New Prague–Copenhagen direct train launches, but four-week summer diversion already announced

International rail connectivity for Czech travellers received a major boost this weekend with the inauguration of a fully-direct Prague–Berlin–Copenhagen day train. Operated jointly by České dráhy (ČD), Deutsche Bahn and Danish State Railways, the service is the flagship route in the EU’s pilot programme to revive long-distance cross-border rail. The north-bound train leaves Prague’s hlavní nádraží each morning, arriving in the Danish capital after roughly 11 hours 45 minutes.



For travellers who discover that crossing multiple borders by rail may still require visas or electronic travel authorisations, VisaHQ can help simplify the red tape. Czech passport holders and foreign residents alike can check entry requirements, apply online and track their paperwork in one place via https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/ ensuring everything is sorted well before they step aboard.

The south-bound service returns in the afternoon, giving business passengers a full working day in Copenhagen and offering leisure travellers a comfortable alternative to short-haul flights. Modern ComfortJet rolling-stock provides onboard Wi-Fi, power sockets, a full restaurant car and 20 bike spaces—features ČD hopes will attract high-spending tourists and corporate clients alike. Speaking at Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony in Berlin, EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas hailed the connection as “proof that European cooperation delivers concrete mobility benefits.” Czech Railways CEO Michal Krapinec stressed the commercial upside: direct access to the Scandinavian market for Czech exporters and a new feeder route for Prague Airport code-share flights. Yet passengers have barely had time to enjoy the non-stop ride before being warned of disruption. Infrastructure works around Hamburg will force a detour and mandatory train change between 18 July and 15 August, extending journey times by up to 90 minutes and complicating bicycle carriage. Danish maintenance on the Storstrøm bridge will also trigger occasional replacement buses. Rail operators are advising travellers with tight business schedules to factor in extra time or consider overnight hotel stops in Berlin. Practical implications: companies arranging summer assignments or group meetings in Denmark should book seat reservations early—there are only two daily return trains and bike places sell out quickly. For mobility managers, the service offers a lower-carbon alternative to regional flights and may count toward CSR targets, but contingency plans are vital during the July/August engineering blockade.