Getting Around Czechia by Rail Without Overpaying

The Duopoly That Keeps Czech Train Fares Cheap

You step onto the platform at Praha hlavní nádraží at 7:45am. Two trains to Ostrava depart within 12 minutes of each other. One is a state-run České dráhy EuroCity in blue and silver. The other is a yellow RegioJet, operated by a private bus company that decided to run trains. You pay CZK 169 for the ČD ticket. Or CZK 159 for RegioJet. That is the lowest long-distance rail price in Europe. It is not an accident.

Czechia runs a genuine rail duopoly on its main corridor. State carrier České dráhy and private operator RegioJet compete head to head on the line linking the capital, Brno, and the eastern city. A third company, Leo Express, runs fewer trains but adds pricing pressure. The competition drives fares below what you pay for a single metro ride in London or Paris. On the Prague, Ostrava route, the lowest one-way fare in 2025 was CZK 149 on Leo Express, CZK 159 on RegioJet, and CZK 169 on ČD. That is roughly 5 to 6 euros for a journey of almost three hours.

You need two apps on your phone. One for each operator. Never buy either ticket from a third-party aggregator. The operators do not share inventory with platforms like Omio or Trainline in the same way, and you will pay a markup for no benefit.

České Dráhy: the State Option with Three Fare Bands

How The Three-Tier Fare System Works

České dráhy uses a three-tier fare system on domestic routes: Super Akční, Akční, and Flexi. The prices differ by a factor of roughly three on longer routes. On Prague, Ostrava in 2025 the ratio between the lowest Super Akční and the most expensive Flexi was about 1:3. On Prague, Brno it was roughly 1:2.5. The names translate to Super Action, Action, and Flexible.

Book Super Akční if you know your date. These are non-refundable, non-changeable, and limited in number. They sell out days ahead on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings. Flexi tickets are fully flexible. They cost three times as much. Akční sits in the middle. The lowest Super Akční one-way fare on Prague, Brno was CZK 139 in 2025. Prague, Vienna cost CZK 369 on ČD Sparschiene. Prague, Berlin cost CZK 490 on Sparpreis Europa. Prague, Bratislava cost CZK 299.

Where And How To Buy

You buy ČD tickets through the Můj vlak app. The app handles domestic and cross-border tickets to Vienna, Berlin, Bratislava, and Kraków. You can also buy at the station counter or ticket machine, but the app gives you access to Super Akční fares that the counter staff may not offer first. Reservation rules differ by train type. On Super City trains and Railjets to Vienna a seat reservation is mandatory and costs CZK 35. On regular EuroCity and express services, reservation is optional. You can board without one and sit in an unreserved seat if one exists.

Onboard Classes And What You Get

ČD trains have two classes. SC and Railjet trains include power sockets, Wi-Fi, and a restaurant car. The annual timetable change happens in mid-December. Check schedules after that date for any route adjustments.

RegioJet: the Private Operator Built on One Corridor

RegioJet started as a bus company and entered the rail market to compete directly with ČD. The company runs trains on the same Prague, Brno, Ostrava corridor and extends cross-border to Vienna and Bratislava. In 2025 the lowest one-way Low Cost fare from the capital to Brno was CZK 129, beating ČD by CZK 10. To Vienna it cost CZK 349. To Bratislava, CZK 279.

Booking And The Mandatory Reservation

You buy RegioJet tickets through the RegioJet app. The interface is cleaner than Můj vlak and the booking flow shows you exactly which seat you will sit in. Reservation is mandatory on every service. The fee is included in the ticket price. You pay zero extra for the seat.

Four Fare Classes Explained

RegioJet uses four fare classes: Low Cost, Standard, Relax, and Business. The ratio between the lowest Low Cost and the most expensive Business on the capital, Ostrava route in 2025 was approximately 1:4. Business class includes a seat reservation, power socket, touchscreen entertainment, a complimentary drink, and a newspaper. Standard includes the seat and socket but no drink. Low Cost includes the seat only. You can upgrade at the station or on board if seats remain unsold, but the price jumps close to the full Business fare. Book ahead.

Leo Express: the Third Option on the Same Line

Leo Express is smaller than the other two. It runs fewer daily departures but competes on the same route to Ostrava and Kraków. In 2025 the lowest one-way Economy fare to the eastern city was CZK 149, undercutting both ČD and RegioJet. To Kraków it was CZK 390, while ČD charged CZK 490 on its Sparschiene fare. The ratio between the lowest Economy and the most expensive Premium on the capital, Ostrava run was approximately 1:3.5.

Cross Border Routes and What to Book for Each

ČD runs cross-border services you cannot book on RegioJet or Leo Express. For Berlin, take the ČD EuroCity from Praha hlavní nádraží. Journey time is 4 hours 20 minutes. The lowest fare in 2025 was CZK 490 on Sparpreis Europa. For Vienna, both ČD and RegioJet compete. ČD uses the Railjet with a 4-hour journey. RegioJet also takes 4 hours. For Bratislava, both operators run services, both at 4 hours.

For Kraków, ČD runs a EuroCity at 6 hours 30 minutes. Leo Express covers the same city in 6 hours at a lower fare. Check both before booking. The two operators use separate apps and do not cross-sell each other's tickets.