PKP Intercity has announced a historic decision to launch regular Pendolino train services on an international route. For the first time, Polish rolling stock of this class will operate outside the country, serving the connection from Bohumín to Prague. The initiative, described as a breakthrough for the Polish carrier, fulfills promises to increase international activity. The decision was made after obtaining the necessary certificates and approvals from the Czech infrastructure manager. The first services are scheduled to begin in the upcoming timetable season.
Historic breakthrough for PKP IC
PKP Intercity will, for the first time in its history, launch regular Pendolino train services outside Poland. Until now, the ED250 units, commonly known as Pendolino, operated exclusively on domestic high-speed connections.
Bohumín–Prague route
The international route will connect the Czech town of Bohumín, a border town located at a major railway junction, with the Czech capital, Prague. This is a strategic choice, utilizing existing infrastructure and the potential for passenger traffic between major centers.
Agreements and certifications
The project's implementation was possible after meeting formal requirements, including obtaining certificates authorizing the vehicle to operate on the railway network managed by the Czech SŽDC and securing the necessary slots, i.e., time windows on the tracks.
Internationalization strategy
The decision aligns with the broader strategy of PKP Intercity, which for several years has declared its intention to expand operations to include international connections, increasing competitiveness and the offer for passengers traveling in Central Europe.
Polish railway carrier PKP Intercity has made a historic breakthrough by announcing its first-ever regular international services of Pendolino high-speed trains. The ED250 units, which have for years served domestic lines such as Warsaw–Kraków or Warsaw–Gdańsk, will run on routes outside Poland. The carrier's designated goal is to connect the Czech town of Bohumín with Prague. Bohumín, as a border town with an extensive railway junction, is a logical starting point for this expansion. This decision is the result of months, and likely even years, of preparations and negotiations. A key stage was obtaining all legally required certificates and authorizations from the Czech railway infrastructure manager, SŽDC. These certificates confirm that the Polish rolling stock meets all technical and safety standards applicable on the railway network of the Czech Republic. Simultaneously, PKP Intercity had to secure so-called slots, i.e., specific places in the timetable on Czech tracks, which, given the limited capacity of the infrastructure, posed a significant logistical challenge. Pendolino trains, based on a design by the Italian manufacturer Alstom, entered Polish tracks in 2014, becoming a symbol of the modernization of Polish railways. For nearly a decade, their operation was limited to domestic routes, due to both initial technical problems and the complicated procedures required to obtain authorizations in other countries. Meanwhile, in Western Europe, high-speed trains regularly cross borders, using unified management and signaling systems.The announcement by PKP Intercity has been met with a positive reception in the media, which emphasizes the symbolic importance of this event for the image of the Polish carrier on the international stage. The implementation of this connection is a test of both the company's operational capabilities and the actual demand for such a service. The success of the Bohumín–Prague route could pave the way for further expansion, for example towards Slovakia or Germany. The carrier has not yet provided an exact start date or frequency of services, suggesting that final arrangements are still in progress. However, it will certainly be one of the most closely watched projects in the upcoming timetable season.