Record temperatures approaching 40 °C are not only closing forest trails and triggering fire bans around Prague; they are also disrupting heritage rail tourism across South Bohemia. Czech Railways (ČD) announced on 26 June that all scheduled steam-hauled services on the Veselí n. L.–Jihlava, Horní Cerekev–Tábor and Tábor–Chotoviny lines are cancelled for 27–28 June due to the “extreme risk of track-side fires”. Passengers may refund tickets online, the operator said.
![Heatwave forces Czech Railways to cancel weekend steam trains and adjust tourist services]()
For international travellers suddenly rearranging their plans, dealing with paperwork can add to the headache. VisaHQ simplifies the visa process for Czech Republic and the wider Schengen area, offering step-by-step online assistance so visitors can secure the right documents and focus on rebooking tours or finding alternative attractions. Check out their Czech Republic page at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/ for details.
Private carrier Railway Capital likewise pulled its chartered steam specials, while the Jindřichohradec narrow-gauge line cut back its festival programme, sending a firefighting drezina behind the one service that will run to Nová Bystřice. Organisers hope to reschedule the popular ‘Bohemian Summer of Steam’ events once temperatures subside. Although the cancellations primarily hit leisure travellers, the episode underscores a growing climate-related operational risk for Czech transport providers. ČD engineers confirmed that conventional diesel and electric services remain unaffected but are under speed surveillance where rail temperatures exceed 50 °C. Tour operators bringing foreign visitors to South Bohemia have scrambled to replace steam excursions with brewery tours and castle visits. Mobility managers arranging incentive trips should build flexible itineraries and monitor ČD’s live disruption feed during the ongoing heatwave, which meteorologists warn could last well into July. Industry analysts note that similar heat-induced steam bans became routine in Austria and Germany after the catastrophic Waldbrände of 2023; Czechia is now following suit by integrating temperature thresholds into heritage-train safety protocols.
For international travellers suddenly rearranging their plans, dealing with paperwork can add to the headache. VisaHQ simplifies the visa process for Czech Republic and the wider Schengen area, offering step-by-step online assistance so visitors can secure the right documents and focus on rebooking tours or finding alternative attractions. Check out their Czech Republic page at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/ for details.
Private carrier Railway Capital likewise pulled its chartered steam specials, while the Jindřichohradec narrow-gauge line cut back its festival programme, sending a firefighting drezina behind the one service that will run to Nová Bystřice. Organisers hope to reschedule the popular ‘Bohemian Summer of Steam’ events once temperatures subside. Although the cancellations primarily hit leisure travellers, the episode underscores a growing climate-related operational risk for Czech transport providers. ČD engineers confirmed that conventional diesel and electric services remain unaffected but are under speed surveillance where rail temperatures exceed 50 °C. Tour operators bringing foreign visitors to South Bohemia have scrambled to replace steam excursions with brewery tours and castle visits. Mobility managers arranging incentive trips should build flexible itineraries and monitor ČD’s live disruption feed during the ongoing heatwave, which meteorologists warn could last well into July. Industry analysts note that similar heat-induced steam bans became routine in Austria and Germany after the catastrophic Waldbrände of 2023; Czechia is now following suit by integrating temperature thresholds into heritage-train safety protocols.
