Czech Republic To Advance High Speed Train Travel With Eib Advisory Support
- EIB to advise Czech railway infrastructure manager Správa železnic on three major projects, including the rail link to Prague Airport and high-speed connections in the Moravia region.
- Aligned with Czech and EU transport strategies; the new lines will bolster European rail corridors connecting the Czech Republic with Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia.
- EIB advisory services will offer guidance free of charge under the InvestEU Advisory Hub.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) will advise the Czech Republic’s national railway infrastructure manager, Správa železnic, on the preparation and procurement of three major railway infrastructure projects as public-private partnerships (PPPs). These projects represent priority domestic rail investments that are part of wider international corridors linking Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria and Slovakia.
The agreement supports the Czech Government’s broader strategy to develop a high-speed rail (HSR) network aligned with EU Regulation 2024/1679 on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and the national “Rapid Rail Services Development Programme” approved in 2018. The initiative is also supported by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) through funding for feasibility studies and project preparation.
“The EIB has vast experience in a wide range of public-private partnerships, and we will put it in practice to support the authorities in the Czech Republic to deliver complex PPPs and accelerate the shift to greener, more efficient transport,” said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris. “This strategic partnership reflects our strong commitment to helping Member States deliver sustainable, future-proof infrastructure.”
The supported investments are expected to significantly enhance the appeal of rail travel in the Czech Republic, free up capacity on conventional lines for strategic freight transport and integrate the network more closely with European corridors.
Supporting Strategic Rail Corridors
The EIB’s advisory support will focus on three strategic rail corridors to be procured through a first set of Czech rail PPPs:
- A €2.2 billion upgrade investment from the centre of Prague to the nearby city of Kladno with a new branch to Václav Havel Airport, about 20 kilometres to the northwest of the city centre. The PPP will cover a €1.1 billion section from Prague Veleslavín station to the airport, including rounding to the Praha–Kladno track.
- Investments in the new €7 billion, 150 km TEN-T High-Speed Moravian corridor between Brno and Ostrava, with the PPP covering:
- • The 50 km Brno–Nezamyslice stage of the 200 km/hr upgrade section between Brno and Přerov.
- • The 74 km new HSL of 320 km/hr Eastern Moravia section between Přerov–Ostrava, with 17 km of additional connector lines.
The airport link is essential to sustainably and comfortably connect air passengers to the centre of Prague and long-distance rail, while the Moravian corridor is part of the priority Dresden–Prague–Brno–Vienna/Ostrava–Katowice TEN-T high-speed rail corridors, with total investment expected to exceed €20 billion. The Moravian sections are the most advanced of the high-speed investments, with completion currently anticipated after 2030.
“Public-private partnerships represent a valuable tool for delivering strategic infrastructure projects that might otherwise face funding or implementation barriers. EIB’s advisory support is an opportunity to accelerate the modernisation of our railway network, especially in strategic areas like high-speed rail,” commented Jiří Svoboda, Director General of Správa železnic. “Strengthening our capacity to manage complex PPPs is essential for building a more sustainable, resilient transport system for future generations.”
Building Capacity for Complex PPPs
The advisory assignment will run for 27 months and provide technical assistance covering:
- Risk allocation
- Output-based performance specifications
- Tender documentation and contract structuring
- Monitoring of PPP concession contracts
Fully funded through the InvestEU Advisory Hub, the support will help the Czech Republic advance its long-term transport and climate objectives.
The EIB advisory team will provide hands-on support to Správa železnic’s PPP team, working in coordination with its transaction advisers throughout the procurement process, with emphasis placed on building up lasting PPP know-how within Správa železnic.
