📋 Tender Overview
The Minister of Transport Ivan Bednarik met in Vienna with the Austrian Federal Minister for Innovation Mobility and Infrastructure Peter Hanke. The main topics of discussion were the development of cross-border transport infrastructure cooperation in the preparation of high-speed rail its financing from European sources and the construction of key road routes. At the end of the joint meeting the ministers signed a memorandum confirming the interest of both countries to continue close cooperation in the development of cross-border railway infrastructure.
The development of cross-border transport infrastructure with Austria is crucial for both Czech and Austrian citizens and our economies. So far we lack highway connections and the railway is not exactly flourishing either. I informed the Austrian side about the infrastructure projects on our side of the common border specifically about how we are finishing the construction of the South Bohemian highway D3 which drivers will be able to use to reach Dolni Dvoriste as early as next year. Intensive preparations are also ongoing for the second highway connection - highway D52 towards Vienna which is highlighted in the governments program declaration and where the Road and Motorway Directorate plans to start building sections outside the Nove Mlyny water reservoir next year recalls Minister of Transport Ivan Bednarik regarding the current schedules.
Federal Minister Hanke informed about the progress of the completion of the expressway S10 which is to connect to the South Bohemian D3. Currently the section Freistadt-Nord - Rainbach is under construction with expected commissioning during the next year while the following part Rainbach - state border is in the preparation phase and should be completed in about 5 years.
On the railway I assured my Austrian colleagues that we consider the high-speed rail connection Via Vindobona (Berlin-Prague-Vienna) a strategic project of pan-European significance and we include it in our plan for the construction of the backbone network of fast rail connections. We agreed that the expected decision of the European Union on the shape of the multiannual financial plan for the period after 2028 is crucial for setting the schedule for preparation and subsequent construction. Countries will no longer receive money for their own projects but there will be European competition among them. However we are convinced that the Via Vindobona project has such benefits that it will succeed in this competition and the EU will provide an appropriate share of co-financing states Minister Bednarik.
The memorandum signed today in addition to the fast connection Via Vindobona also emphasizes the modernization of the railway connection Prague - Ceske Budejovice - Linz and the preparation of the cross-border section between Ceske Budejovice and Linz the parameters of which are currently being assessed in a joint study by the Railway Administration and OBB. The discussion also touched on the modernization of the line Veseli nad Luznici - Ceske Velenice - Gmund - Vienna which upon completion will improve capacity for both passenger and freight transport and create an important diversion route.
The discussion also addressed the competitiveness of railway freight transport and the need for coordinated action at the level of the European Union. Minister Bednarik presented the Czech initiative aimed at strengthening the role of railways in freight transport and removing barriers in cross-border operations to the Austrian side.
At the end of the meeting the ministers agreed to continue intensive cooperation in the preparation and implementation of key transport projects between the Czech Republic and Austria.
