The end of line 119: There's now a new way to reach Prague Airport

From this afternoon, people in the capital have a new way to reach Prague Airport. A new trolleybus – the longest in Czechia – will replace the classic 119 bus line. The trolleybus-operated service will become line number 59 and – as the 119 did – will leave from nádraží Veleslavín. Passengers will also reach Veleslavín from the airport with the trolleybus from today. 

The nearly 25-meter-long trolleybus – featuring two articulated joints – will make its maiden journey from Veleslavín to the airport at 2:41 p.m. today and in the opposite direction at 2:46 p.m.

The trolleybuses offer a much higher capacity than line 119, with 54 seats and 126 standing spots. The vehicle comes with air conditioning and four information LED panels. In contrast, the 119 buses had a total capacity of about 100 passengers.

The frequency of services will remain the same as during line 119’s operation, running at roughly four-minute intervals in peak times and about every 10 minutes at night. Journey times are expected to remain the same.

Line 59’s route from Veleslavín to the airport is about 19 kilometers, with approximately 11 kilometers covered by overhead contact lines and the remaining distance operated by the trolleybus’ battery. The new trolleybus has a range of 12 kilometers when fully charged.

With financing help from the EU, carmaker Škoda Electric and bus manufacturer Solaris made 20 trolleybuses last year as part of Czechia’s overall goal of creating emission-free mobility in urban public transport in Prague. The model name of the trolleybuses is the Škoda-Solaris 24m.

In December 2022, the Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) began a test phase with passengers between Palmovka (Prague 8) and Čakovice (Prague 18). Since then, DPP has constructed trolley lines along sections of the route between Veleslavín and the airport.

Furthermore, trolleybuses are now operating from Palmovka to Miškovice (Prague 9), with line 58 entirely replacing bus number 140 on Feb. 1 this year.

Looking further ahead, Prague hopes to complete the construction of its much-talked-about and eagerly anticipated railway line between Prague Airport and the city center. This railway line will stop off at Prague’s central station, Hlavní nádraží and Masarykovo nádraži – work is due to be finished by 2030.