The national carrier PKP Intercity has announced a groundbreaking decision to deploy Pendolino trains on international routes. Starting this Sunday, coinciding with the timetable adjustment, Polish high-speed trains will begin regular services in the Czech Republic on the Bohumín–Prague route. Simultaneously, the company is introducing a new promotional offer and unique retro connections named "Nieśpieszny" (Unhurried), utilizing historic rolling stock from the 1980s.
Pendolino Debut in the Czech Republic
Polish ED250 trainsets will, for the first time in history, begin regular operation on the international Bohumín–Prague route.
Timetable Adjustment
A new train schedule comes into effect this Sunday, incorporating new routes and discounts.
Retro Trains 'Nieśpieszny'
Launch of special connections using rolling stock from the 1980s as part of a tourist-sentimental offer.
PKP Intercity is making a historic shift in its operational strategy, sending its Pendolino trains for the first time ever to regularly service connections outside the country's borders. According to official announcements, Polish high-speed trains will appear on Czech tracks, serving the key route between Bohumín and Prague. This decision coincides with the timetable adjustment planned for this Sunday, which traditionally adapts the connection network to seasonal passenger needs and ongoing modernization works on the railway network. The introduction of Pendolino onto the tracks of our southern neighbors is not the only novelty prepared by the carrier. The company also announced the implementation of a new discount system aimed at increasing the competitiveness of rail transport against road and air travel. At the same time, in contrast to modern technology, PKP Intercity is launching a project called "Nieśpieszny" (Unhurried). These are special trains composed of historic carriages, intended to serve as a tourist attraction and a sentimental journey back in time to the aesthetics of the 1980s. This project evokes mixed feelings, being on one hand an interesting marketing initiative, and on the other, a reminder of the rolling stock challenges faced by Polish railways. The purchase of 20 Pendolino trainsets in 2011 for approximately 400 million euros was the largest investment in PKP Intercity's history, but for years their use was limited exclusively to domestic routes due to certification and homologation processes abroad. New competition is also emerging on the market in the form of "yellow trains," which on selected routes offer faster and cheaper journeys than the existing premium connections. Experts point out that the upcoming timetable adjustment may be one of the most significant in recent years, combining foreign expansion, a price war for customers, and image-building through niche retro projects. Passengers planning journeys after March 8th should carefully check departure times, as the changes will affect almost the entire network of long-distance connections in Poland. „To historyczny moment dla polskiej kolei, gdy nasze najbardziej nowoczesne pociągi zaczynają służyć pasażerom w ruchu międzynarodowym.” — Representative of PKP Intercity