České dráhy (ČD), the Czech national railway carrier, will restore direct long-distance services from Prague to Hamburg and Copenhagen from 1 May 2026, despite the extended reconstruction of the Berlin–Hamburg line.
The trains will initially operate via a diversion route through Stendal, Uelzen and Lüneburg, as works on the regular route via Wittenberge and Ludwigslust have been prolonged until 13 June 2026.
From the start of May, one daily train pair will run between Prague and Copenhagen, while two daily train pairs will connect Prague and Hamburg. The services will be operated by ComfortJet units, already used on the Berliner services between Prague and Berlin.
The Prague–Copenhagen trains will have a longer stop at Hamburg-Altona, and journey times will be affected by the diversion. ČD therefore recommends checking train times for specific travel dates, especially due to further planned works both in the Elbe Valley between Prague and Berlin and between Hamburg and Copenhagen.
Regular operation between Berlin and Hamburg is expected to resume on 14 June 2026. From then, railjet services between Prague, Berlin and Hamburg should run in a planned two-hour interval, with three direct trains per day from Prague to Copenhagen in each direction.
The planned journey time will be just under four hours from Prague to Berlin, under six hours to Hamburg, and 11 hours 45 minutes to Copenhagen.
ČD also plans to strengthen international links from Brno, with two daily railjet services to Berlin and, from mid-June, one direct train per day from Brno to Hamburg.
For passengers, the ComfortJet and railjet services offer long-distance onboard standards including air-conditioned coaches, restaurant service, Wi-Fi, power sockets, USB ports, bicycle transport and barrier-free facilities.
