Despite fewer disruptions on main corridors compared to last year, train travelers across the Czech Republic will face dozens of service interruptions this summer. Passengers should prepare for route sections where buses replace trains and timetable changes as the railway network undergoes essential modernization work.
Key projects affecting travel include construction at Prague’s Masaryk Station, platform and underpass work at Kolín station, and the reconstruction of a historic bridge in Tábor. The Tábor-Bechyně line closed on July 8 and will remain suspended until December 12, with replacement buses serving this historic route – notable as the first electrified railway in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.
According to Czech Railways spokesman Petr Pošta, the Kolín station work creates significant challenges for passengers. “Although only one platform is being repaired and an underpass constructed, some trains won’t reach the city at all, forcing passengers to transfer to replacement buses at Velký Osek,” he explained. Construction in the Čelákovice-Mstětice section will also significantly impact service on the Prague-Milovice-Nymburk line throughout the summer.
Other major summer disruptions include work between Olomouc and Prostějov (July 9-August 18), Uherský Brod and Kunovice (July 18-August 11), and ongoing projects in the Železný Brod area extending into September. Railway officials advise travelers to verify current schedules and transfers before journeys, especially when heading to the Kolín, Kutná Hora, or Nymburk regions.
The historic bridge reconstruction in Tábor represents a particularly notable project. The century-old structure, which crosses the Lužnice River on Central Europe’s first electrified railway (designed by inventor František Křižík), will be replaced with a faithful replica. The new 174-meter-long, 29-meter-high bridge will allow trains to increase speeds to 50 km/h, eliminating the slow zones required by the deteriorating original structure.
For summer travelers, especially large groups like children on camp outings, Czech Railways offers special advice. Group leaders with more than 20 people should indicate this when booking online to secure discounted fares and reserved seating based on train and replacement transport capacity. While replacement buses typically add 10-15 minutes in transfer time, actual delays vary depending on rail and road configurations in different regions.