Nuremberg to Prague

[Ringo2112]

I know this may seem like a stupid question, but has DB ( even with an ICE train considered service direct from Nuremberg to Prague? I get it, it would still be a slow go between the two cities but I found the Czech service awful. First I transferred at Schwandorf in Germany, then caught the train to Prague. No cafe or bar car, and the trolley service only started once we got in to Czech Republic. The train was packed in second class, so that meant no service out of Munich for them( I assume). Then, I'm traveling on a Eurail first class pass and I had to sit in those ridiculous 6 seat couchettes. The man in Seat 61 did a video a few years back of a cafe car. Those days seem long gone on this route.The video showed a restaurant car and draft beer. Also if DB did a direct route from Nuremberg, they could get passengers from places like Stuttgart and Frankfurt, places due west of Nuremberg. I go back tomorrow and am seriously considering going up to Dresden from Prague, then over to Nuremberg. It may take a bit longer but I'll be riding somewhat more in comfort. Who knows, those 6 berth first class couchettes may be full and that would be worse then riding coach in an airplane. ( on the route back to Schwandorf), Thanks, by the way I'm traveling on a Eurail Global first class pass.

 

[43096]

I know this may seem like a stupid question, but has DB ( even with an ICE train considered service direct from Nuremberg to Prague? I get it, it would still be a slow go between the two cities but I found the Czech service awful. First I transferred at Schwandorf in Germany, then caught the train to Prague. No cafe or bar car, and the trolley service only started once we got in to Czech Republic. The train was packed in second class, so that meant no service out of Munich for them( I assume). Then, I'm traveling on a Eurail first class pass and I had to sit in those ridiculous 6 seat couchettes. The man in Seat 61 did a video a few years back of a cafe car. Those days seem long gone on this route.The video showed a restaurant car and draft beer. Also if DB did a direct route from Nuremberg, they could get passengers from places like Stuggart and Frankfurt, places due west of Nuremberg. I go back tomorrow and am seriously considering going up to Dresden from Prague, then over to Nuremberg. It may take a bit longer but I'll be riding somewhat more in comfort. Who knows, those 6 berth first class couchettes may be full and that would be worse then riding coach in an airplane. ( on the route back to Schwandorf), Thanks

Assuming you are wanting the train to run Nürnberg - Regensburg - Schwandorf - Plzen - Praha, how are you getting the ICE between Regensburg and Plzen considering the lack of overhead wires?

 

[The exile]

Sure it used to be a thing

 

[StephenHunter]

There was a through Paris-Praha CIWL coach in 1970.

The main issue for through services is the fact that all five of the lines across from Bavaria to Czechia are single-track and non-electrified.

 

[Ringo2112]

Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Aug 2024 ==

Prague seems like it isn't one of the best places to get to from other countries via rail. I think Railjet from Vienna even takes a bit of a roundabout way of getting there. I guess coming from Dresden or Berlin is best.

 

[The exile]

There was a through Paris-Praha CIWL coach in 1970.

The main issue for through services is the fact that all five of the lines across from Bavaria to Czechia are single-track and non-electrified.

Not that that (one or the other or both) has stopped various other IC services in the south.
Just checked records and in the “noughties” trains definitely ran Prague - Nuremberg (though as Rychlik/Regional Express rather than IC.

 

[Ringo2112]

When I first started my Eurail adventures in 2015, I took a train from Prague to Innsbruck. It seemed like the " turtle express" Prague to Linz, where I changed trains.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

You could try going via Cheb (CZ) and Marktredwitz (DE).

IC Prague to Cheb (via Pilsen), local train Cheb to Marktredwitz and Regional Marktredwitz to Nürnberg.

This was the tradional route for expresses back in the day - Cheb has a rather creepy Cold War era border station!

 

[30907]

When I first started my Eurail adventures in 2015, I took a train from Prague to Innsbruck. It seemed like the " turtle express" Prague to Linz, where I changed trains.

There is a modern version, which even has a Bistro car now, but it only runs every 4hr.

First I transferred at Schwandorf in Germany, then caught the train to Prague. No cafe or bar car, and the trolley service only started once we got in to Czech Republic. The train was packed in second class, so that meant no service out of Munich for them( I assume). Then, I'm traveling on a Eurail first class pass and I had to sit in those ridiculous 6 seat couchettes.

Unfortunately, the Munich-Prague service isn't an InterCity but a franchised Regional train on the German side, and uses ex-Italian stock.
I didn't know it was ex-couchettes, though - looking on Vagonweb which is my go-to for Central Europe they should be normal compartment coaches, though it rather looks as though there's not much legroom in 1st! check stock is better....
https://www.vagonweb.cz/razeni/vlak.php?zeme=ČD&kategorie=EC&cislo=356&nazev=&rok=2024

 

[Ringo2112]

You could try going via Cheb (CZ) and Marktredwitz (DE).

IC Prague to Cheb (via Pilsen), local train Cheb to Marktredwitz and Regional Marktredwitz to Nürnberg.

This was the tradional route for expresses back in the day - Cheb has a rather creepy Cold War era border station!

Thanks, that could be an option. I'm just going to sleep on it and decide what to do when I wake up. I just find it a miserable ride on that route to Schwandorf. Prague has heavy tourism now, they could make it even better if they had faster ways to get there from major cities, especially from the west.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Aug 2024 ==

Assuming you are wanting the train to run Nürnberg - Regensburg - Schwandorf - Plzen - Praha, how are you getting the ICE between Regensburg and Plzen considering the lack of overhead wires?

Yea, someone brought that up. I didn't realize that.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Aug 2024 ==

You could try going via Cheb (CZ) and Marktredwitz (DE).

IC Prague to Cheb (via Pilsen), local train Cheb to Marktredwitz and Regional Marktredwitz to Nürnberg.

This was the tradional route for expresses back in the day - Cheb has a rather creepy Cold War era border station!

Yea, I believe Cheb has a creepy station. I did a day trip once from Nuremberg to Hof and I couldn't get out of Hof fast enough!

 

[The exile]

Prague has heavy tourism now, they could make it even better if they had faster ways to get there from major cities, especially from the west.

I suspect Prague doesn’t need or even want to increase its tourist numbers.

 

[Ringo2112]

Who was the genius who thought of making those 6 person couchette compartments first class? If you have six people riding in there, that's almost as bad as flying coach on a commercial airplane. To me, first class is 2 × 1 seating, or at the very least 2 x 2

 

[Alfonso]

You could try going via Cheb (CZ) and Marktredwitz (DE).

IC Prague to Cheb (via Pilsen), local train Cheb to Marktredwitz and Regional Marktredwitz to Nürnberg.

This was the tradional route for expresses back in the day - Cheb has a rather creepy Cold War era border station!

Is something strange going on at the moment? Normally there are through DB services from Cheb to Nuremburg on the slightly odd tilting dmus. Only 2+2 seating in first though.

 

[Ringo2112]

I don't know, anyway you slice it, it sure takes a long time to go from Nuremberg to Prague for 185 miles as the crow flies.

 

[30907]

Thanks, that could be an option. I'm just going to sleep on it and decide what to do when I wake up. I just find it a miserable ride on that route to Schwandorf. Prague has heavy tourism now, they could make it even better if they had faster ways to get there from major cities, especially from the west.

There has been talk of a fast route from Munich for some years (as well as the one from Dresden which seems to be getting somewhere). Czechia is more interested in speeding up its internal routes.
Meanwhile, geography means that the main route will always be Berlin-Dresden-Prague-Vienna/Budapest.
Moral: if you want high speed, don't go too far East

Who was the genius who thought of making those 6 person couchette compartments first class? If you have six people riding in there, that's almost as bad as flying coach on a commercial airplane. To me, first class is 2 × 1 seating, or at the very least 2 x 2

This is Europe. First Class has been 3 across (compartment or open) since time immemorial - 2-across is very rare and costs more.

Not sure what's creepy about Cheb BTW.

 

[Ringo2112]

Yea, it's too late now, but CZ and DB should have put their heads together a long time ago on how to improve faster service from Nuremberg and probably Munich even more so.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Aug 2024 ==

There has been talk of a fast route from Munich for some years (as well as the one from Dresden which seems to be getting somewhere). Czechia is more interested in speeding up its internal routes.
Meanwhile, geography means that the main route will always be Berlin-Dresden-Prague-Vienna/Budapest.
Moral: if you want high speed, don't go too far East

This is Europe. First Class has been 3 across (compartment or open) since time immemorial - 2-across is very rare and costs more.

Not sure what's creepy about Cheb BTW.

Are they still making the 3 across compartments? I don't see them on any Railjets, ICE's, or Swiss trains. ( or all the newer trains) Do they just have them and are phasing them out eventually? Times do change.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Aug 2024 ==

Hey, that should be that guy's next trivia question. What is the slowest train between two metropolitan areas over 2 million people in Europe under 200 miles between them. The winner may be Nuremberg to Prague clocking in at 185 miles as the crow flies. ( I'm taking track miles out)

 

[StephenHunter]

I don't know, anyway you slice it, it sure takes a long time to go from Nuremberg to Prague for 185 miles as the crow flies.

In the old days, the Pohraniční Stráž wouldn't mind crow for dinner, so to speak - there was little incentive to do anything beyond the bare minimum connections. The rail connections to the former GDR are a lot better.

Also, you've got two different electrification systems and signalling systems. Fix that gap or get a bi-mode and the potential improves a lot.

 

[43096]

In the old days, the Pohraniční Stráž wouldn't mind crow for dinner, so to speak - there was little incentive to do anything beyond the bare minimum connections. The rail connections to the former GDR are a lot better.

Also, you've got two different electrification systems and signalling systems. Fix that gap or get a bi-mode and the potential improves a lot.

Given how busy the trains are already, maybe there's not much to fix?

It's also a wonderful throwback to the days of olde, with four locos used to get between Munich and Prague.

 

[Ringo2112]

Flixbus is running about 27 buses daily between Nuremberg and Prague. Some in 3.5 hours. They must be making a killing on this route. I bet it's one of their more popular ones. Someone looks at the times and asks " why take a train for 5 hours when I can take a bus for 3.5 hours?" Plus Flixbux has good air conditioning. When I walked through the second class on the train from Schwandorf to Prague, it was a "sweat box"

 

[30907]

Yea, it's too late now, but CZ and DB should have put their heads together a long time ago on how to improve faster service from Nuremberg and probably Munich even more so.

Munich is far more important (1.5m vs 0.6m)!

Are they still making the 3 across compartments? I don't see them on any Railjets, ICE's, or Swiss trains. ( or all the newer trains) Do they just have them and are phasing them out eventually? Times do change.

Compartment stock was de rigeur for international trains into the 80s, and the first generation ICEs still had some (at least in 1st). There was considerable resistance to switching to open stock in 1st - which was done to save money rather than because of public demand.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Aug 2024 ==

Prague seems like it isn't one of the best places to get to from other countries via rail. I think Railjet from Vienna even takes a bit of a roundabout way of getting there. I guess coming from Dresden or Berlin is best.

I remember the Prague-Austria route (via Linz) as being fairly efficient; I've done it by night and day. There might be another more direct route but slower route to Vienna which is the one you mention?

 

[The exile]

I remember the Prague-Austria route (via Linz) as being fairly efficient; I've done it by night and day. There might be another more direct route but slower route to Vienna which is the one you mention?

The normal route from Vienna is via Breclav and Brno.

 

[Golghar]

In the cold-war days The "normal" route from Prague to Vienna went via Gmünd NÖ. It terminated at Franz-Josef station. There used to be a daily train from Berlin-Lichtenberg to Vienna on that route.

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

There used to be an Intercity coach (IC Bus) operated by DB on that very route Nuremberg to Prague. It was their first route in 2009, and also among the last to be withdrawn in 2020.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

In the cold-war days The "normal" route from Prague to Vienna went via Gmünd NÖ. It terminated at Franz-Josef station. There used to be a daily train from Berlin-Lichtenberg to Vienna on that route.

There are now two through Prague-Vienna services ("Silva Nortica") via the FJB route.
However they are over an hour slower than the more frequent services via Brno, and are essentially regional trains (R/REX) with 22 stops.
The FJB route is the shorter route by 50km or so, but the electrified AT/CZ networks are not linked and the route has extensive single track sections.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Is something strange going on at the moment? Normally there are through DB services from Cheb to Nuremburg on the slightly odd tilting dmus. Only 2+2 seating in first though.

Was going to ask the same thing- made the trip that way in 2017 and it was fun, if a bit on the slow side. Of the entire journey from Huddersfield to Prague, only the Huddersfield to Leeds and Nuremburg to Cheb legs were unelectrified.
Have DB changed the method of working in that area? Back when I did it the service departed Nuremburg as a 6-car formation (3x BR612 sets) which split at two points en-route with only one set going over the border to Cheb.

 

[dutchflyer]

Yes, that latter method still holds. And IF they can manage to be on time, the connection in Cheb is quite good planned.
As several above quoted, in days of communism etc via Cheb was THE main from the west route into Czech+Slovak and to/do Prahy. With the strict severe entry controls during the stop-and turn back in Cheb. My very 1st visit to there was on the overnight train stopping there for that very early hours-and then filled up to my surprise with locals (the classic Bundesbahn 6 seats non-AC comprmt. D-zug cars in blue+cream.
The routing more south on ALex viaRegensburg has a really awful record-even worse as DB/Germany in general, for ontime and overcrowding.
DB runs, together with CD, a 2-hourly IC to/do Prahy from Berlin and apparently considers this as enough. From many places in western Germany going this way will also be the best/fastest routing.
About all FLIX timings as mentioned will be part of longer routes-plus that I think many are in effect the same link, but with different stopping points.

 

[Whisky Papa]

There used to be an Intercity coach (IC Bus) operated by DB on that very route Nuremberg to Prague. It was their first route in 2009, and also among the last to be withdrawn in 2020.

My son and his now wife visited Nuremberg using the DB coach when they lived in Prague around a decade ago - I was slightly surprised to see it no longer runs when I just checked.

 

[Ringo2112]

Made it back to Nuremberg today from Prague. Same old story, had a couchette first class last car of train ( i shared it with 3 other people). In Pilzen they took off that first class car (from back of train) and made everyone go to a first class couchette in front of train which of course was packed because of it. I couldn't get a seat with my Eurail first class pass. I sat on floor until Domazlice where a lot of people got off for a music festival. Found a first class couchette then with 3 people in it. Nobody ever came around with the refreshment trolly and nobody checked if i had a ticket either the entire trip
. Only good part of trip is I got a driver's view of the ride from Schwandorf to Nuremberg. Almost like being in the cab with driver. I sat in first class right behind him.

 

[30907]

Made it back to Nuremberg today from Prague. Same old story, had a couchette first class last car of train ( i shared it with 3 other people). In Pilzen they took off that first class car (from back of train) and made everyone go to a first class couchette in front of train which of course was packed because of it.

CZ is one of several countries where they routinely attach and detach coaches, so this is not surprising.
Incidentally, the alternative route to Dresden also has very little first class in proportion to 2nd - CD doesn't seem keen on 1st generally, compared with DB.