A "spare" afternoon yesterday - based in Prague - and too hot to walk around the city.  I took the opportunity to travel on some random trains, keep cool, see the countryside, perhaps meet some of the people, and learn about what works and perhaps does not work here.

Praha Masaykovo n. - Poříčany
Poříčany - Nymburk hl.n
Nymburk hl.n - Usti Nad Labem hl.n
Usti Nad Labem hl.n - Praha hl.n

Pictured
- double deck train to Poříčany
- modern "railbus" on to Nymburk
- train to Usti advertises passenger comfort and low cost
- business-aware seating allowing good use of travel time
- smart branding for a GW train

So many lessons - fast, comfortable, electric trains.  A train that pulled out of Poříčany on time - then pulled up along the platform to allow people to connect into it from another train that was just arriving.  Passengers to and from Třebestovice - a small 'halt' just out from Poříčany, yet thriving in spite of its closeness to that main station, perhaps because of a reliable hourly service that really connects.  The use of really good pricing to encourage people to use the trains.  Open stations that are naturaly friendly without barriers, but with ticket checks on all legs. Display screen in trains telling me what the ongoing connections were at intermediate stations.  A train manager who let me know that a train was going to reverse at an intermediate station ... so I not be concerned.  On time arrival back into Prague, and a call in the supermarket actually located in the station, well stocked at sensible prices, and many, many outlets making the station very much a shopping mall for general use too. And walking / easy access back to the hotel with just one very local access road to cross.