RegioJet trains

RegioJet is a private, open-access train operator based in the Czech Republic, easy to spot by its bright yellow trains. It is not the Czech national incumbent. That role belongs to České dráhy (ČD), the state operator. RegioJet launched in 2011 on the Prague to Ostrava route specifically to compete with ČD, and has since expanded into a genuine second network across Central Europe.

Within the Czech Republic, RegioJet's core route runs Prague to Brno to Ostrava, with a branch continuing to Bohumín. Internationally, RegioJet trains run from Prague through Brno to Vienna and on to Budapest, and separately to Bratislava, plus a day and night service from Prague through Ostrava to Žilina and Košice in Slovakia. RegioJet has also pushed into Poland, with Kraków to Warsaw services. Because it is open access rather than a state railway, RegioJet sets its own fares and its own onboard classes, called Low Cost, Standard, Relax and Business, rather than the standard European first and second class split.

The single most useful thing to know before boarding is that a seat reservation is compulsory on every RegioJet train, in every class. This is different from many state operators, where only premium categories require one. There is no walk-on, no-reservation option on RegioJet. If you are travelling on an Interrail or Eurail Pass, do not assume the pass alone gets you on board.

RegioJet recognises Interrail and Eurail passes on its trains within the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria, which covers the Prague to Vienna and Vienna to Budapest corridors, among others. Pass holders still need a seat reservation for every RegioJet journey, bookable through the "Only seat reservations" option on regiojet.com by selecting Interrail & Eurail as the ticket type. Reservation fees for pass holders are shown in EUR rather than CZK, since this is an international passholder product: typically around 1.30 EUR in Low Cost or Business class and up to roughly 2.80 EUR in Relax class, though exact fees vary by route and should be checked at booking. Some RegioJet routes and route combinations sit outside pass acceptance, so if your itinerary includes a RegioJet leg that isn't one of the well-established Prague, Brno, Vienna, Bratislava or Budapest corridors, check acceptance for that specific service before relying on your pass.

Because RegioJet is a commercial competitor to the national operator rather than part of it, its trains, stations of departure, and booking systems can differ from what a ČD-only itinerary would show. When comparing options on a Czech or Slovak route, it is worth checking both RegioJet and the state operator, since RegioJet's fares and seat classes can work out cheaper for a similar or shorter journey time, particularly if you book ahead.