PKP Intercity not only in Poland. We will see our trains abroad

Pendolino in the Czech Republic? Such a scenario may come true as early as next year. After the recently completed tests of the Polish train on the tracks of our southern neighbors, the zdopravy.cz portal informed about the possible date of launch of the first regular services. If all subsequent stages go smoothly, Pendolino should be operating in the Czech Republic next year.

Pendolino behind Czech tracks

While further railway carriers from the Czech Republic are entering Poland, PKP Intercity is also preparing to enter the market of our southern neighbors. According to the Railway Market, the first pair of SuperCity connections will be launched between Prague and Ostrava in the first quarter of next year. As part of the agreement with Czech Railways, the Polish carrier’s trains will also run on the Bohumín – Františkovy Lázně route.

The Czech Republic will therefore become the first foreign country to offer transport services provided by Polish trains. Pendolino trains have approval that allows them to also run to Austria and Germany.

The first tests are already behind us

From Monday to Wednesday, the first Pendolino tests could be observed on Czech tracks. As PKP Intercity explains, such activities are part of the verification of rolling stock in terms of interoperability, i.e. consistency of vehicles with the infrastructure. “This guarantees safe and free operation of trains moving between different railway networks in European Union countries,” we read.

Unfortunately, it was not without problems. On Monday, October 20, unit ED250-001 damaged a turnout and stopped traffic on the Ostrava–Veřovice route for several hours. “Next year we are planning a longer operational exercise, also on Czech infrastructure,” says Adam Wawrzyniak, member of the management board of PKP Intercity, quoted by Rynek Kolejowy.