Silva Nortica fast train from Prague to Vienna to run twice daily
The travel time will be reduced from 5 hours and 10 minutes to about 4 hours and 30 minutes.
The Silva Nortica fast train, which was introduced last December and connects Prague with Vienna via České Velenice and Gmünd, will have a higher frequency. While it currently runs once a day in each direction and twice on weekends, it will run twice a day throughout the week starting this December.
Austria’s Minister for Climate Protection (and Transport) Leonore Gewessler made the announcement after a meeting with Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka. České dráhy has also confirmed preparations for the extension. Last year, when the train was introduced, an increase in frequency was considered, but not until 2025.
The journey time will be reduced from 5 hours and 10 minutes to around 4 hours and 30 minutes. Austria is planning to improve the Franz Josef Line in several places, while the Czech side is planning to electrify the section from Veselí nad Lužnicí to České Velenice.
The Silva Nortica leaves Vienna on weekdays at 9:00 a.m. and arrives in Prague at 2:12 p.m. It leaves Prague on weekdays at 5:46 p.m. and arrives in Vienna at 10:54 p.m. On weekends there is an additional service from Vienna at 3:00 p.m. and from Prague at 7:46 a.m.; this will be extended to weekdays in December.
Edited and translated by Lucie Trávníčková