Prague's Transport Evolution: A Conversation with Jan Barchanek, DPP Transport Director

Prague's public transport network carries close to a billion passenger journeys a year through one of Europe's most protected historic city centres, while racing to modernise for the decades ahead. Balancing heritage, growth and technology is no small task, and few people understand that balance better than Jan Barchanek.

In this episode, Dr. Kaan Yildizgoz speaks with Jan Barchanek, Transport Director and COO of the Prague Public Transport Company (DPP), about running trams, buses and metro across a historic city with narrow streets and limited space for cars. Jan explains DPP's approach to smart electrification, the practicalities of driverless metro on Lines C and D, and how the ROPID-coordinated integrated ticketing system keeps buses, trams, rail and ferries working as one network. He also shares how DPP trains its workforce through its own dedicated training school, and why long-term financing certainty matters as much as new technology.

Whether you lead a transport authority, an operator, or a technology business supporting one, this conversation offers a clear, practical view of how a major European capital keeps its network resilient, affordable and people-focused.

Chapters

00:00 Podcast Intro

00:17 Meet Jan Barchanek

01:23 Career Journey at DPP

03:32 Running Transit in Historic Prague

05:41 Affordable Fares and Night Service

07:07 Smart Bus Electrification Strategy

09:57 Digitalization and Driverless Metro

11:30 Integrated Transport with ROPID