An unexpected rail defect near Rudná u Prahy shut down suburban line 173 between Prague-Smíchov and Beroun from 09:00 to 15:00 on 11 December, forcing České dráhy (ČD) to replace all trains with buses at short notice. The six-hour emergency works extended door-to-door journeys by up to 25 minutes and caused knock-on traffic jams on the parallel D5 motorway as commuters switched to cars.
Line 173 is part of Prague’s integrated PID network and a lifeline for employees travelling to logistics parks west of the capital. Roughly 18 000 passengers use the corridor on a normal weekday, many connecting to long-distance services at Beroun or Prague Main Station. Local mayors reported “crowded pavements and ad-hoc bus stops” as temporary coaches struggled to follow rail timetables.
Infrastructure manager Správa železnic said ultrasound inspections detected a crack in a rail joint that “could have led to derailment” if left unrepaired. Crews replaced a 200-metre section of track and lifted the speed limit back to 80 km/h by mid-afternoon, but warned that deeper renewal of the single-track stretch is scheduled for Q2 2026.
![Track Defect Forces Six-Hour Closure of Prague–Beroun Line, Disrupting Commuter Flows]()
If international staff or visiting technicians need to adjust travel documents because of last-minute itinerary changes, VisaHQ’s Czech Republic portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) provides quick online visa assessments and expedited courier options, helping companies avoid additional disruptions when rail or flight plans go awry.
For mobility managers the incident underscores the fragility of Prague’s suburban rail arteries. Companies using the western industrial zone are advised to cross-check employee rostering against future maintenance bulletins and retain contingency shuttle contracts. Travellers can claim fare refunds for delays over 30 minutes via ČD’s “MyTrain” app within seven days.
City Hall said it will press the national railway to accelerate double-tracking and electrification plans for the corridor, which would create a 20-minute “S-Bahn” frequency comparable to Vienna’s outer suburbs.
Line 173 is part of Prague’s integrated PID network and a lifeline for employees travelling to logistics parks west of the capital. Roughly 18 000 passengers use the corridor on a normal weekday, many connecting to long-distance services at Beroun or Prague Main Station. Local mayors reported “crowded pavements and ad-hoc bus stops” as temporary coaches struggled to follow rail timetables.
Infrastructure manager Správa železnic said ultrasound inspections detected a crack in a rail joint that “could have led to derailment” if left unrepaired. Crews replaced a 200-metre section of track and lifted the speed limit back to 80 km/h by mid-afternoon, but warned that deeper renewal of the single-track stretch is scheduled for Q2 2026.
If international staff or visiting technicians need to adjust travel documents because of last-minute itinerary changes, VisaHQ’s Czech Republic portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) provides quick online visa assessments and expedited courier options, helping companies avoid additional disruptions when rail or flight plans go awry.
For mobility managers the incident underscores the fragility of Prague’s suburban rail arteries. Companies using the western industrial zone are advised to cross-check employee rostering against future maintenance bulletins and retain contingency shuttle contracts. Travellers can claim fare refunds for delays over 30 minutes via ČD’s “MyTrain” app within seven days.
City Hall said it will press the national railway to accelerate double-tracking and electrification plans for the corridor, which would create a 20-minute “S-Bahn” frequency comparable to Vienna’s outer suburbs.
