Czech high-speed link finally to go ahead

After eight years of postponements, it is being reported that a high-speed rail link between Kladno and Prague-Ruzyne airport in the Czech Republic will be constructed this year – or in 2014 at the latest.

Research company PMR said that the Railway Infrastructure Administration (SZDC) in the Czech Republic was now planning to begin the construction project, which suffered postponements as a result of arguments over the impact of the railway on the environment.

The Kladno to Ruzyne rail link will be 20km long and is expected to be built on an existing line. The total cost is put by SZDC representatives at some CZK8 billion (€312 million).

Part of the work will also involve the renovation of the platform in the Masarykovo railway station in Prague.

PMR said that the absence of sufficient funding has forced the SZDC to divide the construction of the high speed rail routes into two parts – one from Prague’s Bubny station to the Ruzyne airport, and the second linking Ruzyne airport to Kladno.

The construction of the Bubny to Ruzyne line is not planned for the next few years, said PMR, which claimed this was because the Czech government lacked the money for it.

The SZDC is reported to have estimated that the Bubny to Ruzyne route would need an investment of some CZK27 billion (€1.05 billion).