A study on the construction of Slovakia’s high-speed network is focused also on connections with networks in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Austria.
The Slovak railway infrastructure manager Železnice Slovenskej republiky (ŽSR) has presented the results of a feasibility study on the high-speed rail network required under the VRT V4 project, which aims to connect Slovakia with the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Austria.
The option considered most suitable proposes a two-phase programme with an estimated value of more than €3 billion, combining works to increase rail capacity in the Bratislava area with the construction of new railway lines towards the borders with the Czech Republic and Austria.
“Thanks to this study, the concept for developing high-speed rail in Central Europe is now strategically clear. Slovakia currently has a unique opportunity to join the already advanced projects of neighbouring countries and remain on the map of the European high-speed rail network,” said Miroslav Garaj, Director General of ŽSR.
Analysis of 38 options and three scenarios
The study examined three main development directions for Slovakia’s high-speed network. Two of them considered building completely new railway routes designed for high-speed trains, while the third followed a more conservative approach based on maximising the use of the existing infrastructure in the Bratislava rail hub. The analysed scenarios also differed in the location where high-speed trains would stop in the Slovak capital.
In total, the three scenarios generated 38 technical options, created by combining 30 modular infrastructure segments. After an assessment based on several technical, economic and operational criteria, the analysis was narrowed down to seven promising options, which were then examined through a detailed cost–benefit analysis (CBA).
The development options included the construction of new railway lines designed for operating speeds of 160–200 km/h. These would also require new crossings over the Danube and the Little Carpathians. The main differences between the options concerned the location and method of crossing the Danube. However, environmental constraints, land-use challenges and an unfavourable cost–benefit ratio meant that these solutions were not recommended for the next stages of project preparation.
Preferred option for the high-speed rail network
The study presents a balanced development option as the preferred solution, combining the modernisation of existing infrastructure with the construction of new sections. This approach would increase the capacity of the railway network in the Bratislava area, particularly along corridors located south of the Danube, without requiring major interventions in areas affected by territorial or environmental constraints.
The central element of this solution is the reorganisation and modernisation of the Bratislava railway hub. The plan предусматриes the construction of a new railway station, Bratislava West, near the town of Stupava, located about 22 km north of the capital. It would become a strategic point for train formation, maintenance activities and the operation of domestic rail services. At the same time, the station could also serve as a stop for high-speed trains.
By relocating technical facilities and maintenance activities from the central Bratislava station to the new complex in the western part of the city, significant capacity would be freed up in the core of the railway hub. In parallel, infrastructure at the main station would be modernised, allowing higher operating speeds and the adaptation of tracks for longer freight trains.
Construction of new high-speed lines
To improve traffic flows, the project also proposes extending the rail link between the Lamač district, Bratislava West station and the Zohor area, designed for speeds of up to around 160 km/h.
The high-speed component of the project includes the construction of a new line between Bratislava West and the border with the Czech Republic, which will be connected to the Czech high-speed rail network. The line will be designed for speeds of up to 320 km/h.
In addition, a rail connection is planned to link this infrastructure with the line coming from Marchegg in eastern Austria, ensuring fast links with Vienna and other rail corridors in southern Europe.
Through these developments, high-speed trains could run directly to major Central European cities such as Brno, Prague and Berlin, integrating Slovakia into a fast and efficient European rail network.
Key stages of construction
The study specifies that Bratislava Central Station will remain a crucial intermediate hub for passenger traffic, both domestic and international, including high-speed trains. Freight traffic, however, will not use the new high-speed line directly. The technical study did consider the potential to increase freight capacity through an underground bypass around the central station, a solution that will be assessed in more detail through future traffic simulations.
The project construction will be divided into two main phases. The first phase, scheduled between 2030 and 2040, includes modernising and expanding the Slovak capital’s rail hub, building the new Bratislava West station, and connecting it to existing lines. This phase will allow for the reorganisation of train operations and improved efficiency across the current network.
The second phase, expected to be completed between 2046 and 2050, will involve constructing the full high-speed line to the Czech border and integrating it with Austria’s rail network. This will provide fast, direct connections to the region’s major cities and fully integrate Slovakia into the European high-speed rail corridor.
Subsequent stages of the project will focus on completing traffic simulations to validate flows and the capacity of the new infrastructure.
In parallel, the preferred option will be incorporated into urban and regional planning documents to ensure compliance with local regulations and compatibility with city development. Project documentation for each segment of the line will also be prepared in close collaboration with the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria, ensuring a coherent and coordinated transnational implementation.
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