Total distance travelled on CD services increased by 5.7% to 447 million km.

The figures break the previous record set in 1994, the year after Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The company reports that passenger numbers have been steadily increasing since 2010 and in recent years long-distance services have seen typical growth of around 8-9% annually.

The operator says comfortable trains, improvements in service quality and reduced journey times have helped to stimulate growth, while worsening road congestion has helped to encourage increasing ridership on suburban services.

CEO Mr Miroslav Kupec says the company will continue to invest in the modernisation of its fleet. CD recently ordered 50 Viaggio Comfort coaches from Siemens and more new tenders have been announced for regional and long-distance rolling stock.

CD plans to invest around Koruna 40bn ($US 1.78bn) over the next five years.