Everything WRONG with the International Express Train between Prague and Munich

Comments · 320

• SI

  @Simon-Andersen · 6 months ago · pinned

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• GO

  @gosudoyourself · 6 months ago

  I used to ride ALEX often between Bohemia and Bavaria, and found it generally OK. It got a lot better a couple years ago when the German border police realized they could board the train and check it while it was moving instead of holding it at the border.

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• JA

  @janopitz2610 · 6 months ago

  I am traveling Munch to Prague serveral times per year. And honestly this is one of the rare routes where I always take the car. 3,5-4 hours. I doubt there will be improvements on this line on the German site during my lifetime.

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• XA

  @Xaac1609 · 6 months ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GLSSUROGa0&amp;t=397">6:37</a> well, they weren&apos;t really bought from trenitalia, ALEX is part of Die Länderbahn which itself is part of Netinera which is the german subsidiary of trenitalia. So one could say these still run for trenitalia

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• VE

  @vetal12311 · 6 months ago

  Personally I would go to Linz from Prague with one transfer to Munich-bound Railjet instead of this express train though. Great trip report, as usual, keep at it.

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• AL

  @alph5230 · 6 months ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GLSSUROGa0&amp;t=132">2:12</a> The CityElefant double decker commuter trains are actually not going away at all, luckily! They are the backbone of Prague commuter lines, and will remain for the next 30 years probably.

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• HU

  @hugorm5098 · 6 months ago

  I tried this train back in summer 2023 from Munich to Prague, and it indeed was delayed. It is a nice trip if you aren&apos;t in a hurry, though.

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• DS

  @DS.J · 6 months ago

  This makes Vilnius-Warsaw service sound not all that bad I guess :)<br>Still, a train is a train and it&apos;s good that this service exists. Also, a reminder that Europe is a bit of a mess when it comes to cross-border rail travel. I think the only hope to fix it some day is an EU level regulation mandating integrated ticketing and timetabling across the EU. It&apos;s a bit of a shame that the continent with such a dense railway network and generally very rich and developed countries struggles to integrate its railway systems together.

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• BE

  @BengtHansves · 6 months ago

  In 2023 I went from Munich to Hof with &quot;Alex&quot;. &nbsp;Thee carriages bound for Prague were disconnected in Schwandorf. &nbsp;Old school ex DB (?) like the carriages you will find in Slovenia with WC flushing out &quot;old school&quot; ;-) &nbsp;No problems with time or comfort.

  13

• ON

  @OnkelJajusBahn · 6 months ago (edited)

  It is really an interesting train, as it is probably the most complex train operation left in Germany. Most other trains are just units or push-pull consists. But yes, this complexity is also a downside. If I remember, sometimes they would also do some shunting in Plzeň to add some additional cars between Plzeň and Prague. Also, it is a shame that only now are they planning to electrify the remaining diesel section. The border is open for 35 years already, it is about time. It is really a surprisingly bad connection, considering they are connecting two major cities. I rode the train two times. I honestly loved it. It was a travel back in time. Comfortable compartments with openable windows. Gorgeous.

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• AN

  @animatronio5041 · 6 months ago

  The Alex-Treff was shut down 2018 or something like that... The Alex 10 years ago between Munich and Hof was one of the best commuter train because of the restaurant. Now, the train between Regensburg and Munich is hell, if you&apos;re riding friday to sunday. The train is extremly full (it happens more than once, that I cannot access the train in Munich to go to my hometown Regensburg, and if the train is full, it is no pleasantry to go to the toilett...

  4

• AF

  @Afgy_Arashimaru · 6 months ago (edited)

  I had the unfortunate possibility to travel on this train back in 2024 and it happened exactly what you were describing in the video. In Furth im Wald we gained big delay due to border control and then the trip was terminated in Schwandorf. On top of that, they send us to overcrowded regional train to Nürnberg where we transfered to REx. Because of the total delay I missed my connection in München despide 90 minutes buffer, so I had to stand over an hour in the line to station&apos;s Reisecentrum to get ticket for substitute connection. So I see that things didn&apos;t change much since then.

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