ČD Class 680

Operations

The ČD Class 680, known as the Pendolino, is the backbone of ČD’s fastest service, SuperCity. It gained approval to run in Slovakia and Austria in December 2006.

Between 2009 and 2011, a single pair operated as the SuperCity Slovenská strela on the Prague–Bratislava line, but low demand ended it because the train was no faster yet cost more. By 2020, nine daily round trips ran as SuperCity Pendolino on the Prague–Pardubice–Olomouc–Ostrava route, with some extending to Bohumín and one to Košice as SuperCity Pendolino Košičan. Twice daily, the service continued as an InterCity train from Prague to Františkovy Lázně via Plzeň.

Accidents

On December 1, 2007, a Pendolino derailed in Prague with no injuries but severe damage. On July 22, 2015, train SC 512 from Bohumín to Františkovy Lázně collided with a truck carrying sheet metal at a crossing in Studénka, killing three passengers and injuring 17; unit 680 003 was badly damaged, requiring a new driving car body, and returned to service in September 2018 after damage exceeding 200 million CZK. On June 27, 2022, a Pendolino from Bohumín to Prague collided head-on with a ČD Class 742 locomotive near Bohumín station after the Pendolino driver, who was drunk, passed a stop signal; the driver died and five people were injured.

Unit 680 006 was initially intended for spare parts, but later the two most damaged cars were scrapped and the rest repaired and fitted with ETCS. On March 1, 2023, a Pendolino from Prague to Košice derailed in Žilina due to a switch failure; no one was injured.

Did You Know?

• A ČD Class 680 trainset appeared in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale, shown traveling from Switzerland to Montenegro.
• The train was featured in the 2008 movie Wanted with real Czech Railways logo and equipment.