The addition of ComfortJet trainsets at ČD aims to improve the travel experience on selected routes connecting Prague with Bohumín and Františkovy Lázně. Initially, the trains will operate in an eight-car configuration, excluding control and dining cars. The first set of trains, produced by the consortium of Siemens Mobility and Škoda Group, is in the final stages of being handed over to ČD.
The ComfortJet trains, consisting of 180 cars in total, will form 20 nine-car sets with a seating capacity of 555 and can reach speeds up to 230 km/h. This fleet is expected to become the flagship of the Czech Railways' long-distance service, serving major international routes to cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, and Budapest in the coming years.
The deployment of ComfortJet is part of Czech Railways' broader initiative to modernize its fleet, providing services such as air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and updated equipment, thus phasing out older cars. By the end of summer, the first ComfortJet trains will also be used on the Berliner service to Germany’s capital and gradually on the Prague-Vienna line. These trains will utilize their maximum speed initially between Berlin and Hamburg and eventually on other routes, including the new Austrian Koralmbahn line and the first sections of high-speed tracks in the Czech Republic.
The ComfortJet trains are designed with features to enhance passenger comfort, such as barrier-free access throughout, a dining section with modern kitchen facilities, a children's cinema area, and spaces for bicycles, among others. The manufacturing process, involving Siemens Mobility and Škoda Group, highlights the collaboration in shaping future mobility and modernizing railway transport in the Czech Republic and Europe. This initiative is part of Czech Railways' record renewal of its rolling stock, with nearly 140 new electric, diesel and non-traction units and electric locomotives received this year, translating to over 22,000 new, comfortable, air-conditioned, and accessible seats equipped with onboard Wi-Fi and other modern amenities.
The ČD order for 50 multisystem Vectron locomotives for a maximum speed of 230 km/h will enable the passenger rail to fully exploit the potential of these new trainsets. They should start arriving in December 2025.
ComfortJets in Czechia, Railjets in Austria
The Austrian Federal Railways (ŐBB) has already begun operating its latest Railjet fleet, marking the introduction of the new generation on its future main route. Starting April 8, the new generation Railjets started operating from Munich through Innsbruck and Bolzano to Bologna. ŐBB plans to add a total of 27 new Railjets by 2028, serving the Brenner and Southern routes.
