Vienna–Prague–Berlin train likely canceled due to work on the line
Further restrictions on the Vienna–Prague–Berlin route will begin in April, with trains running 20 minutes longer on the diverted route.
The connection between Berlin and Vienna via Prague, relaunched in June 2020, may end this year. Currently, neither Deutsche Bahn nor ÖBB lists the trains in their booking systems for the new timetable. České dráhy, the operator on the longest section of the route, has not yet decided, however.
Some German media have pointed out the end of the connection and the founder of the train travel website Seat61 Mark Smith has also drawn attention to the news. In the latest version of the draft Czech timetable on the railway infrastructure manager Správa železnic website, the connection is still available.
The Berlin-Vienna railjet 'Vindobona' is discontinued from 11 December, leaving ICE 'Berolina' as the direct day train Berlin-Vienna. It leaves a big hole in the Berlin>Prague timetable, first train south now not until 09:16 (really??). Last train Prague>Berlin 16:25 – too early! pic.twitter.com/CmtyQunYYH
— The Man in Seat 61 (@seatsixtyone) October 27, 2022
České dráhy is ready to introduce the direct railjet connection Graz–Wien–Brno–Prague–Dresden–Berlin. According to the carrier’s spokesman Petr Šťáhlavský, there is a capacity problem on the side of DB Netz. Traffic is severely restricted at the Elbe valley crossing at Bad Schandau, where the line is being repaired. “The German railway infrastructure manager will decide on the allocation or non-allocation of capacity in November,” said Šťáhlavský. However, Robert Ohler of DB remarked, “DB Netz must pay attention to the right traffic mix and freight traffic must not be affected too much.”
If the Vindobona gets canceled with the new timetable, the first service from Berlin will be the EC 171 Berliner at 7:16 a.m. DB does not list this train in the booking system either; the first train from Berlin to Prague for the new timetable is currently scheduled at 9:16 a.m. Before that, there is the EC 459 Canopus from Germany, i.e. the night train from Zurich (Leipzig 5:45 a.m. – Dresden 7:08 a.m.).
The Berliner Zeitung pointed out that the connection from Berlin to Dresden is facing even more cuts from April 22. Due to the reconstruction of the line south of Berlin, the number of trains will be further reduced, according to DB Netz. Long-distance trains will be diverted via Falkenberg and journey times will be extended by 20 minutes.
Edited and translated by Lucie Trávníčková