Czechia scenic rail lines

[Amateurish]

Good morning, I will be spending a few days in Czechia in June. Can anyone recommend some scenic rail lines to visit? Anywhere in the country, I don't mind. Thanks.

 

[jamesontheroad]

KŽC is a preservation society who operate a variety of heritage locomotives and rolling stock. Check their website, and maybe you can join one of their trips.

Website: https://www.kzc.cz/

Ticketing is through the normal ČD website/app.

 

[class387]

You're spoilt for choice! Czechia is brilliant and one of the most underrated countries for scenic train journeys in my opinion - some suggestions:

• Within the Prague suburban zones (zone 4) is the Sazava Valley line. Two hour trip to Cercany climbing up the valley along the Vltava and Sazava rivers, through rock cuttings and viaducts - one of my favourite lines in the world and so underrated. Sit on the right towards Cercany and there are hauled double deckers (and last year one observation car with a cab view) on weekends, a direct train back from Cercany then takes 45 minutes.
• Still in the Prague region zone 9 - Beroun to Rakovnik is a delightful branch line running along the Berounka river and past Krivoklat castle. There's one direct heritage train a day on weekends, else it's a shuttle from Beroun which is about 40 minutes from Prague. The Plzen mainline via Karlstejn (for the castle) out to Beroun is itself a scenic route running by the river too - especially on a double decker when you can see over the trees.
• Further out, weekends only, the museum line from Usti nad Labem Strekov to Zubrnice is one of the nicest half an hour trips I've ever taken, climbing steeply to a wonderful hillside village. There are two routes from Prague to Usti to get there - the mainline towards Germany and also a secondary route changing at Melnik (lovely town), these run along the left and right banks of the Elbe, both are great and it's a good circular trip.
• If you're in the west or get that far out then Karlovy Vary Dolni to Marianske Lazne is a nice line between two spa towns very much worth visiting - some great forest scenery.

Some photos attached of the aforementioned lines.

KŽC is a preservation society who operate a variety of heritage locomotives and rolling stock. Check their website, and maybe you can join one of their trips.

Website: https://www.kzc.cz/

Ticketing is through the normal ČD website/app.

Yes it's KZC who do the trip to Rakovnik via Beroun and the one up the Sazava Valley with trailers giving a full cab view behind - highly recommended.

 

[dutchflyer]

As above-about all line qualify, but it has also to be said-for some parts. The old-style utter-ugly communist relics of derelicted factories, abandoned warehouses or mines etc also can be admired still a plenty.
My 2p worth: the various side lines out of Liberec-in the far north in the traingle with PL and DE-there is also a 3-country cheap 1 day rover ticket there, allowing quick sneeky peaks over the borders.
What is least interest: the flat riverside area south-east of Brno toward Slovakia-flat and dull-and thus allowing higher speeds.
CD has quite cheap weekend-only network tickets and in summer (but last yrs mostly only july+august) a very cheap 7-day network rover pass-but ONLY on CD-more and more lines are franchised out to others. All provinces also have daily rover tickets-around 250/300 CzK. Whole network=sitova. The provinces (counties?!) are named Kraj=from the german Kreis, usually after their main town.

 

[30907]

I assume you are not fussy about motive power? Almost any rural line in CZ is worth it, nothing is really spectacular.

The Sazava Valley continues above Cercany as a separate service past Cesky Sternberk castle (the limit of my travels) until it joins the (pleasantly scenic) secondary route from Prague to Brno.

Towards the German border, Klatovy-Zelezna Ruda and the group of lines centred on Volary operated by GWTR are definitely worth it (plus a bus across the forest, weekend only in June, to Z.Ruda).
From M. Lanske you can continue south via Plana to Domazlice - a rural backwater - then via Klatovy to Horadzovice on the line from Plzen to C Budejovice.

Or you could try the route from Olomouc (worth a visit) via Zabreh n M to Jesenik, with various sidelines in the area too.

Just don't be in a rush - Czech secondary routes are slow!

 

[Amateurish]

Thank you all, I will research these suggestions. I don't care about motive power, but always happy to travel in relative comfort (dining cars a plus)! I'm arriving in Prague on a Thursday evening, then due to travel to Vienna on the Sunday afternoon.

 

[33056]

I would suggest a trip on the Tábor to Bechyně line. It runs from a separate platform outside Tábor station and is often worked by a centre cab class 113 electric loco.

113 002 at Bechyně

14th July 2017. On Os28408 11:06 Tábor to Bechyně.

flic.kr

There is also a combined road rail bridge to enjoy on the approach to Bechyně.

113 003 Bechyne

Explore Youth With's 6013 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

 

[30907]

Thank you all, I will research these suggestions. I don't care about motive power, but always happy to travel in relative comfort (dining cars a plus)! I'm arriving in Prague on a Thursday evening, then due to travel to Vienna on the Sunday afternoon.

You will find dining/bistro cars on a few internal routes as well as the international ones: basically Prague-Olomouc-Ostrava SC/IC/EC services and Prague-C.Budejovice(-Linz) EC/IC services.

With those criteria and the short time I would suggest:
Friday to the Sumava/Bohemian Forest (C.Bud-C.Krumlov-Cerny Kriz-Volary-Strakonice-C.Bud or Plzen-Prague).
Side trip Tabor-Bechyne if time allows (thanks 33056, I love Tabor!)
Saturday do one of the KZC daytrips (they have a bar)
Sunday morning the Sazava Valley line 210 or 212.
Also in Prague there is the "Prague Semmering" diesel railcar (one way, back by tram) - and nearly all the cross-river ferries and the funicular are covered by a central zone public transport day ticket

 

[Zamracene749]

It's probably quicker to list the less interesting lines in the Czech Republic!
Around Prague, that is basically the lines to Kolin and Pardubice, Hradec Kralove and Neratovice/Mlada Boleslav. That isnt to say that they are totally dull of course, just a bit flat.
Along with the highlights already mentioned near to Prague I'd suggest the Melnik to Mlada Boleslav line, the slow route to Beroun via Rudna u Prahy, or even a round trip to the famous cheese town of Sedlcany- the bus journey from Prague is lovely, then a train back to Cercany and the Sazava route back to Prague are all covered by a very good value DPP day ticket. Also the Dobris branch is very pretty, but would almost certainly involve a fast regular bus back to Prague given it's sparse, threatened service.

PS, I'd take the slower route to Vienna from Prague via Ceske Budejovice. It is more scenic and not as packed as the route via Brno. HTH.

 

[rg177]

PS, I'd take the slower route to Vienna from Prague via Ceske Budejovice. It is more scenic and not as packed as the route via Brno.

On a weekend there's now also a through train from Prague to Vienna via Ceske Velenice/Gmünd. A bit slower but I can't imagine through traffic on it is very high

 

[30907]

On a weekend there's now also a through train from Prague to Vienna via Ceske Velenice/Gmünd. A bit slower but I can't imagine through traffic on it is very high

There is (with 2 changes of loco as the middle bit isn't electrified) - but no catering. Going via C.Bud gets you the Bistro car (from there it's a unit to C.Velenice and an Austrian double-deck set, or you can go through to Linz and then to Vienna by Railjet.
Note that in June the direct trains to Vienna are still diverted via Havlickuv Brod anyway.

 

[Amateurish]

You're spoilt for choice! Czechia is brilliant and one of the most underrated countries for scenic train journeys in my opinion - some suggestions:

• Within the Prague suburban zones (zone 4) is the Sazava Valley line. Two hour trip to Cercany climbing up the valley along the Vltava and Sazava rivers, through rock cuttings and viaducts - one of my favourite lines in the world and so underrated. Sit on the right towards Cercany and there are hauled double deckers (and last year one observation car with a cab view) on weekends, a direct train back from Cercany then takes 45 minutes.
• Still in the Prague region zone 9 - Beroun to Rakovnik is a delightful branch line running along the Berounka river and past Krivoklat castle. There's one direct heritage train a day on weekends, else it's a shuttle from Beroun which is about 40 minutes from Prague. The Plzen mainline via Karlstejn (for the castle) out to Beroun is itself a scenic route running by the river too - especially on a double decker when you can see over the trees.
• Further out, weekends only, the museum line from Usti nad Labem Strekov to Zubrnice is one of the nicest half an hour trips I've ever taken, climbing steeply to a wonderful hillside village. There are two routes from Prague to Usti to get there - the mainline towards Germany and also a secondary route changing at Melnik (lovely town), these run along the left and right banks of the Elbe, both are great and it's a good circular trip.
• If you're in the west or get that far out then Karlovy Vary Dolni to Marianske Lazne is a nice line between two spa towns very much worth visiting - some great forest scenery.

Some photos attached of the aforementioned lines.


Yes it's KZC who do the trip to Rakovnik via Beroun and the one up the Sazava Valley with trailers giving a full cab view behind - highly recommended.

Thank you very much for all this. I've got my map out and I'm marking all these possible routes.

I'm struggling a bit with the KZC website. I think I've found the weekend service to Rakonik which leaves Prague at 09:17.

But I can't find a service to Cercany (via Skochovice?)

Would it be possible to do both on the same day?

Cheers

 

[class387]

Thank you very much for all this. I've got my map out and I'm marking all these possible routes.

I'm struggling a bit with the KZC website. I think I've found the weekend service to Rakonik which leaves Prague at 09:17.

But I can't find a service to Cercany (via Skochovice?)

Would it be possible to do both on the same day?

Cheers

The KZC service this year seems to only go as far as Tynec nad Sazavou - about 15 minutes out from Cercany (you don't miss much scenery). It's the 'Posazavsky Motoracek' on the website, leaving Prague at 0739 on Saturdays and 1455 on Sundays. You could continue to Cercany on a CD train for a direct train back, double back either on the return KZC service or an earlier CD train, or the 339 bus is also a lovely ride back and doesn't take longer than the train.

CD trains go all the way to Cercany without change - on weekends the 0825, 0923, 1055, 1355 and 1625 services are hauled with double deck stock (albeit not especially pleasant ones).

Would definitely be possible to do both on the same day. On Sundays for example something like this could work
KZC Prague 0917 - Krivoklat 1047 (should be able to get a quick glimpse at the castle, not much missed not going to Rakovnik)
CD Os Krivoklat 1107 - Beroun 1144
CD Os Beroun 1219 - Prague 1310 (via the mainline along the river on a double deck unit)
KZC Prague 1455 - Tynec nad Sazavou 1611
Bus 339 (from right outside the station) Tynec nad Sazavou 1700 - Prague (Budejovicka Metro) 1801

To make a day trip out of it the Rakovnik train can be done all the way through to Kralovice, or change in Rakovnik for a scenic bus to Plzen and then a train back to Prague. The Cercany line can be combined with a trip further down the mainline to Tabor and then a ride on the aforementioned Bechyne line, or further along the Sazava Valley branch to Svetla.

Do check for engineering works/timetable updates which seem to occur at very short notice.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Most of the Czech Republic is scenic to be honest! A bit flatter in the East near the Slovak and Austrian borders though.

 

[stottyuk]

Get a EuroCity towards Germany in the Restaurace carriage and sit on the right hand side, or the left hand side the other way between Prague and Usti and Labem whilst having a meal and a beer.... you won't be disappointed

 

[AdamWW]

Get a EuroCity towards Germany in the Restaurace carriage and sit on the right hand side, or the left hand side the other way between Prague and Usti and Labem whilst having a meal and a beer.... you won't be disappointed

Very good pancakes too!

 

[Amateurish]

My trip is coming up in a week. Thanks for all the help above. I'm thinking of doing two KZC trips on Saturday:

Prague to Tynec na Sazavou at 07:39 then the trip from Kralovice u Rakovnika - Prague at 15:19.

Is the trip to Dobris also worth doing in between?

Cheers

 

[The exile]

My trip is coming up in a week. Thanks for all the help above. I'm thinking of doing two KZC trips on Saturday:

Prague to Tynec na Sazavou at 07:39 then the trip from Kralovice u Rakovnika - Prague at 15:19.

Is the trip to Dobris also worth doing in between?

Cheers

Just out of interest- how are you getting between them?

 

[30907]

My trip is coming up in a week. Thanks for all the help above. I'm thinking of doing two KZC trips on Saturday:

Prague to Tynec na Sazavou at 07:39 then the trip from Kralovice u Rakovnika - Prague at 15:19.

Is the trip to Dobris also worth doing in between?

Cheers

Not done it, but do you have time?

Check the KZC website or IDOS because the Rakovnik is diverted via Kladno and leaves later at 1557.

 

[The exile]

Not done it, but do you have time?

Check the KZC website or IDOS because the Rakovnik is diverted via Kladno and leaves later at 1557.

Thus I suspect losing much of its scenic value but presumably gaining another diversion nearer Prague

 

[30907]

Thus I suspect losing much of its scenic value

Yes - shame
OTOH it stops at Luzna both ways so offers a visit to the railway museum.

but presumably gaining another diversion nearer Prague

Prague Semmering via Zlicin.

 

[Amateurish]

Thanks for all the advice, I'm on the trip and it's going very well. We did the return KZC trip to Tynec na Sazavou this morning, which was excellent. I'm now at Rakovnik, headed for Beroun. We've been to Cheb and Most this afternoon. Yesterday we went up and down each bank of the Elbe, as well as Melnik to Mlada. Cheers!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Get a EuroCity towards Germany in the Restaurace carriage and sit on the right hand side, or the left hand side the other way between Prague and Usti and Labem whilst having a meal and a beer.... you won't be disappointed

The Prague-Dresden trip is full of interest with rugged sandstone country on both sides of the border, which is fine hiking country too.
There will be barge traffic on the Elbe and on my last trip we were lucky to pass one of the old Dresden paddle steamers on the Saxony side of the border.
For a stretch, the national border is the river, with CZ one side and DE the other.