Správa železnic has awarded a CZK 10.5 billion (EUR 427.5 million) contract to a consortium of five companies to upgrade the Kojetín – Přerov railway to support high-speed trains running at up to 200 km/h.
The consortium – comprising Subterra, OHLA ŽS, Swietelsky Rail, Elektrizace železnic Praha, and Firesta-Fišer – submitted the most economically advantageous bid, saving over CZK 574 million (EUR 23.4 million) compared to the maximum tender price.
Construction is scheduled to begin this August, with completion expected by the end of 2028. A continuous line closure will commence on 26 August and remain in place until mid-December.
The 17 km section between Kojetín and Přerov will be fully modernised and double-tracked, with the current line speed of 100 km/h increased to 200 km/h – significantly reducing travel times. The project includes the installation of the ETCS, co-financed by the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) with a grant of EUR 5.26 million. The remainder of the funding will be provided by the State Transport Infrastructure Fund.
Under the contract, Kojetín and Chropyně stations will be rebuilt with modern station buildings, new car parks, and fully accessible underpasses. The current Věžky station will be replaced by a new stop of the same name, while a new junction near Bochoř will allow for greater operational flexibility. All 14 level crossings along the route will be removed and replaced with either overpasses or underpasses, and a new 120-metre bridge will be constructed over the River Morava in Kojetín.
The Kojetín – Přerov railway forms part of the 78 km Brno–Přerov main line, which itself lies on Czechia’s strategic railway corridor no. 1. The entire line is being upgraded to high-speed rail standards and will ultimately be incorporated into Czechia’s future high-speed rail network.
In March, Správa železnic awarded a EUR 267 million contract for the modernisation of the 10 km Nezamyslice – Kojetín section, also designed for speeds of up to 200 km/h. Construction work on this stretch began in May in the Olomouc Region.
The future Czech high-speed rail network is planned to span more than 780 km, with construction costs projected at over CZK 800 billion (EUR 32.5 billion). The network will link major cities such as Prague, Brno, Ostrava, and Ústí nad Labem, and connect to neighbouring countries including Germany, Austria, and Poland.
Infrastructure projects to be delivered via PPPs
Správa železnic is receiving advisory support on the development of this network from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), ensuring alignment with European standards and funding opportunities.
Czechia is embracing public–private partnership (PPP) models as a key tool for delivering its ambitious high-speed rail network, projected to span over 780 km and cost in excess of CZK 800 billion (EUR 32.5 billion). In cooperation with leading European financial institutions, PPPs are being introduced to accelerate construction, improve operational efficiency, and spread the financial burden of these transformative infrastructure projects.
The most advanced PPP initiative to date is the Brno–Přerov high-speed line, a crucial section of the future HSR corridor connecting Brno to Ostrava. In collaboration with the EBRD, Správa železnic is developing a PPP model covering three sections between Brno and Nezamyslice.
Under this structure, a private partner will design, finance, build, operate, and maintain the infrastructure for a period of 25 years, in exchange for availability payments from the state based on performance standards. The remaining sections, particularly from Nezamyslice to Přerov, will be publicly financed.
Another key PPP project is the upgrade and construction of the Prague–Václav Havel Airport–Kladno rail connection. With a total estimated cost of EUR 1.6 billion, this scheme is supported by the EIB, which is expected to provide EUR 700 million in financing. This line is one of Czechia’s first railway PPPs to progress through tender preparation, with financial close anticipated by September 2026.
The EIB, through its InvestEU platform, is providing technical advisory support over a 27-month period for several major projects, including the Prague–Airport–Kladno line, the Moravian corridor between Brno and Ostrava and feasibility assessments for Brno–Břeclav and Brno–Ostrava sections.
Správa železnic has also engaged the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, to serve as a transaction advisor for a PPP covering the high-speed section between Brodek u Přerova and Ostrava–Svinov. The IFC will assist with contract structuring, the tender process, and financial closure, aiming to attract international expertise and private investment.
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