Czech Republic and Austria negotiate improvements to Ceske Budejovice – Linz line
ÖBB is now investigating the possibility of improving the line between Linz and Summerau. There should be a double-track exit from České Budějovice.
Corridor 4 between Prague and České Budějovice, which has seen significant improvements in recent years, could continue further south. According to the rail infrastructure manager Správa železnic, it was the modernization of the line that led the Austrian side to consider improving the line between České Budějovice and Linz.
A meeting between Správa železnic and ÖBB resulted in the intention to connect corridor 4 from Ceske Budejovice towards Linz. ÖBB is now examining the possibilities of improving the line between Linz and Summerau focused on speed increases. If the economic assessment is favorable, the project will become part of the Bahn 2040 agenda, said Správa železnic spokesman Dušan Gavenda.
Details should be known this autumn when a meeting between Správa železnic and ÖBB Infrastruktur representatives is scheduled. They will discuss future parameters of the České Budějovice – Linz line. The negotiations should result in an agreement on the technical solution and the dates of possible implementation.
However, one detail is already known. Within the feasibility study of the České Budějovice railway junction currently being completed, a double-track exit is already proposed in the direction of Linz. After the study is approved by the Ministry of Transport, further preparations will continue. As follows from Sprava zeleznic earlier statements, the České Budějovice junction modernization should be completed between 2024 and 2026 but a later date is expected.
The obsolescence of line 196 between České Budějovice and Horní Dvořište will become apparent this year after the completion of more northerly major constructions make travel at over 160 km/h possible. Trains here will run on a winding single track (max. 100 km/h). The line was electrified at the turn of the century, however, it has remained in its original track.
Edited and translated by Lucie Trávníčková