Prague Semmering

Prague Semmering is a railway track between the stations Prague-Smíchov and Prague-Jinonice. It was nicknamed after the famous Austrian mountain railway because it traverses a significant altitude difference, especially in the area of the so-called Prague Barrandien, as well as because of the beautiful scenery that can be seen between the Prague-Cibulka stop and the Prague-Řepy station.

The track was built between 1868 and 1872 as a part of the so-called Buštěhrad track. It connects the Central Bohemian municipality of Hostivice with the Prague-Smíchov station in Prague. Apart from passenger transport, it has also served for transporting cargo. Because of this, in the 1970s it was largely modernised, partially extended by building a second track and its electrification was planned. However, electrification was never carried out due to a gradual decrease in passenger and especially cargo transport on Prague Semmering in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Although its closing was considered in the late 1990s, the track has remained in service. It is currently mostly used for passenger line S65 and as a very popular scenic track. The latter purpose is served by the weekend line Prague Motor-Coach Train, with historical railway vehicles. Moreover, the track was extensively reconstructed in 2017 and 2018 so that it remains in service to regular passengers, as well as those interested in scenic tourism, as one of the most picturesque Prague tracks.

Prague Semmering leads to the Smíchov district of Prague over two arch viaducts measuring more than 20 metres in height, located behind the Dalej Vally. As soon as the train departs from the Prague-Žvahov stop, passengers get an attractive view of Prague. At that moment, it is possible to see the Podolí waterworks, Vyšehrad, skyscrapers of Pankrác and the Žižkov Television Tower. The track leads through the Nature Park Košíře-Motol and through the natural monument Železniční zářez in the Hlubočepy district of Prague, protected since 1988 because of the plant and animal fossils found there. Prague Semmering offers a unique opportunity to see some lesser known and unique Prague sights.