High-speed railway (VRT)

Under Section 3a of Czech Act No. 266/1994 Coll. on Railways, a high-speed railway (vysokorychlostní trať, VRT) is a railway equipped for vehicle speeds above 200 km/h; a railway up to 200 km/h is conventional. Správa železnic, the state rail infrastructure manager, is preparing Czech high-speed lines as new double-track railways for speeds of 200 to 320 km/h. The programme is called Rychlá spojení (RS, rapid connections). The Act on accelerating the construction of strategic infrastructure lists in its annex, for example, RS 1 Prague - Brno - Přerov - Ostrava - Polish border, RS 2 Brno - Břeclav - Slovak and Austrian border and RS 4 Dresden - Ústí nad Labem - Prague with a branch to Louny and Most.

How the route is protected in spatial planning

High-speed rail corridors are set out in the spatial development policy and in the regions' regional development principles, which refine them; for a selected project the government may decide that the Ministry of Transport will prepare a partial territorial development plan. The municipal zoning plan takes the corridor over. In early stages of preparation the corridor is often designated as a land reserve; according to Správa železnic, updates of the regional principles turn it into a proposed corridor that allows the line to be sited as a public benefit construction, for which land can be expropriated. The corridor is wider than the future line; the exact position is fixed only by the design.

Protection zone and noise

A national railway built for speeds above 160 km/h has a protection zone of 100 m from the centre line of the outermost track, but at least 30 m from the boundary of the railway area. Buildings in a railway protection zone may only be built with a building authority permit, except minor structures. Operating noise must meet the noise limits, and new sections go through an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

What it means for a buyer

A high-speed rail corridor near a house means that construction may take place in the area in the coming years or decades and that the route may still shift within the corridor. It is worth finding out the stage of preparation (feasibility study, EIA, building permit) and where the line is to run according to the latest documents. Správa železnic publishes information on the preparation; the corridors are in the region's development principles and the municipal zoning plan. Until construction, restrictions on building in the corridor may apply.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a high-speed line and a line upgrade?

Under the Railways Act, a conventional railway is equipped for speeds up to 200 km/h, a high-speed one above 200 km/h. Správa železnic is preparing high-speed lines as new railways, whereas upgrades improve existing lines.