Cross-border cooperation project helps preparing a planned high-speed line from Prague to Dresden

Travelling by train between Prague and Dresden in 52 minutes; in 2035, this should be one of the specific results of a project starting by a conference which took place on 22 June in Ústí nad Labem with the participation of partners from the Czech Republic and Saxony.

The cross-border cooperation project for the development of railway transport Saxony – Czech Republic is being implemented within the Programme for Supporting Cross- border Cooperation between the Czech Republic and the Free State of Saxony 2014–2020, co-financed by the European Union. Its leader is Správa železniční dopravní cesty. The project has as an objective to intensify and deepen cooperation of institutions for the purpose of supporting and developing cross-border railway transport between the two states situated on both sides of Krušné hory (Ore Mountains), especially in connection to the planned high-speed line in preparation from Dresden through Ústí nad Labem to Prague.

The Project takes up mutual cooperation of Czech and Saxon partners in previous years which resulted i.a. in three preliminary studies the outputs of which will be used in an upcoming feasibility study for the construction of a high-speed connection between Prague and Dresden. The study should be finished in the first half of 2019.

During selection of the most suitable option, Czech and Saxon geologists already carrying out the necessary survey on all intended routes will also have their say. This will result in a unified cross-border geological map and a 3D model. Besides the geologists’ work, preparing the necessary transport and socio-economic analysis will be also an important part of the current project.

Construction of a high-speed line from Prague to Dresden will bring not only a competitive connection of these two cities but also a connection of the Czech Republic to a high-speed network in Germany. Moreover, building a cross-border 26-kilometres-long tunnel under Krušné hory will allow transferring long-distance passenger and freight transport from the Elbe valley. The route between the Czech and Saxon metropolis will be shortened by 56 kilometres, high-speed trains in 2035 will ride through in 52 minutes.

About SZCD

The main task of SŽDC is to fulfil a function of the owner and operator of the nation-wide and regional railway infrastructure owned by the state.

SŽDC, by course of the Rail Systems Act, provides operation of the nation-wide and regional railways owned by the state, their operability, modernization and development to the extent necessary for meeting transport needs of the state and transport services.