Czech Railways Expands Baltic Express Couchette 50 Seats Prague-Gdynia

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – Czech Railways (ČD) is expanding its international Baltic Express service by introducing a couchette car on its Prague–Gdynia night trains from June 26 to August 31, 2026. The seasonal addition to trains EC 460 and EC 461 will supplement the existing year-round sleeper car, adding nearly 50 seats per journey. The expansion is a direct response to rising passenger demand for travel to Poland’s popular Tri-City coastal region.

What Is the Full Scope of This Project?

The project involves the seasonal deployment of an additional couchette car on the international Ex32 Baltic Express line, specifically for the overnight connection between Prague and Gdynia. This car will feature four- and six-person compartments, with an option for passengers to book a private compartment for one to three people, offering an alternative to the higher-priced sleeper car. The service standard is modeled on ČD’s Prague-Przemyśl route, including pre-made beds and a complimentary light breakfast, with onboard services managed by JLV stewards.

Key Project Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Projects?

This capacity enhancement follows a proven model for ČD, which has successfully deployed similar sleeper and couchette services on night routes to Warsaw, Kraków, and most recently Przemyśl. While the operator has not disclosed the capital cost for this specific seasonal deployment, the strategy of adding rolling stock to meet peak demand is a common, low-risk approach to service expansion. Interestingly, this rail service update was not reflected in some recent aviation-centric network monitoring reports, which focused on airline route changes and did not capture the rail expansion. (Source: Aviation Week, April 2026). This highlights a potential data lag or scope limitation in cross-modal transport intelligence platforms.

Editor’s Analysis

Czech Railways’ addition of a more affordable couchette option is a tactical response to the resurgence of leisure-focused night train travel, particularly on routes connecting Central Europe with coastal destinations. This move aligns with a broader market trend of investment in sustainable transport infrastructure, which has seen a notable shift in investor strategy towards high-demand sectors like clean energy and public transport. (Source: Pitchbook). Rather than a major infrastructure investment, this is an asset optimization strategy, demonstrating how operators can flexibly scale services to capture seasonal demand without significant upfront capital expenditure.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between the new couchette car and the existing sleeper car?
A: The new couchette car offers a more affordable option with four- or six-person shared compartments. The existing sleeper car provides a higher level of comfort and privacy, typically with one- to three-person compartments and often including private washing facilities.

Q: How long is the journey and what are the key stops?
A: The journey from Prague to Gdańsk takes approximately 8.5 hours. Key stops in the Czech Republic include Kolín, Pardubice, and Ústí nad Orlicí before the train continues through Poland to the Tri-City area.

Q: Is this expansion permanent or only for the summer?
A: The addition of the couchette car is a seasonal service planned specifically for the peak summer travel period from June 26 to August 31, 2026. The existing sleeper car on the route operates year-round.