Pendolino trains have already travelled 10 million kilometres
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Czech Pendolino trains have already racked up 10 million kilometres, yet in December the Pendolino celebrated just 5 years since starting operations. At present they are the most reliable ČD trains, and their operation is secured with only a minimal reserve. Of seven trains, five are on the tracks daily, six during peak hours. The trains running on the Prague – Ostrava line travel more than 1,100 kilometres each day.
The Pendolino trains officially crossed the 10 million kilometre mark on Tuesday, 4 May 2010, at approximately 13:30 in the Červenka – Olomouc segment in central Moravia. The 10 million kilometre mark for the Pendolino trains was officially crossed by train 680 007 on connection SC 505 from Prague to Ostrava.
Pendolinos are the fastest trains in the Czech Republic. They cover the 351 km route between Prague Main Station and Ostrava-Svinov in 2 hours 56 minutes at an average speed of 120 km/h. This time is even competitive with air transport between Prague and Ostrava. Pendolino trains also hold the Czech railway speed record of 237 km/h, which they achieved on a regular line in southern Moravia.
The SC Pendolino line operates today at approximately 2-hour intervals between Prague, Pardubice, Olomouc and Ostrava. On Fridays and Mondays, one of the connections is extended to Český Těšín and Třinec. At present there is also a pair of trains running on the Praha – Brno – Wien – Wien Neustadt route. From December 2010, a pair of connections is to be introduced between Prague and Bratislava, and there are talks underway on the possible deployment one year later of trains to Germany as well.
Pendolino fast trains are also commercially successful and today they support their own operating costs. Each day, mainly for travel between Prague and Ostrava, thousands of passengers use them, from seniors and students, to managers, cultural and sports personalities, and politicians. The services of the SC Pendolino fast train have even been used by Czech President Václav Klaus.