4
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
4.1
Prague Integrated Public Transport

The integrated system of public transport in Prague has been developing for 28 years. In 1992 the first city bus lines crossed the city limits and almost immediately thereafter integration of railways lines began as well. The Prague Integrated Public Transport (PID) system offers inhabitants of Prague and a large part of the Central Bohemian Region the opportunity to travel on a single travel document regardless of the chosen mode of transport.

Basic data on PID
Modes od transport under PID
 Metro, trams, urban and suburban buses, trolleybus, railway, funicular, ferries
PID organisers
 ROPID (Prague, from 1993) a IDSK (Central Bohemian Region, from 2017)
Inhabitants with access to PID
 2 715 134 (1 335 084 in Prague a 1 380 050 in the Central Bohemian and Regions)
Area served
 9 850 km2 (496 km2 City of Prague a 9 354 km2 Central Bohemian and Regions)
Municipalities served
 908 (240 served by railway and bus, 100 only by railway, 568 only by bus)
Number of PID lines
 632 (215 solely within Prague, 147 btw. Prague and region, 270 solely in region)
Number of PID carriers
 29 (Prague Public Transport Company, Czech Railways and 27 private carriers)
Persons transported annually
 881 261 425 (800 442 125 within Prague and 80 819 300 in Central Bohemia)
Cost of basic PID tickets
 In Prague – CZK 24 (valid 30 min), CZK 32 (valid 90 min), CZK 550 (valid month), CZK 3 650 (valid 1 year)
PID operation costs in Prague
 CZK 19.8 bn (83.4 % Prague budget, 15.2 % revenue, 1.3 % state budget, 0.1 % other entities)
PID fare revenue in Prague
 CZK 3.0 bn (15.2 % of costs)
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An M1 train at Muzeum station on the C line

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New Tram Stop Marker on Palacký Square

Development of annual PID VKT in the capital city of Prague
  2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Metro (mil. VKT/year) 54.8 54.1 53.0 52.2 55.7 57.5 58.1 59.2 60.9 56.7
Trams (mil. VKT/year) 54.0 53.5 51.0 50.9 51.5 54.6 57.9 57.7 58.5 54.4
Buses (mil. VKT/year) 76.2 76.8 75.8 75.8 77.3 78.0 79.4 81.7 82.0 78.4
Railways (mil. trainkm/year)* 4.4 4.6 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 5.2 5.4 5.7 5.7
TOTAL 189.4  189.0  184.4  183.6  189.3  195.0  200.8*  204.4*  207.6*  195.2 

* There was a small adjustment made to the buses data in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 (the performance of a new PID carrier was added)

Development of PID system around Prague
1992 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2018 2019 2020
Number of municipalities served by PID 3 23 221 345 347 359 657 770 908
Number of PID railway stations and stops in PID 23 59 190 212 222 235 529 532 536
Number of PID suburban and regional bus lines 2 11 89 147 150 161 220 263 331
632 lines operated under PID
Mode of transport Lines
Type and numbering of lines
Metro
3
day lines A, B, C
Trams
34
25 day (numbered 1-18, 20-22, 23 temporarily out of service, 24-26) and 9 night lines (91-99)
Urban buses (with routes solely within City of Prague boundaries)
168
127 day (100-250), 15 night (901-915), to the airport (AE temporarily out of service), 23 school lines (251-275), for persons with reduced mobility (H1), trolleybus (58)
Suburban buses (with routes btw. city and region)
110
100 day (300-404, 500) and 10 night lines (951-960)
Regional buses (with routes solely in the region)
221
220 day lines (416-499, 509-747) and 1 seasonal cyclobus
Railway (btw. Prague and territory of region)
39
14 S (S1-S9, S22, S49, S54, S65, S88), 1 urban line (S34), 15 R (R9, R10, R16-R21, R24, R26, R41, R43, R44, R45, R49), 9 seasonal and tourist lines
Railway (only in the region)
50
39 lines S (S10-S12, S18, S20, S21, S23-S28, S30-S35, S40, S42-S46, S50, S53, S57, S60, S66, S67, S70, S75, S76, S80, S90, S98, S99), 2 lines R (R22, R23), 7 lines U (U4-U40), 1 line L4 and 1 seasonal line
Ferries
7
P1, P2 (both year-round), P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7 (all seasonal)
Funicular
1
Újezd-Petřín funicular
PID carriers
Metro, trams, Petřín funicular
Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) (38 lines)
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An bus cityline nr. 184 at Jeremiášova street

Urban buses
DPP (130 lines),
5 private carriers (38 lines)
Suburban and regional buses
20 private carriers (318 lines),
DPP (13 lines)
Railway
Czech Railways (72 lines),
KŽC Doprava, s. r. o. (8 lines),
Arriva vlaky, s. r. o. (5 lines),
Die Länderbahn CZ s. r. o. (3 lines),
Leo Expres Tenders (1 line)
Ferries
Pražské Benátky, s. r. o. (5 lines),
PPS, a. s. (1 line),
Vittus group, s. r. o. (1 line)
PID carriers
Metro, trams, Petřín funicular
Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) (38 lines)
Urban buses
DPP (130 lines),
5 private carriers (38 lines)
Suburban and regional buses
20 private carriers (318 lines),
DPP (13 lines)
Railway
Czech Railways (72 lines),
KŽC Doprava, s. r. o. (8 lines),
Arriva vlaky, s. r. o. (5 lines),
Die Länderbahn CZ s. r. o. (3 lines),
Leo Expres Tenders (1 line)
Ferries
Pražské Benátky, s. r. o. (5 lines),
PPS, a. s. (1 line),
Vittus group, s. r. o. (1 line)
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An bus cityline nr. 184 at Jeremiášova street

PID ridership and share of total passengers within the City of Prague for 2020
Mode of transport and carrier Persons/year
Metro (DPP) 251 423  000 31.41 %
Trams (DPP) 238 78 8 000 29.83 %
Urban buses, trolleybus (DPP and privat carriers) 232 91 1 000 34.60 %
Suburban buses (private carriers and DPP) 44 056  000
Railway (ČD, KŽC, Arriva, Leo Express) 31 55 6 000 3.94 %
Funicular (DPP) 1 014  000 0.13 %
Ferries (private carriers) 694 125 0.09 %
TOTAL 800 442 125 100.00 %
PID ridership and share of total passengers within the City of Prague for 2020
Mode of transport and carrier Persons/year
Metro (DPP) 251 423  000 31.41 %
Trams (DPP) 238 78 8 000 29.83 %
Urban buses, trolleybus (DPP and privat carriers) 232 91 1 000 34.60 %
Suburban buses (private carriers and DPP) 44 056  000
Railway (ČD, KŽC, Arriva, Leo Express) 31 55 6 000 3.94 %
Funicular (DPP) 1 014  000 0.13 %
Ferries (private carriers) 694 125 0.09 %
TOTAL 800 442 125 100.00 %
 
Composite data on PID in 2020
Metro Trams Buses** Railway
Operation lenght of network within Prague (km) 65.1 142.7 879.8 159.8
Operation lenght of network outside Prague (km) - - > 2 400.0 1 520.0
Average distance between stations and stops in Prague (km) 1.122 0.52 0.578 3.72
Average travelling speed within Prague (km/h) 35.7 19.5 23.9 49.3
Annual VKT within Prague (in thousands)* 56 660 54 386*** 78 353 5 677
Annual VKT outside Prague (in thousands)* - - 36 834 16 368
Passengers transported annually in Prague (thousands) 251 423 239 802*** 276 967 31 556
Passengers transported annually outside Prague (thousands) - - 37 611 43 208****

* for rail transport, data in train-kilometres   ** in Prague including trolleybus   *** including the Petřín funicular   **** in ČD trains

4.2
Metro

The Prague metro forms the foundation of the public transport network. If a transfer is counted as part of a single ride, passengers took around 680 000 trips per day in October (around 828 000 trips counting transfers separately), i.e. approximately 44 % less than in the same period a year earlier. The scope of service at the same time was cut back by about 9 %, with 1 644 train connections being dispatched daily (490 on A line, 540 on the B line and 614 on the C line). You can find a more detailed overview of the development of supply and demand in connection with the coronavirus epidemic in Chapter 4.8.

Basic data on the metro network in Prague
Lines Operating time Operating lenght of network Persons transported per day*
3 (A, B, C) daily approx. 4:45-0:15 65.1 km 828 000
Stations Barrier-free stations Average distance between stations Average travelling speed
61 45 (74 %) 1.122 km 35.7 km/h
Passengers transported annually (2019) and share in PID Annual VKT Trains running at peak*
251 423 000 31,41 % 56 660 000 (a train has 5 vehicles) 90 (A 21, B 33, C 36)
Most connections* Shortest interval at peak* Most frequented segment** Most frequented station**
Line C (628 conn./day) Line C (2 min 10 seconds) IPP-Vyšehrad (277 300 ppl/day) Můstek A/B (178 100 ppl/day)

* as of 14 October 2020 with standard service reduced by about 9 %   ** data from the last network-wide survey in 2015

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An 81-71 train at Smíchovské nádraží station

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The new elevator up to the bus stops at Opatov

4.3
Trams

Trams are part of the arterial network of rail transport. Tram lines provide all types of connections, both radial and tangential, and hold an irreplaceable role in the PID network. Over the course of single workday passengers took approximately 784 600 trips in October 2020, which is about 36 % less than under standard conditions. The scope of operations at the same time was cut back by about 9 %, with approximately 6 790 connections dispatches a day.

Basic data on the tram network in Prague
Lines Day operating time Operating lenght of network Persons transported per day**
34 (25 day, 9 night) approx. 4:45-0:30 142.7 km (52 % dedicated* track bed) 784 600
Stops Night operating time Average distance between stations Average travelling speed
275 (601 by stop marker) approx. 0:15-5:00 0.52 km 19.5 km/h
Passengers transported annually (2019) and share in PID Annual VKT Trains running at peak**
238 788 000 29.83 % 54 386 000 (30 m tram = 2 vehicles T) 439
Most connections** Shortest interval at peak** Most frequented segment*** Most frequented station***
Linka 22 (480 conn./day) Linka 9, 17, 22 (4 minutes) IPP-Štěpánská (84 730 ppl/day) Anděl (80 380 ppl/day)

* or raised track   ** as of 14 October 2020 with standard service reduced by about 9 %   *** data from last network-wide survey (2016)

Metro and tram lines in Prague (day lines as of 31 December 2020 – not including closures)

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4.4
PID buses

Urban and suburban bus transport is operated within the city as part of PID. Urban bus transport forms a supplementary network to the metro and trams, also providing blanket service in some areas and many important tangential connections, particularly in the outlying areas of the city. Suburban bus transport connects the city with the surrounding region.

Over a single workday in mid-October 2020, 23 209 PID bus connections were dispatched within the city, transporting approximately 739 350 passengers (about 39 % less than usual). Of this amount, 17 825 were urban lines (the 100, 200 and 900 series) and 5 384 suburban lines (series 300-404, 950-960 and the 500 line).

Basic data on the bus network in Prague
Lines Day operating time Operating lenght of network Persons transported per day
168 (153 day, 15 night) approx. 4:45-0:30 879.8 km 739 350
Stops Night operating time Average distance between stations Average travelling speed
1 240 (3 290 by stop marker) approx. 0:15-5:00 0.578 km 23.9 km/h
Passengers transported annually (2020) and share in PID Annual VKT Buses running at peak*
276 967 000 34.60 % 78 353 146 1 416
Most connections* Shortest interval at peak* Most frequented segment** Most frequented station**
Line 200 (403 conn./day) Lines 107, 200 (3 min) N. Krč – U Labutě (67 020 ppl/6-20 h) Kačerov (49 860 ppl/6-20 h)

* as of 14 October 2020 with standard service reduced by about 9 % % % ** data from last network-wide survey (2016)

On an average workday, approximately 5 384 connections crossed the city boundaries in both directions on suburban bus lines (the 300-404 and 950-960 series), carrying approximately 66 652 passengers across the city limits. Suburban bus lines used a total of 34 locations as starting or final stops within Prague. The most suburban PID lines (18) and connections (826) used the Zličín terminal, while the highest daily passenger turnover was at the terminals Zličín, Smíchovské nádraží and Černý Most.

Basic data on the bus network in the surroundings of Prague
Suburban bus lines Regional bus lines Operation lenght of network outside Prague
110 (100 day and 10 night) 221 (220 day, 0 night, 1 seasonal) > 2 400.0 km
Stops Average distance between stations Average travelling speed
3 416 (6 084 by stop marker) 1.208 km 34.5 km/h
Passengers transported annually outside Prague (2020) Operating time
37 611 000 day 4:30-0:30, night 0:00-5:00
Annual VKT Buses running at peak
36 833 736 964 (of which 516 on suburban lines)

The network of PID bus lines is also supplemented by regional lines that do not enter the territory of Prague (the 421-747 series). At the end of 2019 a daily total of about 4 560 connections rode outside Prague's limits, carrying roughly 75 510 passengers on an average workday. They were all operated by private carriers.

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Since 1 Aug the 112 bus has also used Trojský most on the way to the Zoo

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Suburban line buses at Smíchovské nádraží

The network of PID bus lines is also supplemented by regional lines (series 416-499, 509-747) that do not enter the territory of Prague. At the end of 2020 a daily total of about 6 106 connections rode outside of Prague‘s limits, carrying roughly 46 459 passengers. They were all operated by private carriers.

4.5
PID railway transport

Railway transport under PID has been expanding since 1992. In 2007 the process of labelling lines with the letters S and R was begun, with regular intervals and easy-to-remember times also starting to be implemented. A total of 1 216 train connections rode through Prague under PID on an average workday in autumn of 2020, transporting approximately 98 730 passengers. Service was significantly affected by renovations around Radotín and between Hostivař and Vršovice.

Basic data on the PID rail network within Prague
Linek Operation time Operation lenght of network Persons transported per day*
39 (15 S, 15 R, 9 seasonal) approx. 4:45-0:30 159.8 km 98 730
Stations Weekend night trains Average distance between stations Average travelling speed
45 at 2:30 from Praha hl. n.** 3.72 km 49.3 km/h
Passengers transported annually (2019) and share in PID Annual number of train kilometres Trains running at peak*
31 556 000 3.94 % 5 677 000 140
Most connections Shortest interval at peak Most frequented segment* Most frequented station*
Line S7 (134 conn./day) Line S7 (10 minutes) P-Kyje – P-Libeň (28 278 ppl/day) Praha hl. n. (38 575 ppl/day)

* in October 2020 with slight reduction in service ** temporarily suspended for several periods during 2020

Number of persons transported by rail under PID per year
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Persons 32 361 000 34 762 000 36 548 000 36 669 000 37 462 000 39 448 000 45 014 000 51 523 000 31 556  000
Percentage share of tickets used by passengers on PID trains within Prague (workday)
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2019 2020*
PID document** (%) 39.2 52.1 57.7 60.4 63.8 68.7 72.7 72.2 71.6 58.9* 59.2 59.2
of which individual PID fare (%) - 7.2 10.6 7.5 5.6 8.5 5.3 5.3 5.4 4.7 5.3 5.3
ČD document, free transport (%) 60.8 47.9 42.3 39.6 36.2 31.3 27.3 27.8 28.4 41.1 40.8 40.8

* no survey was conducted in 2020 due to the coronavirus situation, data is from 2019   ** including individual PID tickets

Number of persons transported by rail under PID divided by tracks (average workday)
Track Line 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020*
11 S1, S7, R9, R18, R19, R41 20 940 21 790 21 520 21 090 22 720 24 660 37 320 37 900 24 650
70 S3, S34, R21, R43 2 960 3 800 4 430 3 890 4 340 5 030 4 830 4 190 2 580
90 S4, S49, R20, R44 10 710 13 400 14 820 15 720 16 370 14 410 15 180 14 870 10 310
120 S5, S54, R24, R45 5 470 7 040 7 080 7 210 7 500 6 500 5 050 6 560 3 880
122 S65 400 390 390 590 510 600 600 680 390
171 S7, R16, R26 20 360 21 590 21 990 21 870 20 630 22 420 27 420 27 420 14 480
173 S6 1 030 1 160 1 500 1 640 1 790 2 440 2 680 2 880 1 830
210 S8, S88 2 250 2 670 2 280 2 670 2 580 3 570 4 180 3 070 2 350
221 S9, R17, R49 21 650 23 710 25 420 23 780 25 830 30 890 34 350 34 890 21 830
231 S2, S9, S22, R10 15 100 16 070 16 680 16 080 16 210 24 370 22 550 26 680 14 150
ML S49 2 470 1 520 1 010 2 210 2 450 3 000 3 480 2 360 2 280
TOTAL
103 340 113 140 117 120 116 750 120 930 137 890 157 640 161 500 98 730

* the boundaries of Prague were crossed on PID trains by approx. 79 650 passengers on an average workday in 2020 (37 660 travelling into Prague, 41 990 out of Prague); on Saturdays in 2019 (current data is not available) PID trains transported 62 % of the workday average, on Sundays just 55 %

S and R railway lines within the City of Prague (not including closures)

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In the surroundings of Prague, roughly 1 500 connections were dispatched on 50 PID lines daily, travelling 1 520 km of track and stopping at 491 stations. In 2020, PID trains in the Central Bohemian Region transported a total of 43.2 million passengers (only Czech Railways connections).

4.6
Funicular and ferries
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Újezd – Petřín funicular

The funicular is part of PID and provides a connection between Újezd, Nebozízek and Petřín. In 2020 it carried a total of 1 014 000 passengers (a daily average of 2 778) and accounted for 0.13 % of the overall number of persons transported by PID within the city.

Since 2005, river ferries across the Vltava have already become a standard component of Prague Integrated Public Transport. Their primary importance is for recreational travel (connecting to cycle paths, serving the islands on the Vltava), but increasingly they are also used for standard transport, e.g. to work (in the winter 75 % of trips).

There were 8 ferries in operation in 2020, which transported an average of 2 559 passengers a day and a total of 694 125 for the year (0.09 % of persons transported by PID within Prague).

Due to the coronavirus epidemic, P5 ferry service only began at the end of April and was separated into the ferries P4 (Císařská louka – Kotevní) and P5 (Císařská louka – Výtoň). The temporary P8 ferry was only in operation until 24 October 2020, when the new Troja footbridge was opened.

Overview of Prague ferries operated in 2020 and selected operating parameters
Line Route Beginning of operation Service Persons transported/day Persons transported/year
P1 Sedlec – Zámky 1 Jul 2005 year-round 123 45 010
P2 V Podbabě – Podhoří 1. Jul 2006 year-round 16.6 195 090
P3 Lihovar – Veslařský ostrov 17 Jul 2007 seasonal 6.00 34 025
P4 Císařská louka – Kotevní 30 Apr 2020 seasonal 73 13 540
P5 Císařská louka – Výtoň 30 Apr 2020 seasonal 209 38 680
P6 Lahovičky – Nádraží Modřany 19 Sep 2009 seasonal 221 48 390
P7 Pražská tržnice – Ostrov Štvanice – Rohanský ostrov 7 Aug 2015 seasonal 363 79 440
P8 Císařský ostrov – Troja (end of service 24 Oct 2020) 23 Dec 2017 temporary 882 239 950
TOTAL 2 559 694 125
Share of guaranteed barrier-free (low floor) connections
Metro Trams Urban buses Suburban buses Railway
100 % in timetable 60 % (in operation 67 %) 100 % (from 7 Dec 2020) in timetable 48 % (in operation 77 %) 89 %*

* services ordered by the City of Prague, not all train (in particular fast train) connections in PID

4.7
Public transport between Prague and external territory

Public mass transport between the capital and other areas in the region and the country as a whole is provided by a number of carriers. Prague is an important hub for regional, domestic and international rail travel, as well as a point of departure, destination and transit stop for many long-distance Czech and international bus lines.

Railway transport in Prague, including non-PID long-distance connections

A total of 1 316 train connections operated by Czech Railways started, ended or passed through Prague on an average workday in 2020, carrying an estimated 100 000 passengers across the city limits. Roughly 14 % of that number were outside of PID, the remainder were under PID.

The operation of long-distance passenger rail transport (both under and outside of PID) is provided by Czech Railways, RegioJet, LEO Express and Arriva trains. The infrastructure for transport is provided by the state organisation Správa železnic (“Railway Administration”, previously SŽDC).

Number of trains starting, ending or stopping at railways stations in Prague (10/2020)
Station Praha hlavní nádraží Praha Masarykovo nádraží Praha-Libeň Praha-Smíchov Praha-Vršovice Praha-Holešovice Praha-Vysočany Praha-Radotín
Trains per year 290 697 122 367 118 736 104 875 80 548 70 807 66 028 43 924
of those České dráhy 256 926 112 444 93 378 101 569 80 210 52 340 52 268 43 924
of those RegioJet 15 117 0 0 1.00 0 0.1 0.1 0.1
of those LEO Express 6 891 0 6 891 0 0 0 0 0
of those Arriva vlaky 10 095 2 397 18 467 3 164 0 18 467 5 730 0
of those KŽC Doprava 1668 7 526 0 142 338 0 8 030 0
Trains per day (14.10.) 842 390 349 309 245 173 199 138
of those in PID 619 390 283 279 245 123 199 138

Non-PID bus transport

Public bus transport between Prague and other areas is operated by a number of carriers from the Czech Republic; some international lines are also run by carriers from other countries.

Development of selected characteristics at main bus station Florenc
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Number of connections/avg. workday 425 435 450 485 505 510 510 495 200
of those international 145 3.6 23.6 17.8 16.9 11.10 11.10 6.10 9.4
           domestic long-distance 280 280 275 9.00 245 12.8 12.8 2.8 9.4
Number of connections/year 150 000 155 000 155 000 170 000 180 000 180 000 180 000 180 000 75 000
Number of carriers 100 105 120 125 125 125 110 110 100
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A long-distance bus connection at Na Knížecí

The only bus station in Prague that dispatches exclusively non-PID buses is ÚAN Florenc.

In connection with the coronavirus epidemic in 2020, the Florenc bus station saw an average decline in the daily number of international connections of 2/3 and domestic connections of 1/3.

Other non-PID lines connecting Prague with external areas were dispatched and terminated to the greatest extent at the Černý Most bus terminal (totalling over 240 connections a day in mid-October 2020 and thus exceptionally more than at Florenc). All Prague terminals saw an annual decline in connections dispatched. Just as at Florenc, these saw a drop in the number of international connections down to nearly one third of 2019 levels, while for domestic connections only about half as many connections were dispatched.

Number of connections on other importatnt non-PID bus terminals in Prague
Number of connections per average workday (14.10. 2020) Number of connections per year 2020
International Domestic TOTAL International Domestic TOTAL
Černý Most 0 244 244 1 66 272 66 273
Hradčanská 0 80 80 0 23 912 23 912
Na Knížecí 4 64 68 1 335 17 584 18 919
Zličín 2 61 63 933 17 677 18 610
Roztyly 14 76 90 4 382 22 211 26 593
Nádraží Holešovice 0 95 95 0 26 729 26 729
Nádraží Veleslavín 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hlavní nádraží 9 0 9 6 322 359 6 681
Želivského 1 0 1 419 0 419
TOTAL 30 620 650 13 392 174 744 188 136
Number of connections on other importatnt non-PID bus terminals in Prague
Number of connections per average workday (14.10. 2020)
International Domestic TOTAL
Černý Most 0 244 244
Hradčanská 0 80 80
Na Knížecí 4 64 68
Zličín 2 61 63
Roztyly 14 76 90
Nádraží Holešovice 0 95 95
Nádraží Veleslavín 0 0 0
Hlavní nádraží 9 0 9
Želivského 1 0 1
TOTAL 30 620 650
  Number of connections per year 2020
Černý Most 1 66 272 66 273
Hradčanská 0 23 912 23 912
Na Knížecí 1 335 17 584 18 919
Zličín 933 17 677 18 610
Roztyly 4 382 22 211 26 593
Nádraží Holešovice 0 26 729 26 729
Nádraží Veleslavín 0 0 0
Hlavní nádraží 6 322 359 6 681
Želivského 419 0 419
TOTAL 13 392 174 744 188 136

The only non-PID lines that enter Prague as part of Central Bohemian Integrated Transport (SID) are those from the Vlašim and Benešov regions (E15, E16, E17 and E20) and the F71 line from Světlá nad Sázavou.

4.8
Development of demand and measures in PID during the COVID-19 epidemic

In terms of impact on PID service, the first wave of the epidemic can be dated to the period from 11 March to 26 May. On 11 March 2020, the number of workday passengers transported in the metro first dropped below 1 million a day, and eight days later on 19 March only around 200 000 people used underground connections (in 2019 the metro was transporting around 1 150 000 passengers a day in the same period, thus the maximum drop in demand was 83 %). In April and May, demand for public transport gradually rose and on 26 May there were already over 600 000 people taking the metro (about 50 % less than in 2019).

Development of number of persons transported on workdays in the metro in Prague in 2019 and 2020

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From mid-March 2020, the coronavirus epidemic had a fundamental impact on PID service. Due to fluctuating demand and the ongoing regulations from the Czech government, around 10 000 changes to the timetables of individual lines were drawn up and enacted through to the end of the year. Providing for even the somewhat reduced service was also complicated due to the infection or quarantine of some of the service staff.

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Closing the front door in older tram T and KT

The scope of PID service was set up to not only take into account demand, but also to allow for maximum observance of distancing within vehicles. Thus for the whole epidemic, care was taken so that the offer of connections was at least 20-30 % higher than the current demand.

An objective comparison of the demand over the whole year was provided by online counters placed at each entrance and exit to the metro. At the end of 2020, automatic tallying had also already been installed in some of the tram and bus fleet, but this did not allow a year-on-year comparison to individual days from 2019. What these did show, however, was that demand on surface connections was always about 5-10 % higher than in the metro.

In the months June, July, August and September, the decline in demand compared to normal levels stopped at around 30 %. Metro counters showed the highest number of persons transported, about 830 000, on Wednesday 2 September.

Subsequently, the number of passengers started to fall off slightly again. The start of the second wave of the epidemic can be dated to 30 September, when there were only 770 000 workday passengers on the metro.

The minimum, which totalled 330 000 passengers, occurred a month later this time, on 30 October (with 72 % fewer people travelling compared to normal).

After the next phase of easing began, passenger levels in the metro had returned to at least 600 000 on 3 December (50 % of normal). Up until the end of 2020 the number of persons transported did not pass 700 000 a day, however, and after mid-December began to fall off markedly again.

The overall number of passengers transported in PID within Prague fell by around 40 % due to the coronavirus. The decrease was slightly higher in the metro and slightly lower in surface transport. In terms of PID connections offered, around 12.5 million vehicle kilometres went untraveled compared to 2019 (about 6 % less than was planned).

Prague Transportation Yearbook 2020 ― Chapter 4