The Czech Republic is on the verge of entering the age of high-speed rail: the planned Moravská brána (‘Moravian Gate’) line has successfully passed its environmental impact assessment. With the Ministry of the Environment’s positive decision, the project can now progress to the next phase.
Czech high-speed rail has taken a decisive step forward: the Ministry of the Environment has issued a favourable opinion on the proposed section of the VRT Moravská brána line between Prosenice and Ostrava-Svinov as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This means that the country’s first high-speed line can now move on to the next stage – the acquisition of land by the Railway Administration (Správa železnic). It marks a real milestone for the modernisation of the Czech railway network.
‘The approval of the EIA brings us a significant step closer to achieving a high-speed line. It will substantially increase the capacity of railway infrastructure in Moravia,’ explained Transport Minister Martin Kupka. He emphasised in particular that the construction of the section from Brodek u Přerova to Ostrava is to be carried out using a public-private partnership (PPP) model – a first for Czech railways.
The environmental assessment was comprehensive. Among other aspects, the ministry examined whether legal limits for noise and air quality were being observed and evaluated the potential impact on local ecosystems. The result is clear: ‘The environmental impact of the planned railway operation is acceptable and does not exceed legal thresholds,’ said Environment Minister Petr Hladík. One exception is the encroachment on a protected area within the European Natura 2000 network – this will be addressed in a separate procedure under the Nature Conservation Act.
The ministry’s approval comes with 61 binding conditions designed to mitigate or compensate for potential environmental impacts – a clear sign that sustainability is a central focus of the planning process.
The planned section is around 63 kilometres long and will enhance the main corridor between Prague, Brno and Ostrava. A cross-border extension towards Katowice and Warsaw is also planned – a strategically important link to the European high-speed rail network.
The line is to be constructed and operated under a public-private partnership model – a financing approach that has long been established in Western Europe but represents new ground for the Czech Republic. If the pilot project proves successful, it could serve as a model for future infrastructure projects across the country.
High-speed rail lines (VRT) represent the future of Czech rail transport. With speeds of up to 320 km/h, they are expected to boost the economy, improve quality of life, and promote more environmentally sustainable mobility across the country.
