If you have travelled Internationally from Prague or Vienna then you have probably came across the Railjet type of train.
These trains are operated by the Czech national operator České dráhy as well as Austrian national operator OBB. Both carriers operate their trains for each other, meaning that some services to Prague are operated by OBB trainsets, rather than a Czech branded train.
About the Trains
The trains entered service in 2008 in Austria operating services to Munich and Budapest. České dráhy introduced their sets to service between Prague and Vienna in June 2015.
Each trainset has 3 classes of travel available onboard, these being economy, business and first, this review is about the business class seating.
A restaurant car is available and takes up part of one of the coaches, it varies depending on the operator.
My Journey on Railjet
My journey was taking me 80km or so from the Czech capital of Prague to the town of Kolin. Kolin is not a routine stop for these trains, however, major engineering works on the main line between Pardubice and Brno meant this train would be diverted on an alternative route.
My train was formed of an Austrian OBB set and comprised of 7 coaches. 1st takes up 1.5 coaches with the rest being shared between economy and business class. Unlike an airline, 1st class is actually the middle tier of travel, with business class being the most premium travel option.
The 1st class car has a 1-2 layout (the – represents the aisle) and the seats come in 3 different layouts. You have the option to sit as a group around a table of 4, as a couple facing each other, or a solo seat. Regardless of seat layout, they are all identical to each other.
All the seats recline, however make sure there is nobody behind you as your recline will disrupt their tray table.
The seats are comfortable and come with a European plug socket between them (remember your adapter as USB charging is not available). Also located at each set of seats is a bin which is a reasonable size for your rubbish.
The Staff
The train has at least one member of staff responsible for checking tickets and the overall safety of passengers throughout the journey. If your train is going Internationally from Prague – like this specific one which was going to Graz in Austria – then the staff will change at the border.
The train also has a small catering team who can be found in the restaurant, as well as passing through the train.
Catering
All passengers in 1st class are given a complimentary bottle of Mattoni water (which as weird as it sound is disgusting.) Furthermore, 1st class passengers can also have meals delivered from the restaurant to their seat for them to enjoy. Menus are seasonal and try to offer traditional dishes for the country they are in.
If you are travelling in Standard class you can purchase snacks and drinks from the restaurant car window, or on some services from the trolley that will pass through the train. If you wish to have a more substantial meal you need to go to the restaurant car.
Would I Recommend Railjet?
Yes, I would absolutely recommend Railjet to anybody travelling within Europe. It is a fast, comfortable and environmentally friendly way to travel across Central Europe. The benefits of the route network is it serves cities that are close to each other removing the need for pointless short-haul flights within Europe.
George Nugent Travels 