The minibars of České dráhy served more than half a million passengers in the first half of 2024; the passengers were ordering coffee most often

More than 247,000 cups of coffee, but also beer or a baguette. These are the most popular items sold in the minibars of České dráhy. Croissants or toasted pastries are also items belonging amongst the most popular refreshments. From January to the end of June this year, the minibar stewards provided their services to more than 570,000 passengers.

“A good train travel experience also includes an opportunity to have a drink or a bite to eat during the journey. It is just with the use of the ČD Minibar service when we make the journey on many domestic trains more pleasant for our customers. For the symbolic price of CZK 15, passengers can buy tea, coffee or even a small sweet snack. The possibility of paying for purchases in a contactless way is already an absolute matter of course,” says Jiří Ješeta, Member of the Board of Directors and Deputy Director General of ČD for Passenger Transport, adding: “I am also very pleased to see that there is such a large number of railway fans among the minibar customers who, by purchasing the special 'Šlechtična' (Noble Woman) beer, are contributing to the project of raising the necessary funds for the renovation of this historically valuable steam locomotive bearing that nice name.”

Among the most popular items of the offer at the ČD Minibar service this spring it is necessary to highlight instant coffee (115,151 servings), Manuel brand coffee (66,957 items), Latte (64,989 items), tea (52,357 items), still water (47,905 items), soft sparkling water (44,070 items), Pilsner Urquell beer (63,622 items), Budweiser Budvar beer (35,962 items), Kofola (52,138 items), croissant 7 days (45,512 items) and baguettes (45,626 items).

Dried meat is also very popular among passengers, with almost 14,000 packings sold. Edible insects in the form of crunchy worms and crickets also have their fans, with almost three thousand packings sold. Almost sold out is also the beer special “Šlechtična” (Noble Woman), through the purchase of which the customers supported the repair of the steam locomotive known as Šlechtična (Noble Woman – 475.179). In cooperation with the experimental brewery of the Pilsner Urquell beer brewing company, or its Elektrárna brand, respectively, another batch of special beer is being prepared.

České dráhy is still improving its product range offered through minibars. Over the next few weeks, the existing product range will be enriched, for example, with Müsli bites from the Vitality Garden company.

The ČD Minibar service is implemented through a small trolley adapted for serving small snacks on board the train directly at passengers’ seats. The steward repeatedly walks through the trainset during the journey and offers various refreshments and drinks to passengers. Payment is possible in cash in crowns, euros, or by means of the use of a refreshment voucher and in a cashless way with the use of a payment card.

The ČD Minibar service is provided on 171 train connections in the currently valid timetable, and vending machines with refreshments are also located on the board of other trains. These are such lines as Západní expres (Western Express), Krušnohor, Hradečan and Krakonoš in the Prague – Hradec Králové section, Ostravan, Slovácký expres, Vysočina, Rožmberk, Svitava and Moravan fast trains.

The information about ČD MiniBar services offered, including the complete product range offered there, is also available at the web site of České dráhy.