High-speed rail in the Czech Republic

High-speed rail in Czech Republic is at planning stage only. Even though České Dráhy own and operate multiple rolling stock capable of speeds of 230 km/h (143 mph), other than Velim railway test circuit there is no infrastructure capable of speeds over 200 km/h (124 mph). Czech rolling stock manufacturer Škoda Transportation produces high-speed rolling stock on regular basis.

Infrastructure
Alstom AGV train on the large Velim circuit

The Czech Ministry of Transport is planning a high-speed rail network which will be roughly 660 km (410 mi) long.[1] Several studies of a possible network have been completed, but there have not yet been any concrete proposals.[2] There are no expectations for any operation before 2020, but Czech railway infrastructure manager (Správa železnic, SŽ) has a special budget for preparatory studies. There is also promotion from the side of NGOs, e.g. Centrum pro Efektivní Dopravu.[3]

In 2017, the Government of the Czech Republic approved the High-Speed Rail Development Program.[4] According to this program following routes will be developed:

The development will include the construction of new lines as well as upgrade existing lines to 200 km/h (124 mph).[5] New high-speed routes will consist of the following shorter sections:

label section route length maximum speed service start of construction expected completion
VRT-01 VRT Polabí[6] RS1, RS5 29 km 320 km/h passengers 2026 2030
VRT-02 VRT Střední Čechy[7] RS1 70 km 320 km/h passengers 2028 2032
VRT Vysočina II. fáze[8] RS1 79 km 320 km/h passengers 2029 2034
VRT-04 VRT Vysočina I. fáze[9] RS1 33 km 320 km/h passengers 2028 2032
VRT Haná[10] RS1 N/A 320 km/h passengers after 2040 after 2045
VRT-05 VRT Jižní Morava[11] RS2 34 km 320 km/h passengers 2027 2030
VRT-06 VRT Moravská brána I[12] RS1 20 km 320 km/h passengers 2026 2030
VRT-07 VRT Moravská brána II[13] RS1 45 km 320 km/h passengers 2026 2030
VRT-08 VRT Podřipsko[14] RS4 58 km 320 km/h passengers 2027 2030
VRT Středohorský tunel[15] RS4 21.5 km 250 km/h passengers, freight 2038 2045
VRT-09 VRT Krušnohorský tunel[16] RS4 23 km[17] 200 km/h passengers, freight 2028 2038
VRT Poohří[18] RS4 65 km 250 km/h passengers, freight after 2030 2035
VRT Východní Čechy[19] RS5 60 km 250-320 km/h passengers after 2040 after 2040
VRT Podkrkonoší[20] RS5 50-60 km 250-320 km/h N/A after 2040 after 2040

In 2018 SŽDC identified following three shorter sections as pilot projects:[21][22]

  • VRT Polabí (HST Polabí) - Prague - Poříčany (30 km) - part of future RS1 and RS5
  • VRT Jižní Morava (HST South Moravia) - Brno - Vranovice - part of future RS2
  • VRT Moravská brána (HST Moravian Gate) - Přerov - Ostrava - part of future RS1

Along the high-speed route RS1 (Prague-Brno-Ostrava), several new train stations are planned. Just south to the D11 motorway in the town of Nehvizdy in the Prague-East District, the new Prague East Terminal (Terminál Praha východ) is being planned.[23][24] This station will be a transport hub as a part of the RS1 and RS5 (Prague-Liberec/Hradec Králové) routes and will mainly serve residents of the northeastern part of the Central Bohemian Region. Along RS1, the high-speed line will be connected via a branch line to the train station of Světlá nad Sázavou, which will be reconstructed.[7] Close to highway exit 112 on the D1 motorway in the Jihlava District, a new Jihlava train station (terminál Jihlava VRT) is planned as part of RS1.[8] This station will also be connected to the regional railway between Jihlava and Havlíčkův Brod and serve as a transport hub for the Vysočina Region. Another new station to the west of Velká Bíteš is planned on a branch line from the RS1 towards the regional railway between Havlíčkův Brod and Brno.[9] In the south of Brno, the new train station Brno-Vídeňská is planned to serve the region around Brno and to prevent unnecessary traffic to Brno main railway station in the city centre.[25]

One new train station is planned along the high-speed route RS4 (Prague - Ústí nad Labem). This new train station (Terminál Roudnice nad Labem VRT) will be constructed to the west of Roudnice nad Labem and will serve as a transfer hub in the Litoměřice District.[26]

SŽ is also considering upgrading of some ETCS-equipped 160 km/h (99 mph) tracks to 200 km/h (124 mph) and also upgrading some current 160 km/h (99 mph) projects to 200 km/h (124 mph).[27] In 2020 SŽ called for bids to upgrade ongoing 9 km (6 mi) Soběslav - Doubí project and 20 km (12 mi) Sudoměřice – Votice project to 200 km/h (124 mph), both projects are on Prague - České Budějovice route.[28]

The Velim railway test circuit contains a large 13.3-kilometre track with a maximum allowed speed of 230 km/h (143 mph) for tilting trains and up to 210 km/h (130 mph) for conventional trains.[29]

Rolling stock operated in the Czech Republic
ČD Class 680 trainset in Brno

Since 2004 České dráhy have been operating seven ČD Class 680 sets. These Pendolino-based trains are capable of operating at 230 km/h (143 mph) and were intended for operation on the Berlin - Prague - Vienna route.[30] While testing from Břeclav to Brno on 18 November 2004, the ČD Class 680 reached a speed of 237 km/h (147 mph) and created a new Czech railway speed record.[31] In reality ČD Class 680 were never operated in Germany and appeared only in Austria and Slovakia; since 2012 they have only operated on domestic routes and in Slovakia.[32]

From 2010 České dráhy are receiving delivery of 20 new ČD Class 380 locomotives capable of a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph),[33] they operate also tens of passenger cars capable of that speed (classes 10-91, 21-91, 72-91 and 88-91). In 2013 České dráhy also ordered 7 Railjet trains capable of a speed of 230 km/h (143 mph).

Rolling stock manufactured in the Czech Republic
ČD Class 380 locomotive on the Velim circuit

In 1974 and 1979 Škoda produced 12 Škoda 66Е locomotives capable of a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) for the Soviet Union. These were designated as Chs200 (ЧС200) and were used mainly on the Nevsky Express train on the Moscow – Saint Petersburg Railway. The locomotives were refurbished in the 1990s and during testing in 2007 one locomotive reached a speed of 262 km/h (163 mph).[34]

Since 2008 Škoda has been producing Skoda 109E locomotives capable of a speed over 200 km/h (124 mph). The ČD Class 380 batch is certified for 220 km/h (137 mph),[35] just as future DB Class 102, however the Slovak ZSSK Class 381 batch only for a speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). Along with DB Class 102 will be delivered batch of double decker trainsets with construction speed of 200 km/h (124 mph), although legislatively limited to 189 km/h (117 mph).

Future rolling stock

First step in modernizing its fleet, and preparing for opening of current modernized lines and future high-speed lines with speeds exceeding 200 km/h, České dráhy issued a tender of procuring new rolling stock that would meet its demand and bring more comfort for passengers. In 2021 the consortium of Siemens Mobility and Škoda Transportation has won the tender for 20 Viaggio Comfort non-traction units with eight passenger cars and a passenger control car, enabling push-pull operation. With designed operating speed of 230 km/h (143 mph), the delivery is expected to start from 2024 to 2026 and the order is valued at around half a billion EUR.[36]

The cars will be approved for operation in the Czech Republic and neighboring European countries such as Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. The non-traction units will be used with Siemens Vectron MS locomotives ordered separately in 2022, with deliveries starting in 2025 and an initial amount of 50 locomotives with designated speed of 230 km/h (143 mph).[37]

References
  1. Objednatel: Ministerstvo dopravy ČR (2004-07-31). "KOORDINAČNÍ STUDIE VRT 2003" (PDF) (in Czech). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10.
  2. Objednatel: Ministerstvo dopravy ČR (December 2006). "Studie VRT - analýza přepravních vztahů a výhledové možnosti dopravních systémů ve vybraných směrech" (PDF) (in Czech). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  3. Jan Sůra (2013-01-04). "Vysokorychlostní vlaky v Česku se vrací do hry. Na plány jde 45 milionů" (in Czech).
  4. "Vláda schválila více peněz pro vědu i školství a plán rozvoje vysokorychlostní železnice v ČR" (in Czech). Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  5. Program rozvoje rychlých železničních spojení v ČR. Prague: Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic. 2017.
  6. "VRT Polabí - www.spravazeleznic.cz". www.spravazeleznic.cz. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  7. "VRT Střední Čechy - www.spravazeleznic.cz". www.spravazeleznic.cz. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  8. "VRT Vysočina II. fáze - www.spravazeleznic.cz". www.spravazeleznic.cz. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  9. "VRT Vysočina I. fáze - www.spravazeleznic.cz". www.spravazeleznic.cz. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  10. "VRT Haná - www.spravazeleznic.cz". www.spravazeleznic.cz. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  11. "VRT Jižní Morava - www.spravazeleznic.cz". www.spravazeleznic.cz. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  12. "VRT Moravská brána I". www.spravazeleznic.cz. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  13. "VRT Moravská brána II". Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  14. "VRT Podřipsko - www.spravazeleznic.cz". www.spravazeleznic.cz. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  15. "VRT Středohořský tunel - www.spravazeleznic.cz". www.spravazeleznic.cz. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  16. "Krušnohorský tunel - www.spravazeleznic.cz". www.spravazeleznic.cz. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  17. Czech section
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  19. "VRT Východní Čechy - www.spravazeleznic.cz". www.spravazeleznic.cz. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  20. "VRT Podkrkonoší - www.spravazeleznic.cz". www.spravazeleznic.cz. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
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  22. Sůra, Jan (2018-04-23). "Polabí či Moravská Brána. SŽDC začala řešit "izolované" vysokorychlostní tratě". zdopravy.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2019-10-18.
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  24. "1. místo". Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  25. "VRT v uzlu Brno". Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  26. "Terminál Roudnice nad Labem VRT". Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  27. TechNet: Česká železnice se připravuje na 200 km/h. Hrozí nám „španělská“ nehoda?
  28. Šindelář, Jan (2020-01-10). "Na 4. koridoru se bude jezdit 200 km/h, Správa železnic vypsala tendr na přeprojektování úseku Soběslav – Doubí". Zdopravy.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  29. VÚŹ: Zkušební centrum VUZ Velim
  30. "Plán supertratě krachl, železnice přišla o 70 miliard | Aktuálně.cz". Aktuálně.cz - Víte, co se právě děje (in Czech). 2012-02-13.
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  32. "Vlakem na Slovensko". České dráhy. 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
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  34. "[image]". Archived from the original on 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  35. "Registration Details". Europa. European Railway Agency. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  36. "Czech Railways orders 180 Viaggio Comfort passenger cars". Siemens. 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  37. "Siemens Mobility receives major order for locomotives and service from Czech Railways". Siemens. 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
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