While Western European countries have enjoyed high-speed rail for decades and Poland is already constructing their networks, the Czech Republic is finally catching up with its first high-speed railway project. The section dubbed “Moravian Gate” has received environmental approval and is set to begin construction within three years.
The Ministry of Environment has given its approval for the first high-speed rail section between Prosenice near Přerov and Ostrava-Svinov. This groundbreaking project will allow passenger trains to reach speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour, doubling the current maximum speed.
The 74-kilometer double-track line comes with a hefty price tag of 60-80 billion Czech crowns. Environmental impact assessments have confirmed that the planned route won’t exceed noise limits, though some modifications were required to protect wetland areas.
This initial section will eventually form part of the backbone connection between Prague, Brno, and Ostrava, with future extensions linking to Poland’s railway network towards Katowice and Warsaw. According to the master plan, the Czech railway system should feature up to 767 kilometers of high-speed tracks by 2050.
While the original timeline aimed for construction to begin in 2026, recent government materials suggest a 2028 start date, with the project expected to take approximately six years to complete.