Tax for competition Prague – Ostrava: České dráhy cancels Hukvaldy express trains
České dráhy decided to cancel the express trains 640/641 Hukvaldy, which connect Olomouc and Bohumín in the morning and in the opposite direction in the evening. The first direct train from Olomouc to Ostrava will not leave until 8 o’clock in the morning. In the opposite direction, on the other hand, the last directly at 21:10.
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Illustrative photo. Ostrava Svinov railway station.
| Photo: Deník/Lukáš Kaboň
The adjustment of the timetable will thus worsen the train connection outside the peak on the route between Olomouc and Ostrava. The first direct train from Olomouc to Ostrava will leave at 8 o’clock.
The Zdopravy.cz server drew attention to the change with reference to the final version of the timetable, which will come into force on Sunday. “Line Ex 1 in the Prague – Ostrava section is operated at ČD’s commercial risk, and we adapt the scope of transport to the development of demand and the related impacts on the economy of this line, just like other carriers,” the server quoted Czech Railways spokesman Petr Šťáhlavský as saying.
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In other words, the trains are underutilized at these peak times. This is also shown by the order of the train. Currently, the locomotive runs with only two cars. This express train went to Prague on Sunday, and back on Monday.
While most long-distance lines are ordered by the ministry from the carriers and thus determine the timetable, the line Ex 1 Prague – Ostrava is beyond its control. After RegioJet entered this route ten years ago, the public service obligation was cancelled. Here, transporters set up connections as it is profitable for them or according to their vehicle circulation.
Sooner or later only with a transfer
While competition and liberalization brought an expansion of the offer and a reduction in prices, the removal from the order also brought a negative in the form of cutting connections in the so-called traffic saddle, when few people travel. In the past, this meant the cancellation of the Beskyd express train, which left Prague already before five o’clock in the morning. It is therefore impossible to get from Prague to Ostrava so that the passenger is in the third largest city before 9 am.
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In the case of the Ostrava – Olomouc connection, the last train still leaves at 22:53 (Leo Express), but it will also postpone its departure and the last train will leave at 21:10. The first RegioJet train will leave Olomouc directly at 8 a.m. Before that, it will be possible to get to Ostrava with a transfer in Přerov.
In the past, there was talk of the ministry ordering trains from carriers at off-peak times. The ministry has not commented on the issue in two weeks.
