Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik presented today a Czech initiative aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of European rail freight transport at a meeting of the European Union’s Transport Council in Luxembourg. Austria, Belgium, Slovakia, Hungary, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, and Romania had already joined the initiative. During the meeting in Luxembourg, delegations from Spain, Sweden, and Poland also expressed their support. The Czech Republic is thus launching a Europe-wide debate on the future of a sector that is crucial for the competitiveness of European industry, Europe’s defense capabilities, and the resilience of supply chains.
The Ministry of Transport, together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized the Africa Smart Mobility Forum, an international conference held at the Černín Palace, aimed at supporting Czech companies and fostering cooperation in the field of modern transportation and infrastructure in African countries.
The Railway Administration today officially launched the reconstruction of the 15-kilometer section from Prague’s Ruzyně to Kladno. It will provide faster and higher-capacity transport, significantly improving travel between Prague, the airport, and the largest city in Central Bohemia. Construction will be completed in 2029. The tender was won by a bidder who offered a price half a billion lower than the original estimates.
Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik sent a letter to European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas, in which he highlights the declining share of rail freight transport in the European Union and calls for the launch of a political debate on specific measures to support it at the European level. He emphasizes the need for a coordinated approach, increased investment in infrastructure, better cross-border coordination, and the strengthening of multimodality, interoperability, and digitalization.
The digitization and streamlining of transportation procedures continue. Legislative amendments to Act No. 56/2001 Coll., on the Conditions for the Operation of Vehicles on Public Roads, are headed for government review. The Ministry of Transport proposes easier vehicle transfers, the delivery of license plates and vehicle registration certificates to pickup boxes, and the related transferability of license plates. The amendment to the law is also intended to automate the processing of vehicle registration applications, eliminating the need for citizens and businesses to visit government offices.
Minister of transport Ivan Bednárik met with Gabonese Minister of Transport, Merchant Marine, and Logistics Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi. The main topic of the meeting was cooperation and opportunities for Czech companies in the development of urban and suburban transport, railway infrastructure, and civil aviation. The Czech Republic offered Gabon its expertise as well as specific and comprehensive technological solutions in the areas of airport and railway modernization and smart mobility.