Czech railway infrastructure gets record 2026 funding

Record investment in Czech railway infrastructure will reach around EUR 3 billion in 2026. That is the highest amount ever allocated to the sector. The budget also reflects rail’s growing role in the country’s mobility and sustainable development strategy.

Record investment in Czech railway infrastructure in 2026

The funding is aimed at modernization and network upkeep. As Railway Supply notes in its coverage of the 2026 spending plan, the focus is on better travel conditions and higher reliability. Around EUR 800 million will go to infrastructure maintenance. Roughly EUR 30 million is earmarked for improving safety at level crossings. In parallel, several station upgrades will move forward. These projects are worth hundreds of millions of crowns.

In addition, the 2026 programme combines day-to-day network upkeep with longer-term modernization work. It includes Czech railway electrification projects, higher operating speeds, and the removal of bottlenecks across the network. These measures are intended to reduce travel times and raise capacity. They also reinforce rail as an efficient and sustainable alternative to road transport.

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Prague – Airport – Kladno line leads the priority projects

One of the most important projects is the Prague – Airport – Kladno line. The works include modernization, track doubling, and electrification. This will allow trains to run at up to 145 km/h. It is one of the Czech Republic’s most significant railway modernization projects. Its main objective is a direct link between central Prague, Václav Havel Airport, and Kladno. Kladno lies 30 km northwest of the capital and 16 km northwest of the airport.

The project has been split into more than ten sections. Work started in 2017 with the reconstruction of the Negrelli Viaduct. It continued in 2022 with reconstruction of the line between Kladno and Kladno-Ostrovec.

Its scope includes upgrading the railway between Praha-Veleslavin and Praha-Ruzyně. It also includes building a new line from Praha-Ruzyně to the Václav Havel Prague Airport railway station, including the station itself. Another element is a connecting rail link from the airport to the main Prague–Kladno route.

Contracts and cost

The scheme also includes a new parallel line. It covers reconstruction and modernization of the existing line, electrification, and a tunnel between Praha-Dejvice and Praha-Veleslavín stations. Completion is scheduled for 2027. The overall value of the project is more than EUR 1.6 billion.

Several contracts have already been signed. Most recently, the Czech rail infrastructure manager Správa železnic signed another agreement. Its final price came in below the initial estimate. The winning offer was significantly under the expected value.

The 8.279 billion Czech koruna contract (EUR 337.4 million ) went to a consortium made up of Subterra, OHLA ŽS, Elektrizace železnic Praha, and Swietelsky. The consortium’s bid was more than 500 million crowns (EUR 20.4 million) below the estimated price.

“The project will significantly improve transportation between the capital and Kladno, while also facilitating commuting from surrounding areas to Prague. The project will increase train speeds and line capacity and integrate stations with Park & Ride facilities. This represents the longest phase of the strategic Prague–Airport–Kladno project,” said Správa železnic CEO Tomáš Tóth.

Other modernization and electrification projects

Meanwhile, another project already under way is the Hradec Králové railway hub modernisation. Once completed, it will be fully accessible and will allow higher train speeds. It will also serve around 20,000 passengers a day. In October 2025, Správa železnic signed a contract for this scheme. The consortium includes OHLA ŽS, Subterra, and Elektrizace železnic. The reconstruction contract is worth 10 billion crowns (EUR 407.5 million).

The modernization of the Kutná Hora–Kolín line is also intended to remove one of the network’s key bottlenecks. Train speeds there will reach up to 160 km/h. In addition, electrification is due to start this year on the 52-km line between České Velenice and Veselí nad Lužnicí. This will be the first tender arranged by specialized categories. The aim is to encourage competition and lower costs.

Further works include electrifying the Nýřany–Heřmanova Huť commuter line, modernizing station buildings in Cheb and Tábor, and improving energy reliability through upgrades to a substation in Břeclav.

Bavaria connection

A major cross-border rail connection to Bavaria is also part of the programme. In this context, the line from Pilsen through Nýřany to Chotěšov will be upgraded. It will form part of the modern route linking the West Bohemian metropolis with Bavaria. Recently, a consortium of Porr, Elektrizace železnic Praha, and Berger Bohemia was chosen to modernize 20 km of track. Its bid was 4.489 billion crowns (EUR 179.6 million). That was below the estimated 4.640 billion crowns (EUR 185.6 million).

This year, Bayerische Eisenbahngesellschaft (BEG), the Bavarian State Railways, and the Czech Ministry of Transport launched a tender for cross-border services on the Munich – Regensburg – Prague route. The future operator is to receive a 15-year contract covering the period from 2031 to 2046.

Brno–Přerov line

Another major project in progress is the Brno–Přerov line modernization. The route will be converted to double track and upgraded for speeds of up to 200 km/h. It will become part of the Czech Republic’s future high-speed rail network. For three sections of this corridor, the EBRD selected a consortium of PricewaterhouseCoopers, White & Case, and Setec International. The consortium will provide consulting services to Správa železnic for implementation of the high-speed line.

Lower tender costs for rail infrastructure projects

Správa železnic is undergoing structural and operational changes. The company is accelerating infrastructure modernization, digitizing traffic management, and expanding rail network capacity to respond to rising mobility demand. At the same time, strong bidder competition and improved project optimization have allowed the institution to secure lower prices in public tenders. This helps keep major investments below their original estimates.

“Every cost saving achieved in public procurement is a benefit for the state and taxpayers. Contracts for the Prague–Kladno line and for the first section of the modernization toward Bavaria were awarded for hundreds of millions of crowns below the estimated value, demonstrating the effectiveness of open tenders and high competition,” stated Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik.

In March, Správa železnic said that maintenance works on railway infrastructure would cost less than first expected. That followed much more competitive bids for several contracts.

This outcome reflects both the company’s internal transformation and recent changes in public procurement legislation. Together, these changes have encouraged competition and improved the transparency of tendering procedures. They also support more efficient use of public funds and more effective operation of railway infrastructure.

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