Today, construction work has officially begun on the territory of Czechia on the first construction section; however, it will take time until the full renewal and transformation of the entire line’s appearance is achieved. This project is aimed at the gradual improvement of cross-border connections, which will allow for increasing the quality of passenger and freight transportation in the future.
In Czechia, the expansion of the railway branch connecting Plzen and the Bavarian border near the town of Furth im Wald has begun. The first phase of work covers a section with a length of 12.3 kilometers between the major industrial center and the municipality of Chotěšov. An official announcement regarding this was distributed by the state railway administration of Czechia.
Important Significance for Passengers of Long-Distance Trains and Suburban Routes
According to the plans, the railway line will be completely electrified. In addition, two stations and one small intermediate passenger stop are subject to renewal. Construction work on this segment will take about two years. “We keep our word and expand those routes where it is most expedient,” reported the Minister of Transport of Czechia, Ivan Bednárik.
Trains running between the cities of Plzen and Domažlice not only provide long-distance routes to Bavaria, but are also actively used by numerous residents of the region for daily trips to work.
The Volume of Investments Will Amount to About 180 Million Euros
To ensure the movement of heavy freight trains, a new traction substation for the line’s power supply will be built in Plzen. Train traffic safety along the entire length of the path will be ensured through the installation of the European control system ETCS. The total expenditures for the implementation of the first stage will amount to approximately 180 million euros in conversion.
Part of this sum will be covered by targeted subsidies from the funds of the European Union. For the subsequent phases of the project up to the border with Germany near Domažlice, the necessary documentation for obtaining an official construction permit is currently being prepared. The completion of work on expanding the entire length of the route is expected in the 2030s.
It should be noted that the modernization of the Plzen — Furth im Wald line is an important step in the integration of the Czech transport network into the single system of Western Europe. Despite the fact that the implementation of the entire project will stretch into the next decade, the launch of the first stage lays the foundation for a qualitative improvement of both suburban and international transportation. The success of the initiative will allow for reducing travel time between Czechia and Bavaria, as well as increasing the throughput capacity for freight trains due to the transition to single European safety standards.
