For the first time in more than a decade, travelers from Prague will once again be able to reach Denmark by direct train.

But the long-awaited return of the Prague-Copenhagen route will begin later than expected.

The new international rail connection had originally been scheduled to launch in early May. Instead, full service will now begin on June 14, 2026, after construction delays on the key rail corridor between Berlin and Hamburg disrupted the original timetable.

According to Czech Railways, the postponement is linked to ongoing repairs on the German railway network. The Berlin-Hamburg line, which is central to the Prague-Copenhagen route, will not be ready in time for the original launch date.

Even so, the route will not remain entirely unavailable until June. Starting May 1, one train per day in each direction will operate between Prague and Copenhagen using a diversion route that avoids the section under reconstruction.

Passengers should expect longer travel times during this temporary period. The detour will add roughly 90 minutes to two hours to the journey, and trains will also make an extended stop in Hamburg-Altona lasting several dozen minutes.

Once the full service begins in mid-June, passengers will have access to two year-round daily connections in each direction, along with a third seasonal service during busier periods.

The trains will run through Ústí nad Labem, Děčín, Berlin and Hamburg before reaching Copenhagen. The journey is expected to take around 11 hours.

The route will be operated using modern ComfortJet trains equipped with air-conditioned carriages, power outlets, Wi-Fi, bicycle storage and a restaurant car.

Ticket prices are expected to start at around 1,500 Czech crowns, although final fares will vary depending on the travel date and demand.

Despite the expansion of the route, Czech Railways says it is not currently planning a sleeper service between Prague and Copenhagen. Overnight trains on the route will continue to use standard train sets without sleeping compartments or couchettes.

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