Railways in the Czech Republic face restrictions due to extreme weather

As of Friday 13 September 2024, almost the entire Czech Republic is facing problems caused by extreme rainfall and adverse weather conditions. On the day in question, the biggest complications for trains were caused by trees falling on the tracks, with eight incidents of a ČD train hitting a fallen tree, fallen branches or soil sliding onto the track. In another six cases, the ČD driver's managed to stop safely in front of the obstacle; all incidents were avoided without injuries.

Complications on the railway continued during the weekend of 14 - 15 September, the worst situation was in the Jeseníky and Ostrava regions (north-east of the country), where several lines were flooded. Falling trees or branches in overhead lines complicated traffic on lines across the country. Due to the flooding of roads and their poorer passability, it is not possible to introduce alternative bus services for passengers everywhere. The Czech infrastructure manager Správa železnic has introduced slow running on selected lines, so there are delays in services.

On Saturday, a part of the ČD maintenance centre in Bohumín, specifically the technical-hygienic maintenance workplace (THÚ), was flooded. Passenger trains  to be maintained there were secured outside the halls overnight according to operational possibilities. Due to the serious flood situation in Bohumín, the THÚ centre was vacated on Sunday 15 September.

Due to the limitation of the ČD' train maintenance possibilities, impacts on the operation of trains and the quality of the services provided can be expected in the following days. The extent of the damage caused by the flooding cannot yet be precisely determined; this will only be possible after the completion of the clearance work. It is also unclear when it will be possible to at least partially resume the operation of the centre. 

At present, the main line from Přerov to Ostrava is closed due to flooding. Transport Minister Martin Kupka estimates that it will not be possible to provide rail transport to Ostrava and the entire Ostrava junction for the whole of next week.