Final Destination: Košice
These trains also call at: Poprad Tatry
1 or 2 x SC trains per day
2 x Regiojet trains per day
1 x LeoExpress train per day
Book early and save: Yes*
Online bookings open: Up to 8 weeks ahead (CD); 4 weeks ahead (RegioJet), 6 months ahead (Leo Express)
The train service between Praha/Prague and Košice is split between:
1. The SuperCity tilting express trains, which are operated by the Czech national rail operator, České dráhy and tickets can therefore be booked on the CD website
· Departs daily at 07:09 AND on Fridays only at 15:41
· Journey time = 7hr 16min - 7hr 24min
· On board entertainment portal
· Free Wi-fi
· Reservations included with ticket
· Rail pass users must pay a reservation fee prior to boarding
Our general guide to Czech train tickets is available here - and we have also published a guide to booking tickets on the CD website.
2. Privately operated RegioJet trains**,** provided by one of the companies that now competes with the Czech national rail operator - tickets can be booked on the Regiojet website
· Journey time = 7hr 59min - 8hr 11min
· Depart Praha hln. daily at 07:47 and 14:49
· Complimentary hot/cold drinks
· Free Wi-fi
· Complimentary entertainment portal
· Reservations included with ticket
· Rail passes can now be used
3. A privately operated Leo Express train, tickets can only be booked on the Leo Express website
· Journey time = 8hr 33mins
· Departs Praha hln.daily at 14:09
· At seat drinks/light meal service in all classes (food/drink not included in ticket price)
· Free WiFi
· Reservations included with ticket
· Rail passes can now be used
As will be seen, the only means of comparing ticket prices is to log on to the respective websites.
*Though 2nd/standard class prices vary across the operators by less than the equivalent of €5 and you will also save less than €5 by booking 2nd/standard class in advance online.
The prices on CD will be in Czeck korunas (CZKs), but the prices on Regiojet and Leo Express are displayed in €s.
Alternative Connections:
Look up this journey on the CD website and up to 7 other connections per day will be available, which involve making a transfer between trains in Puchov OR Zilina.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
cd.cz | from 414 CZK | |
Regiojet | from €10 approx | |
Leo Express | from €10 |
Despite there being only four or five direct trains* per DAY between Prague/Praha and Kosice, three different train operators compete on this route.
So for the full range of ticket options, you ideally need to look up the journey on the three respective websites.
The Czech version of the Trainline website sells all three services, but seemingly doesn't offer the full range of tickets.
*Look up this journey on the CD website and up to 7 other journey options per day will be available.
Those other options all involve one change of train - and those connections tend to have an end-to-end journey time of around 8hr 20mins
The overnight trains can also be booked on the CD website.
If you take these day trains, the final third of the journey is particularly scenic, as the trains take a passage through a series of mountain valleys.
A plus for taking one of the morning departures!
Final Destination: Košice or Hummené
These trains also call at: Poprad Tatry
Our general guide to taking European overnight trains is available HERE.
1 or 2 x trains per night
Book early and save: Yes*
Online bookings open: 2 months ahead of the travel date
The train conveys:
- Dayime style seats
- Couchettes
- Standard sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
*It's worth making the effort to book ahead if you want a bed in a sleeping cabin, but you'll save less than €10 compared to booking at the station if you want to travel in a seat or couchette.
A plus of booking online is that you will have ensured your place on the train. Your first choice of accommodation MAY be sold out if you don't book in advance.
There's much to be admired regarding the CD website, the online booking service of the Czech national rail operator, České dráhy, but how to book a berth in a couchette, or a bed in a sleeping cabin isn't particularly obvious.
Hence our step-by-step guide to booking overnight accommodation on the CD website, which you can find HERE.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
CD | * |
An overnight train is usually scheduled to depart from Praha hl.m station nightly at 22:15, but for much of the year a second train departs at 23:47.
This second train has the faster journey time - though both of these trains are slower than the daytime services.
The 22:15 departure is named the 'Slovakia' and its final destination is Hummené - it is the only direct train from Praha/Prague to destinations in Slovakia to the east of Kosice
The 23:47 departure is named the 'Bohemia' and it travels no further than Kosice.
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