Implementation of the plan for modernization Czech railway network continued in 2018 as the Ministry of Transport approved 55 projects with a total value of EUR 2.18 billion (CZK 56 billion). Eight approved projects will be co-financed under the CEF Blending Call and with a loan from the European Investment Bank.
In 2018, Czech Republic invested EUR 739.5 million (CZK 19 billion) on railway modernisation and mechanization projects, SŽDC being one of the biggest final recipients of financial resources from the current Operational Programme Transport. In total, 60 construction projects were carried out and 300 constructions were in preparation.
“During last year, 60 constructions with investment costs exceeding CZK 30 million were carried out in total, more than 300 bigger constructions were in preparation. 450 lesser investments focused on safety at railway crossings, construction, reconstruction or modernisation of lines and information systems were in the stage of preparation or implementation,” Jiří Svoboda, Director General of SŽDC, said.
At the end of 2018, a contribution of EUR 1.42 billion (CZK 36.6 billion) has been approved which represents 99.5% from the total sum allocated to SŽDC. However, requests for co-financing submitted for Operational Programme Transport 2014–2020 projects amount to a sum of EUR 1.74 billion (CZK 44.8 billion) which is 122% from the sum allocated under OPT for SŽDC.
The most important projects that were completed included the modernisation of Rokycany – Plzeň line, the reconstruction of safety and signalling equipment on Praha Smíchov – Hostivice, increasing the speeds on Kuřim – Tišnov (up to 120 km/h) and Havlíčkův Brod – Okrouhlice (up to 100 km/h) sections and the optimization of Lysá nad Labem – Praha-Vysočany line and Čelákovice railway station.
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