New Copenhagen-Prague rail link debuts amid summer track closures

A new direct rail service connecting Copenhagen and Prague officially launched in early May. It marks the first EU pilot project for cross-border rail expansion. The route was ceremonially opened at Berlin Central Station on June 16. The service began operations with two daily round-trip pairs between the cities. A seasonal overnight connection was added on June 14. The journey from Copenhagen to Berlin takes about seven hours, while the full Copenhagen-to-Prague route spans eleven hours.

Deutsche Bahn, Czech Railways (ČD), and Danish State Railways (DSB) are jointly running the project. However, track upgrades at Hamburg’s central rail hub will disrupt the route from July 18 to August 15. During this period, passengers will need to make at least one transfer, as the direct connection will not operate. The disruption will last four weeks during the peak holiday season. Passengers will face temporary changes to their travel plans. The service remains a significant step in improving cross-border rail links in Europe.