electric locos hauling trailers. You could do this as a day trip from Prague if you wanted (and the leg from/to Prague is also loco hauled). Other alternatives would be to go up from Břeclav on the line towards Přerov (as an example of stuff you could jump off for, there's a 2-hourly service from Luhačovice to Prague that joins the main line at Staré Město u Uherského Hradiště which swaps locos at the junction where the old diesel comes off and a modern
Vectron electric comes on), or go to Brno and go up to Přerov from there on the RegioJet service (Interrails are valid as it is a franchised service; traction normally a TRAXX electric loco).
We also have a Saturday to do a day trip from Prague and in particular we'd be interested to hear of which workings are likely to be hauled by the 749 class "Grumpy" locos; I understand many (or all?) such workings are operated by KŽC?
I'll paste in below what has been posted on the CDgen groups.io mailing list for what is planned this year for the summer tourist trains. Both KŽC and ČD will be using their 749s if it goes as planned. As always there is the
https://sledovani.55p.cz/ site that has loco and unit allocations, usually reported by enthusiasts; it's a great way of tracking down what's allocated and will give you an idea of what is working what if you look at previous weekends.
We also have a full Sunday spare for another round trip from Prague and most of a Monday (until around 1700).
Of particular interest would be the older diesel railcars such as the Class 810s, and of course locomotive trains (especially if the rolling stock has opening windows, and even better if it contains compartment stock).
Any suggestions for particular trains to get, and/or routes we should consider taking, would be most welcome.
Many thanks in advance
Having a look at the
https://sledovani.55p.cz/ site might help identifying what you might want to do (you can be lost for hours in it!); the Bechyně line mentioned above is one suggestion.
The summer dated working for KŽC and ČD are below...
ČD
Blatna (26/3 to 30/10)
Class 749 or 754. Train runs via Rudna (JR173) as per last year. Train stops additionally this year at Hudcice south of Breznice.
JR212 (26/3 to 30/10)
Class 754 or 749 Cercany to Zruc / Ledec. Os9215 / 9216 on Sundays are the only hauled trains between Zruc and Ledec.
Cyklohracek (26/3 to 30/10)
Class 714 (714217 will be the booked loco) Praha hlavni to Slany or Zlonice.
Decin to Mikulasovice (2/4 to 30/10)
Class 714. The old trailers they used last year have now been withdrawn, this year booked for 2xBdtn. Trains involved are Sp1965 / Os26002 / Sp1967. Os26002 is the only hauled train between Pansky and Rumburk (JR084)
Cesky Raj (26/3 to 30/10)
Class 854. The Cesky Raj is the only booked service between Nymburk mesto and Veleliby.
Tabor to Bechyne (18/6 to 11/9)
Not confirmed, but based on previous years I expect a class 100 to be used on four returns from Tabor to Bechyne (0905 / 1105 / 1305 / 1506 from Tabor)
Lednice (30/4 to 10/9)
DMU Breclav to Lednice. On 21/5 and 10/9 steam is used.
Mladec (18/6 to 28/9)
DMU Litovel to Mladec.
Rozmital (dates t.b.c.)
CD are expected to operate branch services from Breznice following withdrawal of regular services (JR204).
KŽC
Three hauled trains and three 749’s. I am guessing that if short of 749’s, the train to Kralovice will be a small loco, i.e. their 721 or 740.
Luzickohorsky rychlik (26/3 to 30/10)
Class 749 Praha Vrsovice to Mikulasovice. Train stops additionally at Ceska Lipa, no longer stops at Nova Hut.
Kokorinsky rychlik (26/3 to 30/10)
Class 749 Praha Vrsovice to Mseno.
Rakovnicky rychlik (26/3 to 30/10)
Class 749 Praha hlavni to Kralovice u Rakovnika. Extended from Rakovnik to Kralovice. There are a few pubs in town to while away the 2 hours 42 minutes you have at Kralovice. There is a bus at 1358 from Kralovice to Plzen in case that is useful. The bus runs via Plasy where there is an excellent brewery.
Posazavsky motoracek (26/3 to 2/10)
Expected to be a vintage DMU. Only runs as far as Tynec this year.
Podripsky motoracek (2/4 to 30/10)
Vintage DMU Roudnice to Libochovice.
Kamenicky motoracek (2/4 to 30/10, also SX 30/5 to 30/9)
Either 810 DMU or microgronk Ceska Kamenice to Kamenicky Senov. Last year it was solid 810 AFAIK, but maybe this year they will actually get the gronk out.
Podkrusnohorsky motoracek (2/4 to 30/10)
810 DMU Decin to Telnice. The service actually starts the weekend before with a vintage DMU although it isn't shown on the idos public transport planner.
Prazsky motoracek (all year except Christmas / New Year)
DMU (Cakovice) Praha hlavni to Praha Zlicin.
Note that week by week alterations due to engineering work are shown on the KZC website a few days before they take effect. Judging by previous years we can expect to see the Mseno diverted via Kralupy at some point, and the Mikulasovice diverted via either Kralupy or Nymburk mesto. Note the line around Praha Vysocany is being rebuilt at the moment, so blocks or restrictions are quite likely.
