Slow farewell to the "Knödelexpress" on the Eurocity to Prague

White tablecloths and a brewery atmosphere in the dining car of Eurocity trains between Prague, Berlin and Hamburg will soon be a thing of the past. The classic "Knödelexpress" will be replaced in the summer, the Czech Railways (CD) announced on request.

The reason for this is that CD is deploying new trains on the route. Some of the modern Nightjets are already running between Hamburg, Berlin, Dresden and Prague instead of the Eurocity trains. According to CD, they can reach speeds of 230 kilometers per hour between Hamburg and Berlin, while the old trains can only travel at up to 200 kilometers per hour. There is also around 100 more passengers and more ferry bikes can be taken on board.

Roast sirloin and dumplings with cranberries will remain on offer

This also means the end of the popular dining car - built in 1997 - in the medium term. According to CD, schnitzel and other dishes are still prepared on board, while the rest is prepared centrally and then reheated.

The successor offers 18 seats, hot and cold food and freshly tapped beer, according to the CD. What is missing compared to the classic "Knödelexpress" is the stove. It will be replaced by a modern combi-steamer. "This will ensure more efficient food preparation and a higher quality of service," they say. However, there will be "no fundamental changes" to the catering services on board. The popular sirloin roast with cream sauce, Bohemian dumplings with cranberries and schnitzel will remain on offer.

In photos, however, the new dining car looks much more sterile than the Knödelexpress - and is reminiscent of the Deutsche Bahn on-board restaurant.

The new trains and dining car were presented for the first time at the Innotrans trade fair in Berlin in September 2024. The changeover will take several months, according to Czech Railways.