Polish ED250 Pendolino in Czech Republic: ČD Prague–Bohumín runs

Polish ED250 Pendolino in Czech Republic service is set to begin on České dráhy (ČD) domestic trains. It will give passengers a first chance to ride the Polish high-speed unit on Czech tracks.

Meanwhile, between March 9 and June 17, 2026, ČD and PKP Intercity plan to operate the train on SuperCity SC 511/516 on the Prague–Bohumín route. The plan was reported by Railway Pro.

Polish ED250 Pendolino in Czech Republic: passenger operation and timeline

This will be the first time that a Polish Pendolino will run in regular commercial operation outside Poland. The deployment is linked to the authorization process for operation in the Czech Republic. After technical tests carried out in October 2025, the ED250 unit is expected to cover around 60,000 km on Czech infrastructure with passengers, as noted in a České dráhy statement.

At the same time, the service is being handled as a domestic SuperCity operation. Trains will run over the Bohumín – Ostrava – Olomouc – Pardubice – Prague route. Commercial conditions are to mirror standard SuperCity rules, including mandatory reservations between Bohumín and Prague.

Prague–Bohumín route on SuperCity SC 511/516

On this corridor, the Polish unit will appear on SuperCity SC 511/516, linking Prague with Bohumín through key cities such as Ostrava, Olomouc, and Pardubice. The plan is presented as a joint step by České dráhy (ČD) and PKP Intercity. The Polish ED250 Pendolino will operate within the established SuperCity framework.

In addition, the run is designed to generate operational mileage in regular service conditions. It will remain aligned with the same reservation and passenger-access rules used on the Prague–Bohumín route, as also described by Railvolution.

ED250 Pendolino technical characteristics and onboard features

The ED250 series Pendolino, manufactured by Alstom, is part of the PKP Intercity fleet purchased between 2011 and 2014. The trains are fitted with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a modern passenger information system, and access for people with reduced mobility. A bistro car is included, operated by the Polish company WARS.

Key figures listed for the trainset include a maximum design speed of 250 km/h and a maximum operating speed in Poland of 200 km/h. In the Czech Republic, the authorized speed is 160 km/h. The unit has seven carriages, measures 187.4 meters in length, and provides 402 seats. It is equipped with ETCS and is compatible with 25 kV AC and 3 kV DC power systems.

Separately, the operators also framed the move as part of wider regional cooperation. ČD CEO Michal Krapinec said that the introduction of the ED250 unit represents a further step in strengthening cooperation between the two national railway companies. Adam Wawrzyniak, member of the board of PKP Intercity, emphasized that Pendolino has become a symbol of modern rail transport in Poland over the last decade.