Raz: New Train Timetable Introduces Hourly Intervals on Bratislava-Kosice Route

Bratislava, October 22 (TASR) - In line with the new train timetable for 2025 taking effect as of December 15, trains between Bratislava and Kosice will run at hourly intervals, with the route being served by 16 express trains instead of the current 11, Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) told a news conference, held on Tuesday in reaction to the news on scrapping of IC trains that appeared in the media in the past few days. "We're introducing an hourly interval. Trains between Bratislava and Kosice will run every hour, similarly to the case in the surrounding countries between big cities. Instead of the current 11 trains (seven express trains and four IC trains), we'll have 16 express trains. The system of discounts, giving free travel to students and pensioners, will be preserved for these express trains," said Raz. The minister sees the benefit of the new train timetable in higher number of trains serving the Bratislava-Kosice route. Eight stops will be added, with express trains stopping also in Trencin, Povazska Bystrica, Puchov (both Trencin region), Vrutky, Kralovany, Ruzomberok (all three in Zilina region), Strba (Presov region) and Margecany (Kosice region). According to Raz, trains should be less overcrowded as a result of the new timetable. ko/mcs