The story
The line to Nová Bystřice was opened on 1 November 1897 and the line to Obrataň followed on 24 December 1906. Both lines were originally operated with steam locomotives, with engine sheds in Jindřichův Hradec, Kamenice nad Lipou, Nova Bystřice und Obrataň. Soon after opening, a goods service with rollbocks was established.
Following the founding of Czechoslovakia, the railway became part of ČSD in 1924. During World War II, it came under the control of the Deutsche Reichsbahn.
In 1998, both lines were privatised and became owned and operated by Jindřichohradecké místní dráhy (JHMD).
In September 2022, after years of financial difficulties and mismanagement, the company filed for bankruptcy and operations ceased on 2 October 2022 with buses replacing the trains. In 2026, tourist-regime trains returned to both lines, under a new operator, Gepard Express.
From Wikipedia’s article on Jindřichův Hradec narrow-gauge railway, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4
