Now, let me take you back to the late 2000s. RegioJet sprouted from the ever-curious mind of Radim Jančura, whose Student Agency had already taken Czechs and Slovaks on wild bus rides all over Europe. But Jančura wasn’t content with just rubber tires-he wanted the sweet song of steel on rail. So, in 2009, RegioJet was born right here in Brno, and-like a kid with a brand-new train set-Radim was determined to make some noise in a world long dominated by the legendary České dráhy (‘Czech Railways’).
It wasn’t a simple start. The company first flirted with the railway game in April 2010 using Siemens Desiro trains, painted the now-unmistakable RegioJet yellow. People were curious-could someone really challenge the old railway giants? On its inaugural weekend, 4,000 passengers hopped on, enough to cause a few delays but also delight (and a lot of free snacks). But despite technical hiccups and customer chaos, RegioJet captured the country’s imagination-along with a very large bill for tatranek and juice.
The real show began in September 2011, when RegioJet launched its first scheduled rail line. The route between Prague and Havířov, later stretching to Žilina, became famous for free water, hot coffee, stewards and stewardesses in cheerful yellow, and even-believe it or not-clean toilets on the train. The first trains were a mix of reconstructed Austrian carriages, a patchwork of cozy compartments, all pulled by sturdy old Czech locomotives. From the beginning, RegioJet promised comfort, affordable prices-and a small rivalry with the grumpy old Pendolino trains of ČD. Spoiler alert: the passengers loved it, but České dráhy were not amused.
Competition erupted like a steam engine. České dráhy dropped their ticket prices-ironically, to exactly the same price as RegioJet’s. The two companies started a tit-for-tat battle so heated, the gossip alone could power a locomotive. At one point, RegioJet’s trains even ran with two locomotives, just in case one decided to go on strike-talk about being prepared! Of course, the press gleefully reported every delay, mishap, and management shakeup: from resigning managers to boardroom drama fit for a TV soap opera.
Don’t think it was all smooth tracks: the early years were rocky for RegioJet. Losses piled up-a whopping 76 million crowns in 2012. But Jančura’s ambition never flickered. He eyed expansion across the Czech Republic and Slovakia, trying his luck at everything: from Prague-Ostrava to joint ventures with the French rail pros at Keolis, from competing in regional contracts to launching new lines in Slovakia.
By 2016, RegioJet’s yellow buses and trains were a familiar site from Brno to Bratislava-and beyond. The company even nabbed a prestigious contract on the Bratislava-Dunajská Streda-Komárno line, using modern, sleek Bombardier trains. In 2018, facing a boom in passengers, they opened a sparkling new waiting lounge at Brno’s main station. I guess when you get tired of standing in line, some soft seats and WiFi are a welcome treat.
But life on the rails brought its own dramas. Remember the controversy over wheelchair access? RegioJet’s stewards dutifully lifted wheelchairs into trains-sometimes with more determination than elegance. A few awkward tries later, journalists got involved, everyone argued over lifting platforms, and in the end, the debate rolled on like a lost suitcase. Sometimes trains run on tracks, sometimes on good intentions.
And what about today? Well, in 2023, the company rolled in with a healthy profit of 337 million crowns on revenues of 3.2 billion. So, the little yellow challenger, born here in Brno, is no longer just ‘the other train company’-it’s an icon of Czech ambition, color, and a dash of cheek.
So-next time you see those yellow carriages glide by, just imagine all the stories, snacks, and maybe even the secret scheming of Czech rail legends packed inside. Now, if only they’d handed out free model trains, I think everyone would agree-they’re on the right track.
Want to explore the early intentions of the student agency, unrealised plans in rail transport or the regular operation in more depth? Join me in the chat section for a detailed discussion.
