Let's improve public transport! Welcome to the presentation of our research groups.
Periodic timetable
Since the end of the last century, a group of transport enthusiasts has been operating at the CTU FTS. We strive to maintain a traditionally high share of public transport passengers and a traditionally high evaluation of public transport quality in the Czech Republic compared to other EU countries. The basic tool for the competitiveness of public transport against increasingly available individual transport is temporal and spatial availability. So the key lies on the side of an attractive offer of services. However, with limited resources, it is obviously not possible to drive often enough directly everywhere. For the basic offer of transport services in the area, it is therefore appropriate to design a well-thought-out network of lines (for different transport purposes, different service layers and different transport flows) and apply the principles of periodic timetable with systematic connections in nodes in its operation.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic and Czech Railways, this concept, which has proved successful especially in German-speaking countries, has gradually succeeded in long-distance transport in the Czech Republic. Subsequently, many regions took it for granted, and the focus of our work shifted to regional, suburban and urban transport. The capacity limits of the current rail infrastructure then caused the need to address freight transport in accordance with the priorities of the govermental transport policy. For the further development of this concept, it is necessary not only to work with the service offer (timetable) independently, but also to plan it together with new vehicles, proposals for modifications and completion of the infrastructure and the methodology of traffic management on it.
We currently offer four attractive research groups specializing in public and combined transport, rail technology, urban mobility, and, last but not least, groups focused on aspects of traffic behavior and demand modeling in collaboration with the Charles University in Prague. Now you have the opportunity to join in and solve public transport problems together, for example where you know it well!
Research group 17X1IG:
Integral periodic timetable in the Czech Republic
Compared to individual transport, public transport lacks temporal and spatial accessibility for individual. In a developed area, however, it can offer a clever network of transfer links between lines (and traffic modes) at regular intervals - a periodic timetable. The aim of The group is the concept of a hierarchical offer of functional layers of public service with backbone in rail transport - from the modeling of transport relationships through modal split to the creation of timetables and operatinal technology, including long-term optimization of timetables, network of lines, vehicle rostering, infrastructure and dispatching.
Research group 17X1KC:
Competitive public transport
Bus, urban and rail transport is usually ordered and paid for in terms of performance (per mileage), although most costs are fixed (per vehicle, drivers in shift, etc.). The aim of The group is to learn to use the available resources from improving the offer of links to the preparation of comprehensive documents for competition for carrier selection. We are mainly concerned with macroscopic transport modeling and design of public transport timetables.
Research group 17X1RN/TN:
Development / Technology of rail freight transport
Most of the railway network was created thanks to freight transport. However, it now faces both competition from road transport and insufficient track capacity on many backbone lines intensively used by passenger transport. In the Czech Republic, the market on the part of carriers is fully liberalized and the transfer of transport back to the railways is a strategic goal of the EU and the state, even though current construction projects do not take this very much into account.
How to obtain attractive and flexible routes for freight trains without restricting periodic timetabled passenger transport - long-distance and suburban - and filling freight trains into "holes" in tact? Yes, it's feasible in a better way!
Research group 17X1RG:
Regional mobility support
The research group focuses on individual modes of transport - their specific applications, current trends and interconnections between them. We get acquainted with the concept of mobility as a service, show the strengths of public transport and look for suitable solutions to ensure transport on the "last mile".
Last diploma and bachelor theses
Cost analysis in freight rail transport
Hajný Jan; Bachelor theses; 2026
The thesis deals with the analysis of the impacts of implementing the TTR (Timetabling and Capacity Redesign) methodology on a selected railway line. The work includes an analysis of the demand for railway capacity on the chosen line, the design of a capacity model, and the application of TTR principles in the timetable planning process. The outcome is an evaluation of the impact of this methodology on traffic organization and the utilization of railway capacity.
Analysis of the impacts of implementing the TTR methodology on selected railway line
Janovský Ondřej; Bachelor theses; 2026
This thesis analyzes operating costs in rail freight transport, focusing specifically on traction electricity consumption and infrastructure capacity charges. On a theoretical level, it outlines the operator's cost structure, the hybrid energy billing model, and the infrastructure charging framework for the year 2026. Based on energetic simulations in the FBS iPlan software and actual operational data from ČD Cargo and DB Cargo, an economic comparison of seamless operations and forced train stops on routes between Prague and Brno is presented, alongside a proposed compensation model to incentivize the utilization of alternative lines.
Dividing Train Technology
Chramostová Kateřina; Bachelor theses; 2026
This thesis deals with the dividing train technology. It defines it as a term and focuses on the description of the factors, which influence the implementation of this technology, and it also investigates its advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, it describes the usage of this technology in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and Switzerland and compares the ways of informing about portion working in those countries. The outcome of this thesis are proposals of implementing the portion working at three locations in the Czech Republic (Planá u Mariánských Lázní, Kralupy nad Vltavou, Otrokovice).
Opportunities for Long-Distance Bus Transport under PSO in Czechia
Macura Sebastian; Diploma theses; 2026
This thesis addresses the absence of guaranteed long-distance bus transport operating under a public service obligation in the Czech Republic. The objective is to identify transport relations lacking competitive railway infrastructure and to propose the implementation of backbone bus routes on them. The potential assessment is conducted using macroscopic transport modelling in PTV VISUM software, utilizing data from OSRM and TomTom APIs, alongside a gravity model of demand. The competitiveness of the hypothetical bus supply against the prospective 2030 railway network is primarily evaluated through savings in perceived journey time. The analysis identifies over 4,000 perspective relations, establishing the foundation for a detailed network operational concept. This concept outlines six priority routes strictly adhering to the principles of an integrated regular-interval timetable. Subsequent verification within the transport model confirms that implementing these connections effectively increases the modal split in favor of public transport.
A New Public Transport Concept in the Jindřichův Hradec Region
Vaněk Adam; Diploma theses; 2026
The thesis focuses on an analysis and a proposal of public transportation concepts in the Jindřichův Hradec region. It compares the current concept (lacking elements of integration or clock-face scheduled service) with the autors planned concept linked to the implementation of a region-wide integrated public transportation system. The thesis includes analyses of commuting frequencies and public transit concepts, proposes modifications to the concept and evaluates and describes their operational and economic impacts. The aim of the thesis was i.a. a creation of a proposal of a networked clock-face scheduled transportation concept.
Public Transport in the Dolní Břežany Area after the Launch of Metro Line D
Šlapák Filip; Diploma theses; 2026
The aim of this thesis is to analyze transport relations in the Dolní Břežany area and evaluate the current concept of bus transport in the region. Based on the results of this analysis, a new bus transport concept after the opening of Metro Line D is proposed, taking into account the expected changes in both public transport services and travel demand. The proposed solution is then compared with the current situation in terms of transport and operational parameters.
Station Passenger Information System - Best Practice
Kulakovský Adam; Diploma theses; 2026
The subject of the thesis is to compare existing passenger information systems. This is followed by the creation and analysis of a questionnaire survey on the comprehensibility of information boards and monitors. Based on the questionnaire survey, a formal proposal for a new visualization of station information systems at Prague Main Station is created.
User device potential for alternative charging and marketing in public transport
Koubek Ladislav; Bachelor theses; 2025
This bachelor thesis focuses on the use of users' mobile devices for alternative charging in public transport, with an emphasis on targeting occasional passengers. It analyses solutions from domestic and foreign practice (e.g., Check-In/Check-Out, capping, Mobile Pay-As-You-Go) and evaluates their benefits and limitations from the perspective of both passengers and transport operators. Based on findings from selected foreign and Czech operations, an offer for occasional passengers is proposed that reflects modern trends in digitization and marketing in public transport.
Capacity Model Praha-Libeň - Bad Schandau
Kosík David; Bachelor theses; 2025
The topic of the thesis is introducing the methods of capacity management as described in the Timetabling and Capacity Redesign (TTR). The goal of the TTR project is to simplify, unify and improve the European rail timetabling system. The thesis consists of an analysis of demand for capacity between the stations of Praha-Libeň and Bad Schandau, creating a capacity model and planning of the pre-arranged catalogue symmetrical periodic freight train paths on this main line.
Even better research groups than you expected!