New Direct Train to Connect Prague with Copenhagen
A new direct daytime train will link the Czech capital, Prague, with Copenhagen in Denmark, and while this is great news for rail travellers, there are some overlooked downsides as well.
About the new Prague-Copenhagen train
The new train from Prague to Copenhagen is expected to launch on 1st May 2026, from when it will run daily between Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, and the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
The Prague–Copenhagen train will be routed via Dresden, Berlin Hbf, and Hamburg, and will also offer a great new way for German passengers to reach Denmark.
Although exact departure and arrival times have not yet been confirmed, the new train will take 11 hours to complete the full route between Prague and Copenhagen, and just 7 hours between Berlin and Copenhagen, according to a Deutsche Bahn press release.
A train is set to depart from Hamburg Hbf to Copenhagen. ©AndyBTravels
ComfortJet train
The new Prague-Copenhagen train connection will be operated by České dráhy (ČD), the Czech Railways.
České dráhy will operate the service to Copenhagen using brand new ComfortJet carriages, which can reach a top speed of 230 kilometres per hour (143 mph) and offer 555 seats, including 99 in first class.
With adjustable seats, Wi-Fi, power sockets and USB charging ports at every seat, the train offers a range of modern amenities.
The ComfortJet also has space for up to 12 bicycles on board and is wheelchair accessible, thanks to an on-board lift that allows passengers to board and disembark the train.
Although the ComfortJet train will include a dining car, many avid rail travellers may be disappointed to find it is a modern bistro car serving oven-heated meals, rather than the much-loved traditional Czech restaurant carriage with meals freshly prepared by a chef.
These traditional dining cars can still be found on many EuroCity services between Prague and Berlin at present, but will be phased out in the coming months as České dráhy replaces all rolling stock on this route with ComfortJet carriages.
Night train
In the summer season, there will also be an additional overnight train service running between Prague and Copenhagen, providing a second daily connection between the two European capitals.
However, this overnight service will also use ComfortJet coaches with standard first and second class seats and will not include any dedicated sleeper or couchette coaches, making it unsuitable for those wanting to travel the long journey between Copenhagen and Prague.
A Czech train at the main station of Prague. ©AndyBTravels
Drawbacks
Of course, the new train is great news, especially for people with mobility issues, those travelling with children, and nervous travellers who dislike changing trains at busy stations, as many will be drawn to the hassle-free nature of a direct connection.
However, there is another potential drawback to the new Prague–Copenhagen train service that has largely gone unnoticed.
This new train will be part of what the Germans call the “Taktfahrplan”, a clock-face schedule under which train services run at consistent intervals.
Yet over such a long distance, there are many potential points of failure where the Copenhagen–Prague train can accumulate significant delays, thereby disrupting the Taktfahrplan.
Given how prone long-distance trains in Germany are to delays nowadays, and with semi-permanent border checks by the police despite all countries along the route being part of the Schengen Zone, I wouldn’t be surprised if this train significantly disrupts the Taktfahrplan on a bad day.
Of course, this could cause further problems along the route, with the delay of a single service having a snowball effect on operations across northern Germany and causing delays of other trains as well.
AndyB says: “It would be better if this new train were added on top of the regular clock-face schedule to ensure the Taktfahrplan remains resilient.
“This would also help increase capacity by introducing an extra train, rather than simply extending an existing service to Copenhagen.”
