The European Investment Bank (EIB) will help Czech Republic’s railway manager Správa železnic prepare three big rail projects as public-private partnerships, boosting the country’s plans for high-speed trains, according to a the organization announced.
These projects link to international rail lines connecting Germany, Poland, Austria, and Slovakia. The deal supports Czech government plans for a high-speed rail network that fits EU transport rules and the country’s 2018 rail development program. The Connecting Europe Facility is also chipping in money for feasibility studies. Once built, these lines should make trains more attractive while leaving regular tracks free for cargo.
Czech railways need serious upgrades to compete with modern European networks. Current infrastructure is often slow and overcrowded, making cars and planes more appealing for many trips. High-speed rail fits EU goals to move people away from polluting transport options. The government knows it needs private sector money and expertise to pull off such massive projects. Public-private partnerships let them tap into both without breaking the national budget.
“The EIB has vast experience in a wide range of public-private partnerships,” said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris. He promised to use that know-how to help Czech authorities deliver complex partnerships and push greener transport options. The bank wants to help member countries build sustainable infrastructure that lasts. Jiří Svoboda from Správa železnic said PPPs are valuable tools for big projects that might otherwise struggle for funding. EIB’s help should speed up railway modernization, especially for high-speed lines that need the most work.
The EIB will focus on three main routes. First comes a €2.2 billion upgrade from central Prague to Kladno, plus a new branch to Václav Havel Airport about 20 kilometers northwest. The partnership covers €1.1 billion for the section from Prague Veleslavín station to the airport. The bigger prize is the €7 billion, 150-kilometer High Speed Moravian corridor between Brno and Ostrava. This includes a 50-kilometer stretch hitting 200 km/hr and a 74-kilometer section reaching 320 km/hr between Přerov and Ostrava. The airport link will give air travelers easy access to Prague’s center and long-distance trains.
