With the beginning of the new timetable, České dráhy, in cooperation with its partner, the Poland-based carrier “PKP Intercity”, launched operation of the new international train line “Ex32 Prague – Pardubice – Wrocław – Gdynia”. Four pairs of trains called Baltic express will set off every day. The trains offer travelling in modern carriages with air conditioning, power supply sockets, refreshments and comfortable seats.
„Providing high-quality train services between the Czech Republic and its neighbouring countries is one of our important priorities. The new Czech-Polish train line, which starts operating today, connects Prague and eastern Bohemia with the western part of Poland, many large cities and conurbations with millions of inhabitants. This opens up further opportunities for strengthening the tourist industry and economic relations between the Czech Republic and Poland,“ says Martin Kupka, Minister of Transport of the Czech Republic.
„The Embassy of the Republic of Poland to Prague has welcomed with great pleasure the decision of the PKP Intercity and České dráhy companies to launch a new rail link between Poland and the Czech Republic, which is to connect the Baltic Tri-City with Prague. The Baltic express is a good opportunity for the growth of tourist exchange between our countries, but above all it creates more space for Czechs to get to know Poland better and Poles to get to know the Czech Republic better. The trains on this route will complement the existing rail and road connections between the Czech Republic and Poland, both on main and local routes. We are pleased with the prompt response of both the carriers to the increased interest of Czechs in Poland, as evidenced by more than half a million Czech tourists who visited our country during this summer season,“ stated Jacek Gajewski, chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Republic of Poland to the Czech Republic, continuing: “The new train connection does not only mean convenience and additional comfort for tourists, but it also creates new opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesspeople, pupils, students and scientists or people from culture to make more frequent contacts with Polish and Czech partners.“
„Thanks to the new Baltic express trains, which we operate in cooperation with our colleagues from PKP Intercity, we offer our passengers unrivalled speed and comfort when travelling to the beauty of our northern neighbours and the Baltic Sea coast. It takes less than 4 hours to get from Prague to Wrocław by train, which means the fastest train connection in history. And you can be at the beach resorts in popular Sopot in around 8 and a half hours. And all this is available without driving fatigue, stress from traffic jams or a lengthy search for a place to park after a tiring car journey,“ says Michal Krapinec, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of České dráhy, reminding some of the advantages of comfortable travelling by train.
„Four daily services from the Czech Republic to Poland are one of the most important changes in the new timetable for us. We are introducing them thanks to cooperation between PKP Intercity and České dráhy. Passengers from our countries will benefit from this cooperation. Travelling more than 800 km in nine hours is a very good result. I am convinced that the Baltic express trains will be very popular. I wish you a happy journey!“ These are the words of Janusz Malinowski, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PKP Intercity.
„Polish tourists, along with Germans and Slovaks, are among the most frequent visitors coming to our country. From January to September this year alone, almost 695,000 Polish tourists visited the Czech Republic and spent 1.4 million nights here, staying an average of three days in the Czech Republic. In the same period last year, 629 thousand of them came here. Thus, in the year-on-year comparison, there is a clearly visible upward trend. Most of them go to Prague, the South Moravian Region and the Hradec Králové Region, spending the longest time in the latter region – an average of 3.7 days,“ says František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourism Agency, adding: “The new Baltic express train service can further support these trends and help to extend interest in other domestic destinations worth visiting. Four daily services linking Poland with the Czech Republic will offer our northern neighbours an even easier and more convenient way to visit Pardubice, discover the beauties of the Eagle Mountains, or perhaps explore Kolín and Kutná Hora situated near to Kolín.“
„The Baltic express project is a real transport revolution. The new train service will connect the centre and east of the Czech Republic with almost all western and northern Poland. We are aware of this unique opportunity and therefore, in cooperation with Prague City Tourism, we prepared a sightseeing tour for seven Polish journalists from major local media and major cities along the route of the new train service. The aim is to further stimulate the interest of Poles in visiting our country and its undiscovered places,“ adds Tomáš Zukal, Director of the Foreign Representation of CzechTourism in Poland.
The trains depart from the Prague Main Station every day at 6:51, 10:51, 14:50 and 18:51 hours. As far as the Czech Republic is concerned, they will also stop in Kolín, Pardubice, Ústí nad Orlicí, Letohrad, Jablonné nad Orlicí and Lichkov. In Poland, they continue via Kłodzko, Wrocław, Poznań and Bydgoszcz to Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. However, they also stop in other tourist and economic centres of Poland.
The trains consist of a total of 4 carriages, including one first-class carriage, on the territory of the Czech Republic. Refreshments in the form of an on-board minibar will be available on the board of the trains on the territory of the Czech Republic as well. Additional carriages, including a dining car, will be added in Wrocław and will originate from the rolling stock of the carrier “PKP Intercity”. The trains will also offer passengers, for example, an on-board Wi-Fi network or the possibility of charging their travel electronics. The trains will include carriages for wheelchair users and bicycle transport.
It will not be worth delaying the purchase of a ticket unnecessarily
As with other long-distance trains of the national carrier, it is also true here that those who want to travel at the best possible price should purchase their tickets as far in advance as possible. With an early purchase of a travel document, you can reach the seaside for less than CZK 800, while ticket prices to Wrocław start at prices below CZK 400. When buying tickets for the Baltic express to Poland online at the ČD e-shop www.cd.cz or in the “Můj vlak” (“My Train”) mobile application, you will also receive a free seat reservation, which is necessary for travelling on the territory of Poland.
Author: Tiskové oddělení Českých drah
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