Prague Railway Day on Saturday 9 September to Offer a Tour of the Vršovice Depot and Extraordinary Rides

On Saturday, 9 September, the series of September Regional Railway Days will begin. An attractive programme prepared by České dráhy in cooperation with the Prague Integrated Transport, the Capital City of Prague, the Railway Administration and other partners will take place on that day in the capital city. The main venue of the Prague Railway Day will be the depot and railway station in Vršovice from 9:30 to 17:00 hours. Visitors can look forward to guided tours of the railway operation background facilities, rides on the board of historical trains and a presentation of modern railway vehicles for regional transport in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region. There will also be rides on the board of historical trams and buses, as well as other accompanying programmes.

In a similar way as in previous years, the greatest attractions of the Prague Railway Day will include steam train rides. “We will arrange for a total of four steam trains. The historical train set pulled by the steam locomotive 434.2186 known as 'Čtyřkolák' will run on a circular route from Vršovice through Smíchov to Radotín and back to Vršovice via the Branický Bridge. There will also be special rides on the board of the now already historical electric pantograph unit of the 451 class, popularly known as the 'Žabotlam', which will make seven trips on a semi-circular route between Vršovice – Eden – Zahradní Město – Libeň – Holešovice – Praha hlavní nádraží – Vršovice,” says Jakub Goliáš, Regional Business Director of České dráhy for the Central Area.

“The railways in Prague and Central Bohemia have been undergoing significant changes in recent years, and therefore we will also show visitors the latest railway news during Saturday. Those interested will have an opportunity of seeing a brand-new unit of the 847 RegioFox class in the paint of the Prague Integrated Transport in the Vršovice depot. These modern trains will be gradually deployed from mid-August on the railway lines from Rakovník to Beroun and from there via Rudná u Prahy to the Praha-Smíchov railway station. There will also be a brand-new three-car electric unit of the 640 RegioPanter class which the visitors can get familiar with. These trains will be deployed during 2025 in the Prague suburban transport,” adds Jakub Goliáš.

An attractive programme will be prepared in the Vršovice depot of České dráhy, where an electric unit of the 471 CityElefant class or a set of two coupled Regionovas will run from the Vršovice railway station every 20 minutes throughout the event. The transport to the Vršovice depot will be still reinforced by a special bus line “PID 2”, which is also to depart from the Praha-Vršovice railway station.

Besides the traditional tour of the depot and vehicle repair centres, visitors will be attracted also by an exhibition of new railway vehicles for regional transport, as well as by commented presentations of locomotives on the turntable, demonstrations of the accident emergency train work and presentations of historical firefighting equipment of the Railway Administration. Those interested will have a possibility of riding around the depot area in a historical diesel train or trying a ride on a cycle trolley. Lovers of model railways and, of course, children, for whom creative workshops will be prepared, will enjoy their railway hobbies as well. Visitors can also look forward to the performance of the Iggy Mayerov music group and the author’s exhibition of railway paintings “Soot” – MatysArt. There will also be stands selling souvenirs with transport themes and refreshments.

A programme will also be provided at the Praha-Vršovice railway station. In addition to the start and end of the special trains, children will meet the ČD elephant mascot “Elfík” and will be able to play on the bouncy castle. The organisers and partners of the event will also be presenting themselves at the railway station and there will be refreshments available as well.

Fans of public transport vehicles will also be in for a treat during Saturday’s celebrations. Historical buses and trams will be running around the capital:

• Ikarus 280 articulated buses on the “PID 1” line on the semi-circular route Nádraží Vršovice – Koh-i-noor – Bělocerkevská – Želivského – Bělocerkevská – Kodaňská – Čechovo náměstí – Nádraží Vršovice,
• Karosa ŠD11 and Karosa B732 buses on the “PID 2” line on the route Nádraží Vršovice – Depo Vršovice and back,
• A historical tram set on the semi-circular route Kubánské náměstí – Koh-i-noor – Nádraží Vršovice – I. P. Pavlova – Karlovo náměstí – Albertov – Nádraží Vršovice – Koh-i-noor – Kubánské náměstí.

Fares during the Prague Railway Day on 9 September 2023

• Steam trains (Vršovice – Smíchov – Radotín – Vršovice): Special fare for a sightseeing tour: CZK 180, reduced fare for children from 6 to 18 years and holders of ZTP and ZTP/P cards and their guides: CZK 90. Children under 6 years of age travel free of charge without an entitlement to a seat. Advance sales are available at all ticket offices and in the ČD e-shop. Remaining tickets will also be available on the day of the event at ČD ticket offices or from conductors onboard the train.
• Electric pantograph unit of the 451 class (Vršovice – Eden – Zahradní Město – Libeň – Holešovice – Praha hlavní nádraží – Vršovice): free transport.
• CityElefant electric unit and two coupled Regionova diesel units (Vršovice railway station – Vršovice depot and back): free transport.
• Historical buses and trams: free transport.

Details about the event, including timetables and fare prices, are available on the Vlakem na výlet (Train Trip) portal and on the Prague Integrated Transport website. Railway Day celebrations are planned in other locations in the Czech Republic during September as well. ČD and its partners prepare the main event for 23 September 2023 in Bohumín. For more details see the www.denzeleznice.cz website.

Why is the Railway Day celebrated?

The Railway Day is celebrated annually during September to commemorate the famous day of 27 September 1825 when the train of George Stephenson, inventor of the steam locomotive, set out on its first journey. This train linked Stockton and Darlington in Great Britain.