Správa železnic and ÖBB-Infrastruktur are planning better connection on axis Prague – České Budějovice – Linz

The Czech and Austrian railway infrastructure managers Správa železnic and ÖBB-Infrastruktur have signed a cross-border cooperation agreement today. Its aim is to elaborate a study focused on a common strategic perspective for the Prague – České Budějovice – Linz route as a possible new high-capacity railway line.

The purpose of the study is to analyse the transit potential of the axis for passenger and freight transport in the European, international and regional context. This study could become the basis for an updated cost-benefit analysis (CBA) for the possible construction of the cross-border railway line. Based on the study, strategic requirements for further steps will be set. First results are expected by the end of next year.

“Signing this agreement, we are taking a further important step towards analysing the potential of the cross-border axis Linz – České Budějovice – Prague together with our Czech colleagues,” said Judith Engel, member of the Management Board of ÖBB-Infrastruktur.

“The further development of the Prague – České Budějovice – Linz route follows the existing modernisation programme for the Prague – České Budějovice section and the Austrian Target Network 2040. Thanks to our mutual cooperation, the line České Budějovice – Linz can become a fully-fledged connection of the Czech railway network not only to Austria, but also further to southern and western Europe, and complement the overloaded border crossing Děčín – Bad Schandau,” stated Jiří Svoboda, Director General of Správa železnic.

Period after 2040

The upgrade of the railway line České Budějovice – Linz (the so-called ‘Summerauerbahn’ – Summerau railway) is foreseen in the new Austrian concept called Target Network (‘Zielnetz’) only after 2040, as previous analyses, which focused only on measures on the Austrian side, did not prove a sufficiently high potential. The planned study defines a joint commitment to analyse the entire Prague – České Budějovice – Linz axis from the perspective of passenger and freight transport.

Files to download

press release to download (84.6 kB) pdf