České dráhy (ČD), the Czech Republic’s national railway operator, is ending the planned use of the 854 series DMUs, known by the nickname “Hydra,” on local and express trains on the Prague–Kladno–Rakovník route.
The last scheduled train operated by an 854 series railcar ran on Thursday, May 7, on the Kladno–Rakovník route, departing at 4:11 a.m. and arriving at 5:03 a.m. This marks the end of regular service for these vehicles, more than 55 years after their manufacture in the late 1960s.
Replaced by Regionova railcars
On the Prague–Kladno–Rakovník route, the 854 DMUs will be replaced by 814.2 Regionova DMUs in a “trio” configuration, partially accessible to people with reduced mobility.
The change will allow easier access to ČD trains for passengers who need step-free boarding, including wheelchair users, seniors, young children, and other categories of travelers for whom accessibility is important.
Looking ahead, accessible electric trains are set to be introduced on this line. Nationally, the retirement of the 854 railcars is also linked to the introduction of the new RegioFox DMUs, which will soon total 106 trains on Czech lines.
Some vehicles remain in reserve
Although the planned use of the 854 DMUs is ending, some vehicles will remain available as reserves and may temporarily return to service.
Currently, this is happening in southern Moravia, where five DMUs serve connections on the Brno – Veselí nad Moravou line. In the Central Bohemia region, České dráhy is considering using some 854 DMUs at the start of the travel season to Bochov, where a higher number of passengers is expected on the first day.
From Vienna to regional trains
The 854 series DMUs resulted from the modernization of diesel vehicles from the 852 and 853 series, built in the late 1960s at the Studénka railcar factory.
Between 1969 and 1972, these railcars were also used on the international Vindobona express, which connected Berlin, Prague, and Vienna. Later, they served on domestic express trains, accelerated trains, and local trains on non-electrified lines in Bohemia and Moravia.
In the past, these vehicles were associated primarily with northern and eastern Bohemia, but also with southern Moravia. Between 1997 and 2006, the railcars underwent an extensive modernization process.
Over time, the vehicles received several nicknames related to their operation or the technical solutions used, including “Vindobona”, “Hydra”, and “Katr”. Their retirement from scheduled service marks the end of an important era for regional diesel transport in the Czech Republic.
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