Construction of first high-speed rail lines to start in 202528/11/2024|Press releasesThe Ministry of Transport, in cooperation with Správa železnic, presented to the government the current status of the Fast Connections project in the Czech Republic. This long-term plan modernises, develops and strengthens the capacity of the Czech railway, which will significantly reduce travel times. The first investments, which are part of the high-speed lines plan, will be launched next year in the sections Nezamyslice-Kojetín and Kojetín-Přerov. "We are right now designing the lines and this work involves an unprecedented amount of communication with municipalities, regions, associations and citizens who are directly affected by the construction of high-speed lines. In the Dialogue project, which Správa železnic and the ministry are conducting with local governments, we are finding mutually acceptable alignment solutions. This communication takes effort and time, longer than we initially imagined. However, we consider it to be an excellent investment that will shorten the negotiations in the next stages of preparation and accelerate construction approvals," says transport minister Martin Kupka and continues: "It is still true that within 10 years we will be travelling by train on a high-speed line, by 2040 most of the projected lines will be built and by 2050 the entire HSR network in the Czech Republic will be connected to the European transport network, which we have committed to as an EU member state." As part of zoning, many sections of the high-speed lines have already had their corridors defined to allow for construction in them, and some have already received a positive statement in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. Updates of regional zoning plans of the Capital City of Prague, the Olomouc Region, the Vysočina Region and the South Moravian Region are in various stages of preparation. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) is now under way for example on the Moravian Gate HSL, where 80 km of the new rail line are undergoing this assessment. "We have responded to the emerging time loss by changing processes that we can influence ourselves. We have switched to a project management approach. The timely implementation of HSR is overseen by the Strategic Investment Committee, which is chaired by the prime minister. As minister of transport, I also head the inter-ministerial steering committee, and the project team at Správa železnic is led by the deputy director general. We set KPIs for the managers at Správa železnic responsible that strictly take into account the priority that the government attaches to HSR," Kupka adds. However, in such important construction, the Ministry of Transport and Správa železnic are far from being the only stakeholders. The regional councils, which decide for example on updating the regional zoning plans, are also an important factor in how long preparation takes place. It is important to understand that decisions on such a major line construction can take several years. On the other hand, in the case of strategic infrastructure, the state can avoid unjustified delays and decide through the Transport and Energy Building Authority. This authority will thus directly assess the building permit design according to the new building act and its implementing decree. The planning proceedings and permit are thus eliminated from the process. Also, Správa železnic has already started the first phase of property settlements. The owners of the land that will be affected by the high-speed line have been informed. Preliminary archaeological surveys are being prepared, the main aim of which is to define the time and finances of the so-called future archaeological rescue research. Three sections of the high-speed lines will be financed through PPP To make sure that a wider range of financial sources can be used, a feasibility study of a PPP project for selected sections of the Moravia HSL was carried out. The study recommended the implementation of three sub-sections in the form of PPP, namely: 91 km of the Moravian Gate HSL with investment costs of CZK 96 billion. 39 km of the South Moravia HSL with investment costs of CZK 23 billion. The third project is the 75 km long Central Moravia HSL with an investment cost of CZK 60 billion. Based on the results of the study, the government approved on 18 September 2024 the continuation of the HSL sections in this form, and the Ministry of Transport in cooperation with Správa železnic are preparing the selection of transaction advisors to assist in the implementation of the follow-up steps, including the tender for the contractor. HSR construction schedule RS 1: Prague – Brno – Ostrava – Katowice HSL Prague south branch (incl. Jahodnická spojka connection): Status: Design preparation and search for a technical solution. Intensive discussions with affected municipalities, planning permit design preparation Dates: Construction commencement in 2031/2032, commissioning in 2035/2036. HSL Prague north branch (4th track Prague – Libeň): Status: Design preparation, EIA notification. Dates: Construction commencement in 2028/2029, commissioning after 2032. HSL Polabí and HSL Central Bohemia: Status: Design preparation, the update of regional zoning plans by the two regions concerned is progress. Dates: Construction in 2030, commissioning in 2035. HSL Vysočina I and II: Status: Design preparation, the update of regional zoning plans by the two regions concerned is progress. Intensive discussions with affected municipalities, presentation of the project to the public. Dates: Construction commencement in 2031, commissioning in 2035/2036. HSL Moravian Gates I and II: Status: Completed design, EIA process under way, public hearings. The owners of affected properties and land have been contacted and a preliminary archaeological survey is being prepared. Prepared for implementation as PPP Dates: Construction commencement in 2028, commissioning in 2033. RS Modernisation of line Brno – Přerov: Section Brno – Blažovice Status: An update of regional zoning plans is under way for the South Moravian Region and preparation of the project intent is in progress. Prepared for implementation as PPP. Dates: Design preparation is under way. Construction commencement is estimated for 2028 and commissioning in 2031. Section Blažovice – Vyškov Status: The update of the regional zoning plan, detailed geological surveys, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification and its completion and the EIA statement have been completed. The building permit design and detailed design are being prepared. Prepared for implementation as PPP. Dates: Most of the design work is expected to take place in the second half of 2024 and in 2025. Construction commencement is estimated for 2027. Section Vyškov – Nezamyslice Status: The update of the regional zoning plan and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification and its completion have been completed. The EIA statement is pending and the project is being prepared for implementation as PPP. Dates: Most design work is expected in 2025 and 2026. Construction commencement is estimated for 2027. Section Nezamyslice – Kojetín Status: The update of the regional zoning plan, detailed geological surveys, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification and its completion and the EIA statement have been completed. The detailed design is being developed the land owners have been contacted. The tender for the contractor for property settlements, geometric plans and preparation of general estimates has also been completed. The statement of competent authorities including the uniform environmental opinion (JES) have been completed. A preliminary archaeological research (PAV) was carried out and a request for connection to the distribution network was submitted. The property settlements, project approval by the Transport and Energy Construction Authority (DESÚ) and the implementation of utility relocations by third-party investors are in progress. Dates: Construction commencement is estimated in 2025 (only maintenance through PPP, construction in the standard manner). Section Kojetín – Přerov Status: The update of the regional zoning plan, detailed geological surveys, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification and its completion and the EIA statement have been completed. Geometric plans and general estimates are prepared. A connection to the distribution system has been requested. Land owners are being approached and property settlements are under way. Third-party investors are relocating their utilities. Dates: Construction commencement is estimated in 2025 (only maintenance through PPP, construction in the standard manner). RS 2: Brno – Břeclav – Vienna/Bratislava HSL South Moravia: Status: The design is completed, the EIA process is under way, affected property owners and owners of mining areas are being approached. Intensive consultations of the project with affected municipalities and public presentations. Dates: Construction commencement in 2028, commissioning in 2033. RS 3: Prague – Beroun – Domažlice – state border Construction of new rail line Praha-Smíchov – Beroun: Status: The EIA process is being finalised towards the issuance of the EIA statement. Geotechnical surveys are under way. Award of the EIA statement, geotechnical survey. Dates: Construction commencement after 2028, completion after 2035. Modernisation of line Plzeň – Domažlice: Status: Different phases of preparation of the individual sections (1st to 4th construction). The planning permit award process, the building permit design, property settlements and preparation of TNS documentation (Technical Construction Standard) are under way. Dates: Construction between 2025 and 2030. RS 4: Prague – Ústí nad Labem – Dresden HSR Podřipsko: Status: Update of the regional zoning plan of the Central Bohemian Region completed, update of the regional zoning plan of Prague under way, SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) of the regional zoning plan update. Geological surveys are under way. Dates: Construction commencement in 2030, commissioning in 2035. New rail line, project section 2 Erzgebirge Tunnel: Status: Update of the regional zoning plan of the Ústí nad Labem Region approved, ongoing EIA process, project approval in Germany, preparation of interstate agreement. Dates: Construction commencement in late 2029/early 2030, commissioning in 2040. New rail line, project section 3 Ústí nad Labem – Chabařovice: Status: Update of the regional zoning plan of the Ústí nad Labem Region completed, geological surveys under way, preparation of interstate agreement. Dates: Construction commencement in 2030, commissioning in 2040. RS 5: Prague – Hradec Králové / Pardubice – Wrocław HSR Poříčany – Hradec Králové/Pardubice: Status: Completion of the feasibility study, economic evaluation, adjustment of the alignment according to the requirements of affected municipalities, examination of variants of how to connect Pardubice. Dates: to be determined following the feasibility study approval.