The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Czech Ministry of Finance signed a CZK 13 billion (€527 million) loan accord to upgrade the country’s rail network, unlocking the second part of planned EIB support totalling CZK 48.8 billion.
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The financing is part of an CZK 48.8 billion EIB operation (€ 2 billion), to increase the capacity of Czech railways for freight and passenger transport while making them safer and more comfortable.
The funding will improve TEN-T railway lines in the Czech Republic and enable the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).
The project will be managed by Správa železnic, s.o., the national railway infrastructure administrator, under the authority of the Czech Ministry of Transport. The first part of the loan, CZK 24 billion, was signed in autumn 2023.
Správa železnic will use the latest round of financing to continue installing ERTMS, a rail traffic management system that not only is compulsory in the European Union but also greatly reduces the risks of human error and accidents.
Other benefits of the system include higher capacity, potentially allowing for more travel options and lower operating and maintenance costs (from electricity savings in particular).
As regards safety, modern railroad crossings in the Czech Republic could avoid up to 180 incidents annually resulting in 30 to 40 deaths a year.
Správa železnic plans to install barriers at level crossings or replace them with bridges or tunnels, so that cars, bikes and pedestrians can cross the railway lines without going on the tracks.
The project also includes works in railway stations and buildings to improve accessibility for people with reduced mobility and travellers with children. It consists of some 40 sub-projects scheduled to be finished by the end of 2028.
Around a quarter of the upgrades will happen in the Prague region, but the vast majority are planned in areas that fall under EU cohesion policy. Once complete, the project will benefit approximately 90 million passengers annually and facilitate the transport of more than 8 million tonnes of freight.
The Czech rail network spans 9,463 route kilometres of mainline, around one-third of which is electrified. ■
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