Rapid services – the Czech high-speed rail project for Central Europe

• Main Authors: Ilík Jan, Pomykala Agata
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2018-01-01
• Series: MATEC Web of Conferences
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201818001006

In March 2017, the Czech parliament passed a resolution obliging the government to launch a high-speed line program. Government resolution on launching the program was adopted in May 2017. The High Speed Railway Development Program in Czech Republic is intended to target international connections in several axes: Dresden-Prague-Brno-Vienna/Bratislava/Budapest, Katowice-Ostrava-Brno- Vienna/Bratislava/Budapest, Wroclaw-Prague-Munich. This network is supposed to improve Prague's accessibility to other cities in Czech Republic but also to major agglomerations of neighbouring states. This project is not only railway project but also a project of national development. One-day trip will include, among others, Dresden, Berlin, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Warsaw together with other big cities in Poland. Since 2010 in Polish - Czech cooperation are being prepared studies on lines Wrocław - Praga and Katowice - Ostrava. The high-speed railway program implementation in Czech Republic and in Poland and Baltic Countries will result in an effective connection between Prague and Baltic Countries capitals. Creation of an international fast railway network in Central Europe is a part of the EU's transport policy framework for TEN-T network development and will contribute to the progress of economic links in the region. In addition, it is going to be involved in the European Union social and economic cohesion improvement.