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Summary for: Czech train travel gains momentum—and a scenic route offers reason to boardTrain travel is gaining ground in Czechia, with rail operators recording 96.97 million passenger journeys in the first half of 2026, 5.21 million more than a year earlier, according to preliminary Transport Ministry statistics.
That represents growth of approximately 5.7 percent. Both the first and second quarters recorded increases of around 2.6 million journeys, suggesting the rise extended across the six-month period.
The figures highlight a transport network that serves everyday commuting alongside opportunities to explore the country. One route south of Prague, the Posázavský pacifik, combines river scenery, historic engineering and access to towns and walking trails without requiring a car.
Passenger journeys approach pre-pandemic levels
The ministry’s quarterly transport statistics show that the average rail journey reached 55.67 kilometers in the first half of this year, slightly longer than during the same period in 2025.
The totals count passenger journeys rather than distinct individuals: someone commuting regularly contributes multiple trips.
České dráhy, the state-owned national operator, carried the largest share. It reported 85.5 million passenger journeys in the first half, an increase of 6.8 percent. Arriva carried approximately 4.2 million, down by around 200,000. Other passengers traveled with operators including RegioJet and Leo Express.
The growth follows a recovery toward pre-pandemic demand. Final figures for 2025 put passenger journeys at 192.31 million, less than 1 percent below the 193.84 million recorded in 2019.
Rail freight presents a different picture. Trains carried approximately 41 million metric tons of goods in the first half of 2026, compared with 42.5 million a year earlier. Passenger growth therefore does not reflect an expansion across every part of the railway sector.
Train travel is on the rise in Czechia, with passenger journeys up nearly 6 percent in the first half of 2026. How often do you travel by train in Czechia?
An autumn escape on the ‘Sázava Pacific’
For a journey where the route itself supplies much of the attraction, the Posázavský pacifik runs through the river valleys south of Prague.
Its name—roughly the “Sázava Pacific”—comes from Czech tramping, an outdoor tradition influenced by images of the American West. Cabins and settlements along the railway remain part of that landscape, České dráhy explains in its route history.
The lower route connects Prague with Čerčany via Davle, with a branch toward Dobříš. Its final section opened in 1900. Among its landmarks is the curved Žampach viaduct, a stone railway bridge rising almost 42 meters above the valley.
Travelers can make the railway the focus of a relaxed outing or choose a stop for further exploration. Týnec nad Sázavou and the countryside around Jílové u Prahy are among the destinations along the lower route.
The upper section continues from Čerčany toward Světlá nad Sázavou. It provides access to places including Sázava, with its monastery, and Český Šternberk, known for its castle. These are options along different stretches of the network rather than stops to squeeze into one short afternoon.
For more inspiration, check out our guide to autumn train travel, which explores other destinations around Czechia. Its fare examples should be checked against current prices.
If you're departing from Prague, consult the current regional rail timetables and service-change notices, and plan the return journey as well as the outward trip. The scenic route operates with regular passenger trains; heritage steam journeys require a separately advertised service.
