Korid is celebrating its 20th anniversary! Today's topic: How train schedules are prepared.

We’re continuing to shed light on the process of preparing timetables. This time, we’ll focus on rail transport.

Unlike the preparation of bus schedules, the process is more complex and involves a larger number of entities. First, it is important to emphasize that access to the railway infrastructure is not free and unrestricted. Capacity is allocated by Správa železnic, s.o. (for state-owned lines), which must give particular consideration to safe and smooth operations. Although the main changes here also take place in December, the timetable is prepared approximately three-quarters of a year in advance. Discussions on the draft timetable between the Railway Administration and the contracting entities take place during the summer. We have published the draft timetables here.

And the deadline for submitting comments is fast approaching!

The task of the Railway Administration’s planners is to coordinate all the needs of both passenger and freight transport. In the Liberec Region, passenger transport is commissioned by the state (express trains) and the Liberec Region (local and rapid trains), whose interests are represented by KORID LK engineers. Compiling the timetable is influenced by many factors: infrastructure capabilities (speed, condition, safety systems, capacity), carriers’ rolling stock, and prioritization. Our main task is to coordinate schedules with long-distance service and neighboring regions and, where possible—if objective circumstances allow—to optimize the times and scope of service to meet the needs of you, the passengers.

We recognize that the railway in the Liberec Region has many areas for improvement. This primarily requires infrastructure upgrades. However, we are achieving partial successes and improvements, such as:

• the modernization of the Liberec–Tanvald line in 2015 and the gradual improvement of the Liberec–Frýdlant line, which made it possible to introduce a regular 30-minute interval during peak hours
• gradual repairs to the line from Liberec to Pardubice, with the goal of shortening travel times for both express and local trains. At present, there is still a 4-minute gap between Turnov and Dvůr Králové needed for express and local trains to travel 25 and 45 minutes faster, respectively, on this line. The introduction of a new timetable on this line is contingent on track improvements and more powerful railcars for express trains, and is planned for after 2029
• the reconstruction of the Liberec–Hrádek nad Nisou–Zittau line, where a new timetable is ready that will shorten the journey between Liberec and Varnsdorf by ten minutes and will now include connections to trains heading in other directions in Zittau

At the same time, there are many projects awaiting implementation. Whether it’s the Liberec–Prague line, the Liberec–Česká Lípa line, or the electrification of lines in the Liberec Region…

Did you know that:

• The Liberec Region orders approximately 4.7 million km of rail transport? All trains ordered by the Liberec Region (with the exception of nostalgic rides) are wheelchair-accessible and partially low-floor. (Unfortunately, this does not apply to express trains, which are commissioned by the state.)
• Compensation for rail transport amounted to approximately 650 mil. Kč in 2024 (out of a total of 1.2 mld. Kč)
• The Liberec Region also organizes themed/historical rides: in the Bohemian Paradise, on the Zubačka Railway, and on the Pojizerský Pacifik line. Most of these rides take place during the summer season, so be sure not to miss them. Find out when and where you can go here