Czech railway modernization plan includes Veselí line upgrade and Central Bohemian high‑speed projects

The state railway operator, Správa železnic, announced a total modernization of the 52‑km line from Veselí nad Lužnicí to Českých Velenic. The project, valued at 7.99 billion Czech crowns, will be split into three separate tenders covering infrastructure, energy (including trolley‑bus wiring) and signalling. Works are slated to begin in January 2024 and run through the autumn of 2029. The upgrade will add accessible platforms, a higher line speed, new safety systems and a road overpass near Suchdol.

Separately, the Central Bohemian Region released a comprehensive transport strategy covering up to 2050. The plan prioritises rail investment, proposing several high‑speed corridors such as a new Prague‑Beroun tunnel, a second Prague‑Úhříněves‑Bystřice line and a direct Kladno‑Slaný link. Estimated costs run into the tens of billions of crowns, with some projects projected at over 150 billion CZK. The strategy aims to accommodate a projected regional population of two million, improve public‑transport capacity and align Czech planning with models used in Switzerland and Austria.