The “Můj vlak” (“My Train”) mobile application

Prior to the journey – next time I won’t miss my train

In the Můj vlak application, you can comfortably search for connections for a train journey in the Czech Republic or to a foreign destination. Connections can be searched even without an internet connection, e.g. when no data signal is available. This is because you can install packages of offline timetable data for various countries in the application free of charge. Thanks to this, you can make efficient use of the space that the application takes up on your device – install only the offline timetables that you need. For this purpose, there is a simple offline timetable manager in the application settings. Even though offline timetables are continuously updated, they may not reflect all the changes arising from ongoing closures. For this reason, we recommend searching for connections online when possible.

To enter stations, you can use an automatic search for the nearest stations according to your location. The application also autocompletes station names and connections which have already been entered. To refine your search, you can set the required routing or search for e.g. only connections offering transport of bicycles. The result will be an overview of connections with basic information. From there, you can easily access detailed information about a particular connection, where you will find notifications of any closures or extraordinary events, and from where you can purchase tickets. In the case of trains which are already underway, information is also provided on whether they are running on time or have been delayed. With a simple tap, you can find detailed information about a particular train or station. The application allows you to save selected connections to favourites, and to share them using a range of standard tools (e-mail, text message, calendar, etc.).

In the connection details, you can also turn on notifications – brief messages about the connection that the application will send to you automatically. For example, it will notify you of a delay, a change of delay, an extraordinary event or closure, a transfer to a different train, etc. You can set more precise notification parameters in the application settings.

Watch out for delays

It is appropriate to mention here that information on delays is up-to-date only at the time it is communicated, and that a delay can change significantly over time. Delays in the Czech Republic are tracked based on a point-tracking system – a train’s arrival, departure or passage is always recorded at a certain point (station), and this is then compared with scheduled times in the timetable. Some of this information is entered into the system manually, and thus delays can occur in transferring information into the system. The system also does not take into account shortened stops at stations (e.g. due to a delay it is no longer necessary to wait 10 minutes for an oncoming train). It is thus always necessary to carefully follow all the information that the application provides on the train’s delay and location, and based on this to compile an accurate picture of the situation. In any case, we recommend that you always arrive at the station early so as not to miss your train, and that you keep this in mind when using information about a delay. For example, it is entirely possible that a train may have a 10-minute delay prior to arrival but is scheduled to wait at the station for 15 minutes; in this case, the train may shorten its waiting time by 10 minutes and depart on time without a delay.

In order to provide more precise information on train delays even in cases where we do not yet have confirmed information on the train’s location, in cases of extraordinary events on the line, or prior to departure from the station, we have added an innovation to the application – predicted delay. This works on the principle of verifying whether the train is travelling according to the timetable. For example, if the train did not arrive at the next station as scheduled (in view of the last known information about the delay), then the system automatically begins to calculate the predicted delay. The predicted delay is not the precise expected delay, but rather the current train delay at the moment. For example, if a train stops on the line due to an obstacle, then we will communicate that at the moment it has a 42 minute delay, because we know that 42 minutes ago it should have reached the next station. The resulting delay will likely be greater, but at the moment we cannot predict this delay. In the original system without delay prediction, such a train would look like a train running on time (it departed the previous station without a delay).

At the station – I know which platform my train will depart from

With the help of the Stanice (Station) function, you can easily get all the information you need about stations and stops (both designated as stations in the application). The basic information for each station is an overview of current train departures including information about their platform, track and any delay. You can find an overview of current departures for every station in the Czech Republic regardless of whether an information system is physically installed there. You can also easily switch to an overview of train arrivals. With a single tap from the overview, you will find detailed information about a particular train.

Other information about the station includes a description and the station’s location on the map, a list of lines, services offered at the station including operating hours, as well as the station’s accessibility.

On the train – I know exactly where my train is

The Vlak (Train) function offers you several tabs providing continuous information about your train. The first tab is the Train portal, which provides information on the current delay, the next station where the train will stop, when it will reach this station, and the platform and track on which it will arrive. Also listed are the train’s destination station and your disembarking station, or the station where you will transfer to a connecting train, including its arrival time and the platform and track on which it will arrive. If you are transferring, there is also information about your connecting train – when it departs, from what platform and track, and whether there is a delay. The next connection in your direction is offered as well, if for whatever reason you miss your planned connecting train. You will also find summary notifications about extraordinary events and closures which concern the train in question. Finally, there is information on the weather at the destination. The Train portal provides updated information even in the case of an extraordinary event, e.g. if the train is detoured, if rail replacement bus service is in effect for part of the route, if it will not run for part of the route, or if multiple trains will run under a single number (e.g. if, due to a delay, a substitute train will run on time for part of the route). Thanks to the Train portal, you will always have all the updated information you need.

Another tab is the Timetable, which, in addition to the standard listing of stops and arrival and departure times, also displays the portion of the route that you are using as part of your overall connection (where you board the train and where you disembark the train), and the current next station where the train will stop. If transferring to a different train, it will be displayed with the transfer station including the platform and track from which it will depart, as well as any delay. Based on the times in the timetable, you can have the current delay calculated, so you will know right away when roughly you will arrive at your destination and whether you will make your connecting train. The timetable will also automatically reflect all extraordinary changes caused by closures and extraordinary events on the line. Here you will find information about rail replacement bus service, detours, stations where the train will not stop due to an extraordinary event, a train cancellation for part of the route, etc.

The Operational information tab provides information about the train’s last known position – i.e. the last confirmed record in the system of the train’s arrival, departure or passage at a specific station regardless of whether the train does or does not stop at the station. There is also basic information on current measures in connection with extraordinary events or closures, followed by links to detailed information on closures and extraordinary events on the train’s route.

The Train portal, Timetable and Operational information provide a comprehensive overview of the current train journey and measures implemented due to closures and extraordinary events.

The remaining tabs provide information about the train’s composition, notes and an overview of services offered on board the train. You can also share information about a specific train, or track it using notifications.

Tickets – I can board my train straightaway

Last but not least is the application’s Tickets function, which serves as a manager of purchased tickets. The Connections function is used to purchase tickets, and tickets purchased in this manner can then be accessed using the Tickets function. Here, the ticket for the current date is automatically displayed first. You can easily show the ticket to the conductor during an inspection on the train right on your telephone’s display. You can also repeat the purchase of a ticket you have already purchased quickly and easily, and you can share tickets as well. Notifications are automatically activated for connections related to a purchased ticket, so you will receive all the notifications concerning the train for which you have purchased a ticket right on your telephone.

Just like in the ČD e-shop, when purchasing a ticket you can pay using a payment card or with a fast payment with the help of the MasterCard Mobile application (now MasterPass). We are preparing other payment options as well.

Logged-in users have it easier

You can log into the Můj vlak application with the username and password you use to log into the www.cd.cz website (e.g. to purchase tickets in the ČD e-shop as a registered user). It is not possible to perform your initial registration in the application; this must always be done on the www.cd.cz website. Logged-in users share a common purchase history with the main ČD e-shop, so tickets from the purchase history in the main e-shop are automatically transferred into the mobile application and these purchases can be easily repeated. Tickets will also continue to be shared, so a ticket purchased in the main ČD e-shop will always also appear in the mobile application, and, conversely, a ticket purchased using the mobile application will appear in your purchase history in the ČD e-shop. In the near future, purchased tickets, favourite connections, trains and stations will be shared for logged-in users in this manner between the mobile application, the www.cd.cz website and the mobile website m.cd.cz. When purchasing tickets, logged-in users will also have all the information from their user profile automatically filled in, and thus need not fill in all of the fields in the form.

More useful functions

The Můj vlak application also offers the possibility of adding separate widgets (functions) right on your telephone’s home screen. For example, you can insert a departure board for a selected station and have a current overview of train departures from that station easily available. Another widget displays the on-board portal of the last train tracked in the Můj vlak application. If you are travelling, this will allow you to easily follow the progress of your journey even without opening the Můj vlak application. The last widget offered is Ticket, which automatically displays the currently valid ticket. Thanks to this widget, your ticket will be easy to find when you need to show it to the conductor during an inspection.

ČD Credit – it’s never been easier to make purchases

If you’re registered on the ČD website (www.cd.cz), have an active credit account and are logged into the application, you can take advantage of the fastest payment method using ČD Credit. For these payments, you aren’t redirected to a payment gateway and the payment is completed almost instantaneously without any additional steps.

And something more – notifications

You can have information about your trains sent to you on the days you specify (e.g. when commuting to work, school, etc.). All you need to do is press the notification button for the specific connection or train.