Prague Semmering Train – A historic train line that takes you to green woodlands and pretty valleys

The Prague Motor Train is also called Prague Semmering Train and it’s a retro train that runs every Saturday, Sunday, and on public holidays all year round on train route number 122 from Prague Main Station to Prague-Zličín and back.

It’s a train I always take when I want to explore the woodland and rocky areas above the Prokopske and Dalejske Valley and when I have just a few hours and I want to ‘leave Prague’ and get to countryside quickly. I’ve done this journey many times, most recently with my mum and I also go on walks along the train line to explore the nearby valleys.

Whilst the historic train only runs at the weekend, you can easily get to the area by buses, regular trains, trams and even an underground any time of the week.

The Semmering train journey

The historical motor train starts from Prague Main Station and first goes through the Vinohrady Tunnel, which is the longest double-track tunnel in the country and then continues over the historic green railway bridge across the Vltava River with views of Vyšehrad and Prague Castle.

The train stops at Smichov train station (it used to be the North Smichov Station, but it’s now incorporated into the main Smichov station). Afterwards you get some great views from the top of the impressive Hlubočepy viaduct, ride through a mountain cutting near Žvahov, and after passing through the wooded Košíře – Motol Nature Park, you will arrive at Prague-Zličín station.

From there, you can continue by connecting train to Hostivice, change for bus or tram to get back to the centre of Prague or after a short stay, return by motor train back to Prague Main Station.

The train journey stops

There are not that many stops on this train route and the whole journey takes just under 30 minutes.

Prague Main Station – Prague-Smíchov North Platform – Prague-Žvahov – Prague-Jinonice (Press the stop button if you want to get off here) – Prague-Cibulka (Press the stop button if you want to get off here)– Prague-Stodůlky – Prague-Zličín.

Buying tickets for the Semmering Train

One amazing thing about the Prague Semmering Train is that it’s integrated into the wider public Prague travel system. This means that you can use the regular public transport tickets for this journey as long as you still have a valid minutes left on your ticket.

If you don’t have a valid ticket you can also buy a ticket from the train conductor for 40 CZK (20 CZK children & over 65) without additional charge.

If you are thinking of just taking the train and coming back the same way, you can buy the longer time tickets for 120 or 180 minutes, which will be plenty to get to Main Train Station, travel to Zlicin, wait for the return train (20 min or so), travel back and still have time to get to anywhere you need to in the centre of Prague.

If you are worried about constantly checking the time stamp on your ticket, the easier thing is to get 24 hr ticket (120 CZK) and then you can get off any stop you want, explore the area and also use the local buses and trams as you like. The one day ticket is valid for a full 24 hrs, so the chances are you will be able to use it in the morning the next day.

If you want to use the train as a start of a bike ride, you can also take a bike on this train for free. You need to directly ask the train staff and if there are still spaces (for bikes) available, they will allow you to board.

The current Prague Semmering Trains

The Prague Semmering uses the motor trains from the M 262.0 series, which are four-axle trains that were manufactured between 1949 and 1951 at the ČKD Sokolovo Prague and První brněnská and Královopolská factory in Brno, and between 1952 and 1960 at the Tatra factory in Studénka.

A total of 238 of these motor trains were produced, which remained in regular operation until the early 21st century, mostly on small local train routes. Several M 262.0 series vehicles (later also referred to as the 830 trains) are owned by various railway museums and used for historical train events.

The fascinating history of the 122 train line

The Prague Semmering uses part of the 122 train line, which is 19 km long in total and after Zlicin continues to Hostivice (you can still get a regular train there).

It was originally built by the Bustehrad Train Company, which was a private railway company that operated lines in northwestern Bohemia from 1855 to 1922, connecting the Kladno region, and later also the Ore Mountains and the foothills of the Ore Mountains, with Prague. The term “Buštěhrad Railway” continues to be used for its main route Prague – Kladno – Rakovník (modern numbering 120).

The Semmering part of the railway line was constructed between 1868 and 1872 (with viaducts being built in the last two years) as part of a route that connected the then Smíchov Station and Hostivice. Operations on the Prague Semmering for freight transport (mainly coal and wood) began on July 3, 1872.

This train line provided the Buštěhrad Railway with a new connection to Prague, leading directly to the industrial area of Smíchov. Because of the two viaducts, the train line was not as steep as their Dejvice branch, which made it easier for the heavy freight carriages to reach Prague. The original plans included building a new station in Smíchov in the Na Knížecí area, but this idea was abandoned, and a provisional stop at Prague-Smíchov North Platform was built instead.

Passenger trains started running on September 16, 1872, but the Buštěhrad Railway was nationalized on January 1, 1924.

Before the Prague-Žvahov stop, coming from Smíchov, the railway line crosses the Hlubočepy Valley with the Dalejský Creek and the railway line 173 Prague-Smíchov – Beroun via Rudná (near the Prokop Valley) twice, using two viaducts. The southeastern, lower viaduct is 20 meters high, while the northwestern, upper, or also Hlubočepy viaduct, is 22 meters high.

In the 1970s, modernization and double-tracking of this line began (evident, for example, at the Prague-Žvahov and Prague-Stodůlky stops and at the approaches to the bridge over Bucharova Street). There were also plans for the train line to become electrified in the future, but that never happened. In the late 1990s, there were even discussions about its closure, and at the time the number of daily trains was much reduced.

Origin of the Name Prague Semmering

The name Prague Semmering comes from a railway line in Austria that runs through the Semmering mountain pass between Lower Austria and Styria, at an altitude of 980 meters (about 100 km south of Vienna).

The Semmering pass was originally only passable via a narrow road. The railway line was built in 1854 above the originall road, and in the 1950s, a highway was also constructed. In one location, the highway runs above the railway, which in turn runs above the original road.

You can see something similar, although on a very small scale on the Prague Semmering, where railway line 173 from Prague-Smíchov station to Rudná runs above Na Srpečku street, and railway line 122 to Jinonice runs above that.

Train times

Saturday + Sunday all year round + most public holidays

The train departs from Prague Main Train Station at these times. To make sure you have the right platform look for train to ‘Praha – Zlicin’

• 8.24
• 10.38
• 12.38
• 14.38

The train departs from Prague – Zlicin at the following times. The train station at Zlicin is small, there are only few train tracks.

• 9.47
• 11.47
• 13.47
• 16.07

What to do if miss the last train back

There are regular trains, trams and buses going back to the centre of Prague until late and these are easily reached on foot. The Praha – Zlicin train station is just few steps from the tram no. 9 & 10 terminal at Repy, which takes you back to Andel (Smichov Prague 5 – Underground B line) in about 20 minutes or you can continue on tram number 9 for another 15 minutes to the centre of Prague to Wenceslas Square.

Tickets are valid on all trains, buses and trams in the area (as it’s still Prague) as long as you still have enough minutes left on your ticket for your journey.

What to see & do along the Prague Semmering Route

Prague-Žvahov

Just before you reach this stop, the train will go over the high viaduct and you will get some amazing views. Just above the train station, you can climb up to the top of the hill where the historic ‘Devin’ used to stand. This was a hill fort which according to the legend was the seat of the woman army back in the pre-historic days. There is nothing left here now, but you get some amazing views of this side of the Prague and the valley underneath the hills.

I’ve also started a really cool walk from there the other day and walked all the way to the Hlubocepske Plotny, wich is area with high rocks and views of the Hlubocepy train viaduct. There are lots of different types of trees here, which are very colourful in autumn, as you can see from my photos.

There are many paths here and you can either continue on the top of the hill or drop down to the Dalejske Valley, which eventually takes you to the Prokopske Valley. I sometimes hardly believe I’m still in Prague as the countryside is so wooded around here, with pretty rocks, streams and lakes. You can walk all the way to the Reporyje following the Dalejsky Stream and then take the local, but still ‘Prague’ bus back to Smichov and then take the underground or tram back to the centre of Prague.

The Prague – Zvahov is also the nearest train station to the FK Zlichov 1914, which is one of the Prague smaller football teams with a long history and a picturesque football stadium that even made it into a film!

This was founded in 1914, when the football stadium was closer to the Vltava river. When the decision was made to build a dual carriageway along the river, the stadium was in the way and was closed down. Later on, the local people of Zlichov gave the club a plot of land where the current stadium is – close to the train track and the beautiful countryside of Prokopske Valley.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the club played in the Prague Division of the Czechoslovak Third League. The club’s most successful period was in the 1980s and 1990s when they played in the Czechoslovak Second League and the Czech Republic Second League. Today, the club competes in the Prague Championship, which is the fifth tier of Czech football league.

Prague-Jinonice

This stop is now in the middle of busy housing area, but it’s the perfect stop if you want to see the modern statues of David Cerny – the Pegasus and the Speederman at Waltrovka. The Waltrovka new housing incorporates the old buildings from the original airplanes and manufacturing factory and I’ve really enjoyed walking around last time I visited.

You’ll also find few independent shops here, including one of my favourite artisan bakery ‘U Dvou Rohliku’, which supports people with mental health issues and also Automat Aviatica, which is a cool self-service canteen, but in the most modern building I’ve ever seen (make sure you arrive by 3 pm Monday – Friday to get your lunch).

Prague-Cibulka

Cibulka is a pretty suburb of Prague 5 with large detached houses, quiet streets and Cibulka woodland with viewing tower, oriental style pavilion, lake and water well called Diana. This area used be part of the Cibulka homestead chateau from 19th century, which is still there and currently being restored and should soon open as a hospic for children.

The area has really interesting history. The original humble farmstead was re-built into modest chateau by bishop Leopold Leonhard Thun who moved here after he lost lands and titles because of the Napoleon wars. After his death (by the way he is buried at the nearby Malostransky Hrbitov – Lesser Town Cemetery at Bertramka), the chateau was damaged by a fire and later (in 1891) the grounds were divided by the train line. The area started to decay, which didn’t stop until the farmstead was bought by the current owners in 2021.

The viewing tower is open to public (free) and you get great views of the surrounding forest and the housing on the other side of the Motol valley.

Prague-Stodůlky

This stop is right in the middle of Motel forest and there are walks in any directions from here. It’s not that far to walk back to Cibulka, so you can combine visiting both places together.

Prague-Zličín

There is not much to see here apart from high rise flats housing nearby. The old Repy part of the town is kind of hiding behind the large modern housing, but if you do venture there you can see an old convent – Home of St. Karel Boromejsky.

It’s here where one of the most famous thief from Czech history of 19th century – Vaclav Babinsky used to work. When he was in prison he tried to become a better person and when he finished his 20 years sentence, he started to work as gardener in the convent. He carried on working there without any problems for nearly another 20 years until his death and is buried in the nearby cemetery.

This blog post was originally written on 6 March 2025 and last updated on 6 March 2025