Czech railway authorities negotiate new capacity allocation rules

The Czech Ministry of Transport, the Railway Administration, and various rail operators have begun discussions regarding new rules for accessing railway infrastructure and allocating capacity. These talks follow new European regulations requiring a shift in how train schedules are planned.

Currently, passenger trains often hold priority over freight trains, particularly on major corridors and near large cities. However, the new EU legislation mandates the creation of non-discriminatory rules that do not unfairly favor one type of transport over another. The Czech Republic is expected to issue strategic guidelines by the end of next year to replace existing capacity allocation rules.

While the regulation encourages agreements between operators and the Railway Administration, officials note that reaching such agreements may be difficult in heavily congested hubs and capacity-constrained sections of the network.