PRESS RELEASE: Railway carriers have adjusted over 380 coaches to improve mobile signal coverage
Prague, 7 April 2026 – By the end of March the deadline expired which was set by CTU for railway carriers to complete physical implementation of projects under the subsidy call “Technical Devices for 5G in Railway Coaches”.
The aim of the call has been to equip passenger railway coaches operating mainly on TEN-T railway corridors with repeaters or permeable windows to ensure mobile signal coverage inside coaches. Passengers in railway coaches will thus benefit most from this call, as it provides them with high-quality and, where possible, uninterrupted access to mobile voice and data services.
“The first-ever subsidy call under the responsibility of CTU was a success. It has met the objectives of the National Recovery Plan and will help improve the comfort of passengers using mobile services in railway coaches,” said Marek Ebert, CTU Council Chairman.
“As part of the National Recovery Plan, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has also helped improve the quality and availability of mobile signal in railway coaches, which will further support the government’s goal of improving the overall mobile coverage ,” said Pavel Vinkler, Director General of the Section of Business and Innovation at the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Now that the physical implementation of the projects has been completed, the improved mobile communication is available in a total of 384 coaches operated by the Czech carriers České dráhy, a.s. and Leo Express s.r.o. It can already be stated that the objective of the relevant subsidy call—namely, equipping 350 railway coaches with technical devices to ensure mobile signal coverage—has not only been met but has even been exceeded by 34 railway coaches.
“The installation of mobile signal repeaters is a significant step in the modernisation of our services and greatly contributes to enhancing our customers’ comfort. We have equipped 151 coaches across a total of 27 Pendolino, Railjet, and InterPanter train sets with these repeaters, transforming them into fully-fledged train offices. We continue to innovate in ways that bring real, everyday benefits to passengers,” explains Michal Krapinec, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of České dráhy.
České dráhy has performed laser treatment on the windows of additional 208 coaches to improve their permeability for mobile signals. This modification applies to 41 compartment coaches, 24 dining coaches, and 143 open coaches.
Leo Express has decided to equip five train sets Stadler Flirt, each containing five coaches, with mobile signal repeaters.
“Our investment of CZK 24 million in 5G repeaters has provided passengers with a more stable internet connection while traveling by train. In addition, thanks to our investment in 5G WiFi, we have improved internet coverage from 60% to nearly 100%. We are making long-term investments in travel comfort, safety, and modern technologies with the aim of continuously increasing our passengers’ satisfaction,” explains Emil Sedlařík, spokesperson for Leo Express. Leo Express intends to maintain the same high service standards on its new routes in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The total cost of installing technical devices to ensure mobile signal coverage inside railway coaches, which carriers will claim under the relevant subsidy call, exceeded CZK 180 million excluding VAT.
Tereza Meravá
Spokesperson
Czech Telecommunication Office