Railways to increase some fares

Czech Railways (ČD) will raise some fares starting Dec. 12.

"Our company has been under financial pressure from the economic crisis, a rise in the price of commodities and constant efforts to increase comfort on our trains," said Antonín Blažek, deputy head of Czech Railways at a Nov. 22 press conference.

While the event was held to announce certain fare hikes, Blažek insisted, "We are not planning to translate that into an overall increase in ticket prices."

The base cost of train travel per kilometer has not been raised, but ČD has increased rates on several popular discount offers. The so-called SONE+ ticket for families traveling on weekends will be more expensive as of Dec. 12.

Buying return tickets, which until now meant travelers received a 10 percent discount on the total ticket price when compared to buying two individual one-way tickets, will also be more expensive, with the discount lowered to 5 percent. And passengers who buy their ticket on the train rather than at a station ticket counter or online will be asked to pay an extra fee of 40 Kč, a charge that at present is 30 Kč.

ČD is also planning a longer-term and gradual transformation of its pricing system, which a survey by the polling agency STEM found is perceived as "difficult to comprehend" by 29 percent of travelers. Cyclists will be glad to hear that they can buy reservation tickets for their bicycles on the train, up until departure time, for a fee of 15 Kč.

Along with a change in fee structures, ČD plans an overhaul of its cars, along with buying new trains.

"A total of 58 of the trains are currently undergoing modernization, with air conditioning, electrical outlets and new information technology being added," Blažek said. 

In Prague, the volume of train connections will be increased 9.3 percent, with a number of connections between the city center and the capital's more remote outskirts, like Úvaly, Řepy or Hostivař being added. Between the city center and Úvaly, for example, trains will run at 15-minute intervals during peak hours. Another change will see the introduction of two new lines running through the heart of Prague, cutting down the time it takes to get from Klánovice to Radotín from 61 minutes with one transfer to only 44 minutes, with no transfer necessary.

Sarah Borufka can be reached at
sborufka@praguepost.com