Czech Railways, the country’s largest transportation provider, has witnessed a modest decline in train delays this year. From the beginning of the year until mid-June, the percentage of delayed trains stood at 10.8%, a two-point decrease compared to the same period last year. Despite the improvement, Czech Railways remains committed to further enhancing on-time performance.

According to Emanuel Vittek, spokesperson for České dráhy (Czech Railways), if delays caused solely by the company were considered, an impressive 98.9% of trains would arrive on time. Among the most common causes of delays are train crossings or overtaking (27.1%), waiting for connections (23.1%), and planned closures of railway tracks (13.8%).

Jan Nevola from the Czech Railways General Directorate highlights significant improvements compared to the previous year when examining delays caused by reasons within the Railway Administration’s control. The figures indicate a 43.89% improvement for long-distance trains, 19.36% for regional trains, and 55.83% for freight trains. Other factors contributing to train delays include accidents, police interventions, or changes in train compositions.

In an effort to prioritize punctuality, Czech Railways and the Railway Administration have introduced a new criterion for rewarding top managers, including the CEO and deputies. This parameter will affect their annual bonuses by 15%.

Train punctuality will be monitored until December 31st of this year. In January or February, the Railway Administration Board will determine whether the set indicator has been met, according to Nevola.

The supervisory board will review the results and decisions regarding rewards for Czech Railways, taking into account various parameters such as reducing the number of rejected trains due to defects.

RegioJet, the largest private railway operator, has not provided specific data regarding the rate of delays. Common causes of delays include construction activities or extraordinary events beyond the company’s control, such as storms that may damage security equipment, overhead lines, or render tracks impassable, according to Alexandra Janoušek Kostřicová, a spokesperson for the company.

Arriva, another private carrier, reports that only 2.3% of its train connections arrived late in the first five months of this year, similar to previous years. Jan Holub, spokesperson for Arriva, notes that the punctuality rate has remained stable at around two percent since 2020 when the company began operating more prominently on Czech railways.

Article by Prague Forum