Key takeaways
- RegioJet is an umbrella brand for several companies – the Czech and Austrian operations are different firms.
- The coaches are second-hand and come from several European fleets; each one brings its own history.
- Loco-hauled rather than a multiple unit – this clearly sets the brand apart from its competitor Leo Express.
- The country code decides which of the companies is running a vehicle, not the colour.
- The network is redrawn every year. So describe vehicles, not timetables.
Contents
- 1.Fact file
- 2.Business areas
- 3.Structure & brands
- 4.History at a glance
- 5.How to recognise the company
- 6.Strengths and weaknesses
- 7.One brand, several national companies
- 8.Why loco-hauled coaching stock was the smarter choice here
- 9.What comes together in one yellow train
- 10.How to work through a rake of coaches systematically
- 11.Where you’ll find the brand
- 12.What to note down – and what not to
- 13.Verdict
- 14.Frequently asked questions
Fact file
| Type of organisation | brand of a private transport group, carried by several companies |
|---|---|
| Start of rail services | 2011 on the Prague–Ostrava route |
| Train formation | loco-hauled coaching stock rather than a multiple unit – unusual in private long-distance rail |
| Colour scheme | bold yellow across the whole train, including the locomotive |
| Companies | own companies in the Czech Republic and Austria, more abroad |
| Vehicle origin | mostly second-hand coaches from several European fleets |
| Recognising it in the field | yellow, mixed coach types in one train, markings with a history |
| Official website | www.regiojet.cz |
Business areas
Structure & brands
History at a glance
How to recognise Regiojet
Does the train really belong to Regiojet?
- Consistent yellow on locomotive and coaches – unmistakable from a distance
- Loco-hauled coaching stock rather than a multiple unit, the exception in private long-distance rail
- Mismatched coach types in one train, because the vehicles come from different fleets
- A data panel with a history – traces of previous keepers are often still legible
- Changing traction – some locomotives owned, some leased
- Country code in the data panel shows which company is running the vehicle
- On-board service staff selling at the seat – a legacy of the coach business
Strengths and weaknesses
What the company stands for
- A train full of vehicles of varied origin – ideal for reading numbers
- Loco-hauled trains have become rare in private long-distance rail
- Cross-border routes let you compare several national companies
- A distinctive colour scheme that's unmistakable even in poor weather
- Direct competition with two other operators on the same route
Where it falls short
- The brand name alone doesn't identify a company – abroad, a different firm is running the train
- Leased locomotives change frequently; there are hardly any fixed assignments
- Coach formations change seasonally and at short notice
- Seasonal holiday trains are hard to plan around and are redrawn every year
- Old markings on second-hand coaches regularly lead to misidentification
Updated: August 2026 – A bold yellow train pulls in, and on a second look you notice that the coaches don’t match: different window layouts, different door arrangements, uneven roof fittings. RegioJet does this not out of carelessness but as a matter of principle. The brand is uniform, the vehicles behind it come from half of Europe – and which company is running the train depends on which country you’re standing in.
Log every coach individually
A mixed rake of coaches holds more than one sighting. Note the formation before the train pulls away.
One brand, several national companies
Anyone wanting to cross borders needs a licence in each country, staff with route knowledge, and vehicles that meet local regulations. That’s why international operators found subsidiary companies rather than simply running through. For this brand, these include RegioJet a.s. in the Czech Republic and RegioJet AT GmbH in Austria.
For you on the platform, that means the same yellow train can be the responsibility of different companies on different sections of its route. The lettering doesn’t change. The only place you can see the difference is the data panel with its country code and keeper marking – exactly the system explained in the guide Who’s actually running this train?.
Why loco-hauled coaching stock was the smarter choice here
A newcomer to long-distance rail faces an expensive decision: buy fixed multiple units, or collect second-hand coaches and put a locomotive in front of them. This brand chose the second path. Second-hand coaching stock from several European fleets was taken over, refurbished and given a uniform livery.
The result is a train that looks uniform from the outside and is extremely varied in the details. No other regularly running long-distance service in the region offers so many different coach types over such a short route. Anyone reading numbers will find vehicles from several decades and several former railways within a single set.
The price for this is extra operational effort. A loco-hauled train has to be shunted, moved or turned round, needs more staff, and a locomotive matched to the route and electrification system. But that’s exactly what becomes visible on the platform: locomotive changes, train formation, occasional shunting moves. With a multiple unit, you see none of that – it arrives, turns round and departs.
For documentation this gives a simple rule. Log the locomotive and the coaching stock separately and treat them as two independent sightings. The locomotive belongs to a diagram and could be hauling a different train tomorrow; the coaches tend to stay together, but not necessarily either.
Sketch the formation, don't just photograph it
With mixed rakes of coaches, the position within the formation is information in its own right. A quick sketch – locomotive, then coaches from front to back – makes a sighting usable later, even if a photo doesn't come out.
What comes together in one yellow train
| Part of the train | Origin | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Locomotive | some owned, some leased | keeper marking often differs from the brand name |
| Coaching stock | second-hand from several railways | type and number reveal the previous owner |
| Service coach | converted stock vehicles | signs of conversion at windows and doors |
| Seasonal strengthening | coaches added at short notice | mismatched type in the middle of the train |
| Data panel | currently valid register | country code shows the responsible company |
It’s exactly this mix that makes the brand more interesting to spotters than many state-railway products. A uniform multiple unit gives you one number; a mixed rake of coaches gives you a dozen – plus a cross-section of European rolling stock history.
How to work through a rake of coaches systematically
Locomotive first
It may be leased and then carries a foreign keeper marking. Its number and marking belong in a field of their own.
Work from front to back
A fixed direction prevents duplicated or skipped coaches. Note down the order as you go.
Note the differences in type
Window layout, door arrangement and roof shape reveal the origin before you've even read the number.
Check the country code per vehicle
In an international train, vehicles from different registers can run together – that's normal, and important.
Ignore old markings
Traces of former labelling are interesting but not authoritative. What counts is the currently valid number.
How much history is hiding in this coach?
The data panel beats any impression – it names the register the coach is currently held in.
One train, twelve sightings
Log coach by coach without losing track of the formation.
Where you’ll find the brand
The core network sits on the Czech main line. Prague Hlavní nádraží and Ostrava Hlavní nádraží are the classic termini, while Brno Hlavní nádraží covers the connections to the south. Across the border, Vienna Hauptbahnhof is the most important point.
On the same platforms you’ll find the state-owned České dráhy and the dark-liveried multiple units of Leo Express. Three operators, three vehicle concepts, one route – made possible by the separation of network and operations at Správa železnic. More tips on the local scene are in the Czech Republic guide.
The network also includes seasonal connections that only run within certain periods. They are replanned every year, and their scope depends on demand – with open-access services, no one but the company itself decides on this. That’s exactly why service descriptions on pages like this one are always only a snapshot. What you read off the vehicle stays reliable.
What to note down – and what not to
Belongs in the entry …
- the number and country code of every vehicle
- the order within the train formation
- place, date and time
Only useful with a caveat …
- the locomotive number, because traction can be leased
- the route, because the network is redrawn every year
- notes on former keepers, as a side remark
Doesn't belong in it …
- "RegioJet" as the sole operator entry abroad
- an origin guessed purely from the vehicle type
- old markings taken as the current vehicle number
Busy platforms, short stops
On the main routes, stops are brief and platforms are busy. Anyone wanting to read off an entire rake of coaches should position themselves in advance rather than walking alongside a moving train. Keep a safe distance from the track; at stations the operator's house rules apply.
Verdict
RegioJet is a brand that presents itself as completely uniform on the outside while being made up entirely of individual pieces on the inside. Which company is running the train depends on the country; the coaches come from several European fleets; the locomotive may be leased.
For spotters, this is the more interesting variant of private long-distance rail. A multiple unit gives you one number, this train gives you a whole set – provided you read them and don’t rely on the colour.
Quick verdict
RegioJet is an umbrella brand over several national companies. Yellow is the brand; the operator is stated in the data panel – and that changes at the border.
Archive mixed rakes of coaches properly
Number, formation, country code – so every sighting stays usable even after the next network overhaul.
Summary
- A yellow train side is a brand mark, not an indication of the operator – the company behind it depends on the country.
- A single train can carry coaches from four or five previous fleets; that makes every formation its own task.
- Leased traction means the locomotive changes more often than on railways with their own fleet.
- Anyone who notes numbers and country codes gets an archive that survives the next network overhaul.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs services under the RegioJet brand?
In the Czech Republic, RegioJet a.s.; in Austria, RegioJet AT GmbH. Further companies exist in other countries, because every national licence requires its own staff, vehicles and approvals. The yellow lettering is the same throughout – responsibility for the train service is not.
Why does RegioJet run locomotive-hauled trains instead of multiple units?
Because a loco-hauled train can be flexibly matched to demand and assembled from second-hand vehicles. That significantly lowers the cost of entry. Its competitor Leo Express chose the opposite path and runs fixed multiple units. Both concepts run on the same route – a rare direct comparison.
Where do the coaches come from?
From several European fleets. Second-hand coaching stock was taken over from various railways, refurbished and given a uniform livery. That's why a single train often carries coaches with different window layouts, door arrangements and interior fittings. For documentation this is an advantage: almost every coach has its own history that can be traced through its number.
Which locomotives haul the trains?
Some owned, some leased. In the Czech Republic, Škoda locomotives dominate the picture, documented on the pages for the RegioJet 162 and the related ČD 162/163. Because traction is leased, the locomotive can change more often than on railways with their own fleet – so always log it separately from the coaching stock.
How do I tell RegioJet apart from the state railway?
By colour and train formation. České dráhy runs in state-railway colours and mostly uses its own multiple units and coaches. RegioJet is yellow throughout, including the locomotive. The distinction only becomes reliable via the data panel, because leased vehicles can also run in a foreign base colour.
Does RegioJet also run to Austria?
Yes, there are cross-border services, and a dedicated Austrian company, RegioJet AT GmbH, exists for them. Vienna is an important terminus; a good place to watch is Vienna Hauptbahnhof. Which routes are running in the current timetable year should be checked separately.
What does the brand have to do with buses?
The group came from the long-distance coach business, and that still shapes its service concept today: on-board sales and service at the seat, its own distribution channel, strong branding. Coach operations continue under the same brand but are not rail services. That's an important distinction for a sighting list.
Can the seasonal holiday trains be planned for?
Only to a limited extent. They are redrawn every year, run within certain periods, and can be cancelled or added at short notice. To see them, you need to check the current timetable rather than rely on last year's. The overview in the article on the European night train network helps put them into context.
Why do some coaches still carry old markings?
Because second-hand coaches aren't always relabelled completely. Traces of former keeper markings, old numbers or interior labelling often remain visible. That's a gift for research and a trap for identification: what counts is the currently valid number in the data panel, not the rest of the history.
How do I usefully log a sighting?
Locomotive and coaches separately, with the full number, country code, place and date. For a loco-hauled train, it's also worth adding a short note on the formation. How to read the numbers is explained in the guide to the UIC number; how to build an archive from it is covered in the guide to keeping a sighting log.
Log vehicles from Regiojet
Company, vehicle, location and date logged in seconds – and visible to the community.
The operational level in the railway operator database
Who actually runs the trains, with keeper markings and identifying features on the vehicle.
RegioJet a.s.
RegioJet a.s. is a Czech passenger operator. Anyone who follows its trains across the country runs into a peculiarity: Czechia has two electrification systems.
Long-distanceRegioJet AT GmbH
RegioJet AT GmbH carries a country tag right in the middle of its company name. This page explains what such a suffix says – and what observers wrongly infer from it.
Long-distanceLeo Express s.r.o.
Leo Express s.r.o. is a Czech passenger transport company. On busy routes it's one of several operators – a stroke of luck for spotters.
Local & regionalČeské dráhy (ČD)
České dráhy (ČD) is the Czech state railway. Anyone wanting to identify its vehicles quickly runs into nicknames dating back to the old class-letter system.
Local & regionalŽSSK – Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko, a.s.
ŽSSK stands for Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko – by its name a Slovak passenger railway company. This database lists the entry under Czechia.
Typical vehicles
RegioJet 162 WB (Skoda)
RegioJet runs Škoda DC Class 162 locomotives in a striking yellow livery. Here's how to identify them and what sets the 162 apart from the near-identical 163.
ClassCD 162 / 163
ČD Classes 162 and 163 are four-axle Škoda electric locomotives for 3 kV DC, popularly nicknamed "Peršing". Here's how to identify them and tell them apart from the 300-series.
ClassLeo Express FLIRT
Leo Express runs Stadler FLIRT units across Czechia. Here's how to recognise the FLIRT platform, how the dual-system technology makes sense – and how to tell it apart from state railway stock.
Where you will find Regiojet
Spotting locations where you will regularly come across vehicles from this organisation – with viewpoints, the best light and coordinates.
Praha hlavní nádraží
Prague is one of the few places in Europe where several long-distance operators openly compete for the same passengers. For spotters that means three railway companies, four neighbouring countries and a fleet ranging from vintage electric locomotives to tilting trains – all under the same platform roof.
Junction stationBrno hlavní nádraží
Brno hlavní nádraží is the second most important rail hub in the Czech Republic – and one of the few large stations in Central Europe whose relocation has been debated for decades. Anyone who wants to experience the old layout in operation shouldn't put it off indefinitely.
Freight hubOstrava hlavní nádraží
Ostrava lies at the heart of the Moravian-Silesian industrial region – where coal, steel and chemicals have generated rail traffic for over a hundred years. For spotters the hub is above all one thing: the place with the highest density of private freight operators in Czechia.
Junction stationWien Hauptbahnhof
Wien Hauptbahnhof has only been in operation for just over a decade, and it has completely reshuffled Austrian long-distance traffic. Twelve platform tracks as a through station, trains from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Italy – and at night a density of night trains rarely found anywhere else.
More companies
Leo Express
Leo Express is one of the private long-distance brands on the Czech main axis between Prague and Ostrava. The dark-liveried units stand out immediately – the company behind the name is a different one from the lettering, and the offer now reaches well beyond rail.
State railwayČeské dráhy (ČD)
Czechia runs on two electrification systems and a third class of vehicle that masters both. České dráhy classes its rolling stock with a scheme that captures exactly that – the first digit tells you traction type and overhead-line voltage in one go.
BrandWESTbahn
WESTbahn is Austria's best-known private long-distance brand – and a textbook example of a brand covering more than one company. Its double-deck multiple units run on the Weststrecke in direct competition with ÖBB's Railjet, without needing a public service contract.
InfrastructureSpráva železnic
Správa železnic manages the Czech state railway network – separate from České dráhy, which is just one of several train operators there. The result is a country with unusually strong competition in long-distance services and two electrification systems on one network.
Related guides from the blog
- The Ultimate Guide to Drehscheibe Online Czech Republic: Searching, Photo Spots, Special Workings, Law & Tour Planning
- Who's Actually Running That Train? How to Identify Railway Operators
- Europe's Night Train Network: Which Sleeper Trains Still Run in 2026
- Reading the UIC number: what the 12 digits on a vehicle reveal
- Keeping a Sighting Logbook: From Scraps of Paper to a Real Database
