The largest private train operator in Central Europe, RegioJet, today ceremoniously opened a new lounge at the main train station in Prague. This is an absolutely unique space in the Czech Republic, ushering in a new era of rail travel comfort.

The design of the new lounge was undertaken by the renowned Czech designer Patrik Kotas and his team from Studio Kotas & Partners. The team that has already created the design of the popular Astra cars joined the project with the aim of combining aesthetics and functionality, which is reflected in every detail of the new lounge.

“RegioJet continues its growth and innovation. With more than 11 million passengers transported last year and success in the latest public tenders, we are opening this new lounge that reflects our ambition to offer the highest possible quality of service,” said Radim Jančura, founder and owner of RegioJet. “This space is a testament to our commitment to enhancing our customers’ travel experiences.”

Patrik Kotas and Jan Brožek, lead designers, added: “Both the Central Station and RegioJet by Radim Jančura are matters of the heart for me personally and for our studio. Our studio is responsible for the concept of the renovation of Prague Central Station, which began 15 years ago in the new terminal hall and under the historic steel halls and ran until recently. For Radim Jančura and his RegioJet, we have been designing the visual appearance of his locomotives, wagons and buses for over 19 years. And it is precisely this connection between the beautiful train station and the yellow trains that lies behind the concept of the interior design of the newly opened RegioJet lounge. The combination and connection of shapes and materials that are characteristic of the yellow cars, as well as the lighting design and piano melodies create a unique atmosphere. We believe that passengers will rediscover the magic of the railway, including through this cultural-emotional experience that the new lounge will give them.”

Essex wing forms the heart of the lounge

Under the direction of Patrik Kotas, a space was created that perfectly combines style and practicality. The lounge, with a capacity of 104 people, offers visitors comfortable armchairs and seating boxes for more privacy. The lounge's strategic location in the departure area of ​​the train station facilitates access for travelers while providing a calm oasis in the middle of the city's hustle and bustle.

The centerpiece of the new lounge is an Essex grand piano from Steinway & Sons, equipped with a PianoDisc system with automatic playback for a pleasant atmosphere. The grand piano, located in the center of the lounge on a circular stage, is not only the design highlight of the space, but above all a source of lively music in a wide range of genres from pop music to classical music.

The operator wants to score points with free ice cream

RegioJet passengers traditionally have access to a variety of free premium services. These include modern toilets, high-speed internet, air conditioning, a selection of drinks and a daily newspaper. There are two soda bars and three professional coffee machines with a wide range of coffees. Two coffee machines are fully automatic, one is for baristas. Passengers can choose and enjoy their preferred type of coffee. The lounge is equipped with a dense network of 230V and USB sockets at every seat to conveniently charge mobile devices and laptops. A refreshing new addition is a self-service ice cream machine for making traditional soft serve ice cream, which is also free for RegioJet passengers.

The slideshow below shows some impressions from the new Regiojet lounge that opened at Prague Central Station:

Aviation.Direct took a closer look at Regiojet's on-board products some time ago as part of the Tripreports section. The report about that Train offers can be found at this link and about dThe long-distance buses are reported in this article.

Competitor lounges and entry requirements

The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) offer lounges for its passengers who have access to certain ticket classes or purchase a separate lounge membership. For example, lounge access is included in the first class upgrade to the Austrian climate ticket.

The situation is similar at Deutsche Bahn AG, which operates lounges at various train stations and allows access for passengers with certain ticket classes or a separate lounge membership. Other providers such as the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) offer lounges that are usually available to passengers with specific ticket classes or frequent traveler status.

In Germany and Austria, the services offered to passengers in train lounges are in many cases much more rudimentary than in aviation. For example, there is often only a limited selection of drinks and at many train stations there are only cold snacks in the exclusive waiting areas. However, in the interest of fairness, it must also be noted that there are also lounges in aviation at some airports that are simply not worth the money.