Czech Republic Advances High-Speed Rail with EIB Advisory on €20 Billion PPP Projects

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is set to play a pivotal role in advising Správa železnic, the Czech Republic’s national railway infrastructure manager, on the preparation and procurement of three major high-speed rail projects under public-private partnership (PPP) models. These initiatives are designed to enhance the Czech rail network and align it more closely with European corridors connecting Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

The advisory support from the EIB is part of the Czech Government's larger strategy to establish a high-speed rail network that complies with EU Regulation 2024/1679 concerning the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). This vision is further reinforced by the national “Rapid Rail Services Development Programme” that was approved in 2018, demonstrating a concerted national and EU-backed effort towards creating integrated, sustainable transport infrastructure.

The advisory assignment, set to last 27 months, will involve the EIB providing technical assistance across several strategic areas, including risk allocation, output-based performance specifications, preparation of tender documentation, and structuring and monitoring of PPP concession contracts. Through this support, the Czech Republic aims to effectively increase the attractiveness of rail travel while freeing up capacity on conventional lines, particularly for strategic freight transport, and strengthening its connectivity within the broader European rail network.

The projects receive additional support from the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), which funds project feasibility studies and preparation, signifying their importance within continental transport initiatives. The EIB’s contribution comes at no extra cost to the Czech side, being financed through the InvestEU Advisory Hub, highlighting the collaborative efforts to drive sustainable and strategic infrastructure investments.

Among the key projects under this advisory framework is a €2.2 billion development to upgrade rail connections from Prague’s center to the city of Kladno, including a crucial branch to the Václav Havel Airport. This segment will be partly executed under a PPP model, encompassing a €1.1 billion section from Prague Veleslavín station to the airport. The airport link is of strategic importance, ensuring efficient and sustainable transport links from the airport to central Prague and integrating with long-distance rail corridors.

Additionally, substantial investments are planned for a new €7 billion high-speed Moravian corridor between Brno and Ostrava. This project will feature two major PPP segments: a 50 km section upgrading the Brno–Nezamyslice route to a 200 km/hr line, and a 74 km section creating a new high-speed line (HSL) capable of 320 km/hr between Přerov and Ostrava. This corridor stands as part of the priority Dresden–Prague–Brno–Vienna/Ostrava–Katowice high-speed rail initiative, with overall investments expected to surpass €20 billion, marking it as the most advanced among Czech high-speed rail developments with a projected completion post-2030.

In line with their long-term goals, the EIB aims to leverage this advisory role to build robust PPP management capabilities within Správa železnic. With an emphasis on creating enduring expertise, the EIB’s involvement seeks to facilitate transformative changes that align Czech rail infrastructure with EU-wide transport and climate objectives.

This strategic partnership symbolizes a major breakthrough in delivering future-proof rail infrastructures, deemed critical for the Czech Republic’s economic and environmental roadmap, supporting a shift towards decarbonization and improved regional connectivity as envisioned under EU guidelines.