All entries related to Czech Republic, newest first. tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:en:en/countries/czech-republic 2026-10-30T06:00:00Z Eurotrack tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:a4694d26:en 2026-10-30T06:00:00Z

Single-source report: according to the Italian newspaper Il Domani, Czech entrepreneur Michal Strnad, head of defence group CSG, offered in a letter dated 20 October 2026 to buy the Del Vecchio family's Delfin holding for €30bn. Delfin is a major shareholder in EssilorLuxottica; the eight heirs, who own the holding in equal parts, are increasingly divided. The offer has not been confirmed (Zonebourse citing Il Domani, 30 October 2026). — Source: https://www.tradingsat.com/essilorluxottica-FR0000121667/actualites/essilorluxottica-un-milliardaire-tcheque-proposerait-30-milliards-d-euros-pour-delfin-1172822.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:bbfbbb27:en 2026-10-30T06:00:00Z

Ahold Delhaize is taking over Tesco's entire business in Czechia and Slovakia, with more than 360 own stores, over 100 franchise stores, about €3.5bn in sales and more than 14,000 employees. Enterprise value is about €1.2bn (around €1.7bn including lease liabilities); Ahold Delhaize is already present in Czechia with Albert, while Slovakia would be a new market. Closing is expected in Q4 2027, subject to regulatory approvals (VRT, 30 Oct 2026; second source: TASR, 30 Oct 2026). — Sources: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2026/10/30/ahold-delhaize-neemt-supermarktketen-in-tsjechie-en-slovakije-ov/ · https://www.teraz.sk/ekonomika/ahold-delhaize-sa-dohodla-na-akvizicii/1003879-clanok.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:a5071f69:en 2026-10-26T06:00:00Z

According to Bloomberg, cited by Puls Biznesu, the government backed the initiative tabled in early October; the amendment needs 3/5 of deputies and 3/5 of senators present, more than the coalition has. Finance Minister Schillerová says it does not rule out the euro, but the government will not pursue it (Puls Biznesu citing Bloomberg, 26 Oct 2026). — Source: https://www.pb.pl/rzad-czech-poparl-wpisanie-do-konstytucji-korony-jako-krajowej-waluty-1269459

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:b35871be:en 2026-10-15T06:00:00Z

The Czech subsidiary of Germany's Hartmann group will give up its plant in Chvalkovice at the end of November 2027, affecting 280 employees plus 8 people at the Sanicare sheltered workshop, which also closes. About half of production is to move to the main plant in Veverská Bítýška (around 900 staff) and the rest to external partners in Asia; the company cites cost pressure from non-EU suppliers and fixed-price tenders. It already ended production at Havlíčkův Brod, with about 200 staff, in March 2026; some of the workforce may transfer to Veverská Bítýška (ČTK/České noviny, 15 Oct 2026). — Source: https://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/hartmann-rico-uzavre-v-listopadu-2027-zavod-chvalkovice/2888526

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:26629e1c:en 2026-10-13T06:00:00Z

The Chamber of Deputies passed the government's bill for a windfall tax on refinery margins in first reading and rejected two opposition motions. It taxes the margin increase over 2025 for 2026 and 2027, with the finance ministry expecting about CZK 5.5bn for 2026; the opposition warns about the retroactive effect. This is only the first reading, with the budget committee next (České noviny, 13 Oct 2026; E15, 13 Oct 2026). — Sources: https://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/snemovna-podporila-zavedeni-mimoradne-dane-na-rafinerie/2887012 · https://www.e15.cz/domaci/politika/mimoradna-dan-rafinerie-lex-unipetrol-orlen-schillerova-1436526

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:5cefc917:en 2026-10-08T06:00:00Z

Pivovary Staropramen, part of Molson Coors, will wind down production at the Ostravar brewery, founded in 1897, in several stages during 2027; the main Ostravar brands will in future be brewed at the company's Smíchov brewery in Prague. Around 120 brewing staff will lose their jobs, while sales, marketing and logistics stay in the Moravian-Silesian region. The company cites falling beer consumption, higher costs for packaging, energy and transport, and the need to make better use of its brewery network (e15.cz, 8 Oct 2026). — Sources: https://www.e15.cz/byznys/potraviny/ostravska-varna-po-temer-130-letech-utichne-ostravar-presune-vyrobu-piva-do-prahy-1436389 · https://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/pivovar-ostravar-konci-vyrobu-jeho-znacky-se-budou-vyrabet-v-praze/2884654

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:ce65f2b6:en 2026-10-07T06:00:00Z

ČEZ subsidiary ČEZ Invest Slovensko signed the contract on 7 October 2026 to sell its 49% stake in the project company JESS for €189m (about CZK 4.6bn) to state-owned JAVYS, which already holds 51%; the Slovak state thus takes sole control of the planned new nuclear power plant at Jaslovské Bohunice. The two partners set up JESS in 2009; Robert Fico's government now wants the new reactor built under state ownership. The price had caused a dispute with the economy ministry before a further valuation confirmed the original figure. ČEZ expects settlement within days (e15.cz, 7 Oct 2026). — Sources: https://www.e15.cz/byznys/prumysl-a-energetika/cez-konci-v-projektu-nove-slovenske-jaderne-elektrarny-fico-ziska-plnou-kontrolu-1436361 · https://oenergetice.cz/en/nuclear-power/cez-set-to-exit-jess-bratislava-earmarks-czk-4-6-billion-for-buyout

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:a5ce825f:en 2026-10-07T06:00:00Z

The Czech Republic's largest internet company, Seznam.cz, owned by businessman Ivo Lukačovič, plans a third data centre of its own on newly bought land near the D11 motorway east of Prague, e15 reports, with the sellers being two logistics and transport firms. The site is to host web services, news portals and AI applications. Seznam runs more than 13,000 servers and has been building its own sites since 2015: the Kokura data centre in Prague's Horní Počernice and, since 2023, Nagoja at Benátky nad Jizerou, together costing around half a billion koruna; a second data hall went live at Benátky this year. There is no official confirmation of the new project (e15.cz, 7 Oct 2026). — Source: https://www.e15.cz/byznys/technologie-a-media/seznam-lukacovic-datacentrum-mochov-1436278

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:09863452:en 2026-10-07T06:00:00Z

Days after reports of an AI data centre of up to 86 MW at Ralsko in the Česká Lípa district, the investor has pulled out: Findome, wholly owned by businessman Petr Šebeček and active mainly in property and solar energy, is pausing the project and withdrawing its environmental impact assessment application. Market observers told e15 the scheme was a speculative bet that had been shopped around to other parties; the site has no power connection of the required scale, only a non-binding promise of a substation by 2029. No investment figure was ever given (e15.cz, 7 Oct 2026). — Source: https://www.e15.cz/byznys/plany-poplach-obri-ai-datacentrum-v-ralsku-nevznikne-investor-spekulativni-projekt-rusi-1436163

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:3fce37ea:en 2026-10-06T06:00:00Z

Belgium has been allocated a total of €8.3bn from SAFE and Czechia €2bn; SAFE is a loan programme of up to €150bn from which Member States finance defence investment and joint purchases and later repay the loans. According to ČTK, Czechia intends to use the money mainly for Leopard 2A8 battle tanks, Tatra T-815 vehicles and making the D11 motorway usable for the military (European Commission, Daily News, 06.10.2026; second source: ČTK/České noviny, 06.10.2026). Update (7 Oct 2026): The Czech defence ministry is using the first tranche of €309m received on 6 October 2026 (about CZK 7.6bn, 15% of the roughly €2bn allocated) for spending on the project to make the D11 motorway usable by the military. The current government has redistributed the money across the three projects already chosen by Petr Fiala's cabinet: about CZK 23bn for the D11, CZK 20bn for Leopard 2A8 battle tanks and the remainder for Tatra vehicles. Nineteen EU countries take part in SAFE (ČTK/České noviny, 7 Oct 2026). — Sources: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/mex_26_2088 · https://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/cesko-dostalo-prvni-platbu-z-unijniho-obranneho-nastroje-safe-uvedla-ek/2883736 · https://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/cesko-vyuzije-prvni-splatku-z-pujcky-safe-na-projekt-dalnice-d11/2884277

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:80dadf30:en 2026-10-01T06:00:00Z

Pegasus Airlines announced on 1 October 2026 that it has completed the purchase of ČSA and the Smartwings group, agreed in December 2025, for €154m including the debt of both companies. The Czech competition authority ÚOHS had approved the deal on 11 September 2026 on condition that summer slots on Prague–Antalya are handed to another carrier; Smartwings stays as a brand (Air Journal, 2 Oct 2026; Reuters via Marketscreener, 8 Dec 2025). — Source: https://www.air-journal.fr/2026-10-02-la-compagnie-turque-pegasus-met-la-main-sur-smartwings-et-prend-pied-en-europe-centrale-5277868.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:ec6feb4f:en 2026-09-29T06:00:00Z

Footwear group Baťa plans to phase out manufacturing at Dolní Němčí (Uherské Hradiště district), its only factory in Central Europe, during 2027; the plant has made shoes since 1970. The company says the operation is no longer viable under current market conditions; 92 employees are affected. Baťa will remain present in the Czech Republic through its store network (ČT24 / ČTK, 29 Sep 2026). Update (06.10.2026): according to the union, staff will leave in two stages, roughly half on 31.12.2026 and the rest on 31.03.2027; the buildings are to be cleared between April and August 2027 (ČTK via e15, 06.10.2026). — Sources: https://ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/clanek/regiony/zlinsky-kraj/bata-zavre-svuj-posledni-zavod-ve-stredni-evrope-dotkne-se-to-92-lidi-378069 · https://www.teraz.sk/ekonomika/obuvnicka-firma-bata-ukonci-vyrobu/995938-clanok.html · https://www.e15.cz/byznys/bata-dolni-nemci-tovarna-konec-zamestnanci-odbory-1436327

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:f7c0d69c:en 2026-09-23T06:00:00Z

Škoda JS and Rolls-Royce SMR agree on exclusive development and supply of control-rod drives for the small reactors, first as a prototype and then in series preparation. Industry Minister Havlíček put the value at about CZK 1bn per contract, with follow-on orders expected to be larger; the first Czech SMR is planned for Temelín in the mid-2030s (oEnergetice, 23 Sep 2026). — Source: https://oenergetice.cz/en/nuclear-power/czech-nuclear-industry-celebrates-success-as-skoda-js-joins-rolls-royce-smr-project

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:6e06c978:en 2026-09-22T06:00:00Z

The funicular up Prague's Petřín hill has been running again since 22.09.2026, after heavy rain destroyed the line in September 2024. Metrostav DIZ renewed the track for about CZK 134m according to ČTK, and Doppelmayr/Garaventa supplied new, more extensively glazed cars for up to 120 instead of 100 passengers for CZK 137.7m; because downhill cars no longer stop at Nebozízek, they run roughly every ten minutes (E15, 20.09.2026; Newstream, 22.09.2026). — Sources: https://www.e15.cz/byznys/doprava-a-logistika/lanovka-po-dvou-letech-znovu-vyjede-na-petrin-meni-se-ceny-i-zastavky-1435681 · https://www.newstream.cz/enjoy/obrazem-petrinska-lanovka-je-zpatky-dva-roky-cekani-nove-vozy-a-jizdenka-za-stovku

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:be314b45:en 2026-09-21T06:00:00Z

The plan includes public-sector pay rises of 5 to 9%, about CZK 290bn of investment and debt service growing from CZK 110bn to 130bn; defence spending reaches 2% of GDP for the first time. The draft still has to pass parliament (Expats.cz, 22 Sep 2026). — Source: https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/czech-budget-plans-more-for-salaries-and-pensions-with-a-huge-deficit

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:83bae280:en 2026-09-16T06:00:00Z

Czech public broadcaster Česká televize plans to shed about 12% of its roughly 2,900 staff, close to 350 posts, between this year and 2030; Director-General Hynek Chudárek gave the figure at the television council on 16.09.2026. The cuts respond to the government's planned switch from licence fees to funding from the state budget and a CZK 350m savings target for 2027; the budget for new programmes falls to CZK 2.2bn (E15/ČTK, 16.09.2026). — Source: https://www.e15.cz/byznys/technologie-a-media/velke-skrty-na-kavcich-horach-ct-propusti-350-lidi-a-na-vyrobu-poradu-da-o-ctvrtinu-mene-1435829

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:f62b2040:en 2026-09-12T06:00:00Z

České dráhy ceremonially opened the new repair hall of the Cheb maintenance centre over the weekend of National Railway Day (12/13 September 2026); the three-track, 176-metre hall replaces the previous maintenance centre and cost just under CZK 830 million (approx. EUR 34 million). It was built in 2024–2026 by a consortium of TSS GRADE and BERGER BOHEMIA and will be home depot for ten five-car InterJet trains, serving the Karlovy Vary region and partly Ústí, with ComfortJet overhauls added from October 2027 and the centre taking part, from 2028, in the renewal of the Railjet trains that ÖBB has so far maintained. More staff are planned: in 2027 the railway intends to hire mainly specialists such as mechatronics and electronics technicians; further halls are under construction in Olomouc, Česká Třebová and Hradec Králové, and several billion crowns are earmarked for maintenance facilities up to 2031. The date is a placeholder: the article names only the opening weekend, so its first day is used (LOK Report, 15 Sep 2026; announcement of 7 Aug 2026). — Sources: https://www.lok-report.de/news/europa/tschechien/tschechien-ceske-drahy-haben-die-neue-reparaturhalle-des-instandhaltungszentrums-in-cheb-eroeffnet.html · https://www.lok-report.de/news/europa/tschechien/tschechien-cheb-feiert-den-nationalen-tag-der-eisenbahn.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:be45d363:en 2026-08-24T06:00:00Z

The stock-exchange release gives no capacity figures such as megawatts; the client is CRA Prague Gateway DC (PR Newswire, 24 Aug 2026). — Source: https://tools.prnewswire.com/en-us/live/20813/release/20260824EN32014

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:d7cb8baf:en 2026-08-01T06:00:00Z

The Plzeň car-parts plant of Japan's JTEKT group is cutting around 300 of its 620 jobs — almost half the workforce and the biggest reduction since series production began in 2005. Both production and administrative staff are affected; notices with severance pay will be issued gradually over several months from the end of August 2026, with the company citing group strategy and market conditions. It rules out leaving the Czech Republic. (E15, 01.08.2026) — Source: https://www.e15.cz/byznys/prumysl-a-energetika/plzensky-zavod-jtekt-celi-krizi-v-autoprumyslu-propusti-300-lidi-1434687

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:0d3fade8:en 2026-07-31T06:00:00Z

Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik opened the section together with the road authority ŘSD. The gap to Nažidly is to close in June 2027 and the whole South Bohemian D3 is to be finished in 2027 (embassy in Vienna, 3 Aug 2026). Media partly give different lengths and costs; the official figures are 3.2 km and CZK 1.04bn. — Source: https://mzv.gov.cz/vienna/cz/zpravy_a_udalosti/rsd_otevrelo_novy_usek_dalnice_d3_u.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:7e1208d7:en 2026-07-27T06:00:00Z

Industry Minister Karel Havlíček pointed to penalties running into billions through the recovery plan if no zones were designated at all; environmental groups and the renewables association criticised the decision (oEnergetice, 27 Jul 2026). — Source: https://oenergetice.cz/en/renewable-energy/government-shrinks-area-for-wind-power-acceleration-zones

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:ca9a94ea:en 2026-07-24T06:00:00Z

On 24 July 2026 China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) added 14 EU entities to its export control list for dual-use goods. Those confirmed by name are German defence group Rheinmetall, Italian electric motor maker Lafert SpA, French drone manufacturer Cavok UAS, Czech vehicle builder Tatra Trucks and Germany's Sindlhauser Materials GmbH; the full list of all 14 entities was not published in the sources reviewed. The measure is a direct response to the EU's 21st Russia sanctions package adopted on 23 July, which covered 14 Chinese and Hong Kong companies. A MOFCOM spokesperson justified the step by citing the protection of national security interests and the fulfilment of non-proliferation obligations. Second source: South China Morning Post, 24 July 2026. — Source: https://fortune.com/2026/07/24/china-export-controls-european-entities-eu-russia-sanctions/

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:fcc057f6:en 2026-07-15T06:00:00Z

Czech CE Industries (Jaroslav Strnad) and Auctor Holding (J&T group) have completed the purchase of 49.99% of the Polish port and logistics group OT Logistics via the joint vehicle DD Rail Properties. The investors gain access to Polish Baltic ports (Świnoujście, Gdynia), to be integrated with CE Industries' rail division; the Polish and Czech competition authorities had approved the deal. Second source: Respekt. — Source: https://www.e15.cz/byznys/doprava-a-logistika/pristavy-zeleznice-a-hutni-produkty-jaroslav-strnad-buduje-novy-logisticky-retezec-ve-stredni-evrope-1434331

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:9e45c8fa:en 2026-07-13T06:00:00Z

After 80 years, Zetor is ending tractor production in Brno and relocating it to India; 33 production jobs are directly affected (the site recently had around 150 employees). Ongoing orders will be completed by the end of 2026; Brno remains the group headquarters with R&D, sales and the spare-parts centre. Second source: Brno Today. — Source: https://www.auto.cz/traktory-zetor-uz-jenom-z-indie-firma-po-80-letech-konci-s-vyrobou-v-brne-161692

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:19e36922:en 2026-06-15T06:00:00Z

ÖBB Rail Cargo Group has opened the modernised container terminal for combined transport in Přerov-Horní Moštěnice after 16 months of construction; the site grew by about 17,100 m² to roughly 36,000 m², almost doubling in size. More storage and handling areas, better track access and new handling equipment are meant to remove the earlier bottlenecks, capacity is around 3,000 TEU, and semi-trailers can also be handled in future. New rail links to the ports of Koper and Rijeka and integration into Eurasian connections via Budapest are planned; the project is co-financed by the EU, and the report gives no costs. The date is a placeholder: the article gives no exact opening day, so the date of the report is used (LOK Report, 15 Jun 2026). — Source: https://www.lok-report.de/news/europa/tschechien/tschechien-oebb-rail-cargo-group-eroeffnet-modernisierten-terminal-in-prerov.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:96e7615a:en 2026-06-01T06:00:00Z

The general meeting voted on 1 June 2026 with over 90% of the votes present to move ČEZ Prodej, ČEZ Distribuce, GasNet, ČEZ ESCO and the trading companies into a subsidiary from the first quarter of 2027. ČEZ is to keep 51% and offer the rest to investors later; the state holds about 70% and wants full control of the group by 2029. The source gives no overall price for buying out minority shareholders (oEnergetice, 1 Jun 2026 and 15 Apr 2026). — Source: https://oenergetice.cz/en/stocks/cez-gets-green-light-shareholders-approve-new-distribution-company

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:ca298e41:en 2026-06-01T06:00:00Z

Megatech, part of Italy's SAPA group, is closing its plant for plastic vehicle parts by 31 December 2026, citing the downturn in the European automotive sector (Eurofound ERM, 1 Jun 2026). — Source: https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/300492

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:b434deb4:en 2026-05-28T06:00:00Z

The Czech railway České dráhy put a new 67-metre, double-track drive-through hall for the maintenance of regional trains into operation at the Havlíčkův Brod maintenance centre on 28 May 2026; it cost over CZK 235 million (approx. EUR 9.7 million). Its equipment includes inspection pits, roof-access gantries, an overhead crane rated for up to 12.5 tonnes and lifting jacks, and it will mainly service the RegioPanter and RegioFox trains of the Vysočina and Pardubice regions. Almost fifty technicians work on more than 50 vehicles of seven classes at the site; the hall is part of a modernisation programme for the service facilities, and a washing plant costing almost CZK 90 million was opened there in 2023 (LOK Report, 2 Jun 2026). Update (2 June 2026): České dráhy has put its new repair hall at the Havlíčkův Brod maintenance centre into operation. (LOK Report, 2 June 2026) — Source: https://www.lok-report.de/news/europa/tschechien/tschechien-neue-reparaturhalle-fuer-regionalzuege-in-havlickuv-brod.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:044d9b53:en 2026-05-22T06:00:00Z

The transport ministry and Správa železnic presented a medium-term concept for electrification and ETCS to operators and ordering bodies on 22 May 2026, responding to the renewal of vehicle fleets, new developments such as battery trains and experience so far. By 2031 or 2033 the administration wants to complete basic upgrades including electrification on 235 km and to electrify a further 355 km in a simple way, without major work on the track; regional projects funded from the Modernisation Fund are part of the plan. For ETCS, exclusive operation on the TEN-T main lines has priority, while simpler variants up to ETCS PZV are to be used on secondary lines, with approval of the latter under discussion with the European Union Agency for Railways. Exclusive ETCS operation applies on 670 km today, about 180 km will be added in 2026, and the most important step is the extension to the whole southern corridor Praha–České Budějovice in December (LOK Report, 27 May 2026). — Source: https://www.lok-report.de/news/europa/tschechien/tschechien-neues-elektrifizierungskonzept-entwicklung-von-etcs-zulassung-von-pzv.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:e31c64a8:en 2026-05-20T06:00:00Z

The silicon-carbide site is cutting about 12% of its roughly 1,700 jobs because of weaker chip demand; 170 jobs had already been cut in April 2025. According to Eurofound the planned expansion depends on state investment aid that has not yet been confirmed (Eurofound ERM, 20 May 2026). — Source: https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/300429

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:94d41a0c:en 2026-05-19T06:00:00Z

Finance Minister Alena Schillerová clarified that the ministry will keep producing the report, just not annually. The government disputes the central bank's forecast of a breach of the Maastricht deficit criterion (Echo24, 19 May 2026). — Source: https://www.echo24.cz/a/HB8VY/zpravy-ekonomika-k-prijeti-eura-se-cesko-za-babise-ani-nepriblizi-poruseni-kriterii

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:c547e803:en 2026-05-16T06:00:00Z

The US supplier is closing its automotive-components plant by 31 October 2026 and moving production to Romania; 96 jobs are lost and talks with the unions are under way (Eurofound ERM, May 2026). — Source: https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/300403

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:5e66f80f:en 2026-04-18T06:00:00Z

The new Dvorecký Bridge over the Vltava (337.8 m long, 16.5 m wide, 6 spans) links Prague 4–Podolí with Prague 5–Smíchov and carries trams, buses, emergency vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. On 18 April 2026, tram lines 20 and 21 were rerouted onto the new bridge as part of the biggest reorganisation of the Prague tram network since 2016. Construction ran from September 2022 to April 2026 (extended from a planned 2.5 to 3.5 years due to tectonic faults in the riverbed), pushing costs up from CZK 972 million to about CZK 1.97 billion incl. VAT. — Source: https://www.dpp.cz/en/company/news/detail/342_3302-dvorecky-bridge-officially-opened

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:3b70687d:en 2026-03-18T06:00:00Z

GE Aerospace is investing over €110 mn in European manufacturing sites (including €77 mn Italy, €15 mn Poland, €10 mn UK) plus around €40 mn in MRO plants and aims to hire more than 1,000 new employees in Europe in 2026. — Source: https://www.geaerospace.com/news/press-releases/ge-aerospace-invest-eu110m-european-manufacturing-boost-workforce-development

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:70dc00a2:en 2026-03-02T06:00:00Z

The Czech rail infrastructure manager Správa železnic is cutting 121 jobs, mainly in administration and management, as part of a restructuring under its new director general Tomáš Tóth; staff working in operations are not affected. The management structure is being simplified from April, spending on marketing, IT and legal services falls by 20 %, and annual savings are to total CZK 335.6 million (approx. EUR 14 million). The 21 operating districts are being placed under the central control centres in Prague and Přerov, the preparation of public contracts is being centralised and opened up to smaller and foreign bidders, and the money freed up is to go mainly into preparing investment projects. The date is the date of the report; the article does not give the date of the announcement (LOK Report, 2 Mar 2026). — Source: https://www.lok-report.de/news/europa/tschechien/65493-tschechien-umfassende-umstrukturierung-von-sprava-zeleznic-mit-abbau-von-121-stellen.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:6819109b:en 2026-01-29T06:00:00Z

The State Fund for Transport Infrastructure is making a record CZK 72.2 billion (approx. EUR 3 billion) available to the rail infrastructure manager Správa železnic in 2026; the projects can only start once the Chamber of Deputies has adopted the state budget. CZK 20 billion (EUR 820 million) is earmarked for track maintenance and about CZK 0.75 billion for greater safety at level crossings, with station refurbishments and several electrifications on top. Construction of the 15 km Praha-Ruzyně–Kladno line is due to begin in spring, and the Plzeň–Nýřany–Chotěšov upgrade, the rebuild of the Ostrava rail node and the renovation of Kolín–Kutná Hora are also planned. The date is the date of the report; the article does not give the date on which the funds were allocated (LOK Report, 29 Jan 2026; second source: ACRI, 2 Feb 2026). — Sources: https://www.lok-report.de/news/europa/tschechien/64758-tschechien-rekordsumme-von-72-mrd-czk-fuer-sprava-zeleznic.html · https://acri.cz/2026/02/02/do-ceske-zeleznice-letos-zamiri-rekordnich-72-miliard-korun

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:2f6f8e21:en 2026-01-26T06:00:00Z

EP Group, the holding headed by Daniel Křetínský, announced a cash offer for Fnac Darty on 26 January 2026 at €36 a share, welcomed unanimously by the board. EP already holds 28.5% and wants to become long-term majority shareholder, with no squeeze-out and no delisting. Update (20 October 2026): the European Commission cleared the acquisition of sole control under the normal procedure without competition concerns; whether the offer has since completed is not documented here (Il Sole 24 Ore, 26 January 2026; European Commission, 20 October 2026). Addendum: not previously tracked. Update (20 October 2026): the takeover offer by EP FR Holdco, controlled by EP Group, at €35 per share (after the €1.00 dividend paid on 5 June 2026) closes on 9 November 2026; if it succeeds (more than 50% of the capital or voting rights) it will reopen for at least ten trading days (Fnac Darty, 20 October 2026). — Sources: https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/fnac-darty-flies-to-paris-the-czech-billionaire-opa-kretinsky-AIcUtk3 · https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/mex_26_2208 · https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/20/3384786/0/en/fnac-darty-takeover-bid-initiated-by-ep-group-closing-date-of-the-tender-offer-on-november-9-2026.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:81082d4d:en 2026-01-14T06:00:00Z

According to the report of 14 Jan 2026, the European Commission has cleared the formation of a joint venture that Škoda Transportation, through its Czech subsidiary Rolling Stock Components, is setting up with India's Tata AutoComp System. It is to make power electronics for rail vehicles for the Indian market; clearance came under the simplified procedure (case M.12181) because the impact on the European Economic Area is limited. The report gives no figures for investment, site or staffing. (LOK Report, 14 Jan 2026) — Source: https://www.lok-report.de/news/europa/europaeische-union/64408-europaeische-union-kommission-genehmigt-gruendung-eines-gemeinschaftsunternehmens-durch-skoda-transportation-und-tata-autocomp.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:f22e7f69:en 2025-08-31T06:00:00Z

Since 31 August 2025, Pendolino trains have run in regular service at up to 200 km/h (previously 160 km/h) on the Votice–Sudoměřice u Tábora and Doubí–Soběslav sections of the Prague–České Budějovice line (services IC 591/590) — a first for Czech railways. This is enabled by the trains' tilting technology combined with upgraded track infrastructure. Journey time between Prague and České Budějovice is cut to about 95 minutes, down from roughly 100 minutes. — Source: https://www.ceskedrahy.cz/en/Pendolino-Ceske-Budejovice

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:0fd3c7ee:en 2025-08-01T06:00:00Z

On 1 August 2025, the roughly 1.3 km long, newly double-tracked and electrified section between the new Praha-Bubny station and the new Praha-Výstaviště stop entered service (limited operation initially, full timetable towards Kladno from 4 August). The section is the third stage of the eleven-part "Prague – Airport – Kladno" project, which will eventually link central Prague by rail to Václav Havel Airport; the actual airport connection is not expected before 2029/2030. Praha-Bubny is Prague's first entirely new mainline station building in about 40 years and is linked via an underground passage to the Vltavská metro station (line C). — Source: https://md.gov.cz/Media/Media-a-tiskove-zpravy/Modernizace-trati-na-letiste-v-useku-mezi-Bubny-a?lang=en-GB

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:5cafe944:en 2025-06-11T06:00:00Z

The ČSM Mine in Stonava will close on 31 January 2026 – ending bituminous coal mining in the Czech Republic after almost 250 years of mining history. The state-owned company OKD will lay off around 900 employees by the end of February 2026 and pay numerous severance packages (over 500 million crowns). OKD is retaining around 600 workers for three years for technical wind-down and the development of new business activities: extraction and use of mine gas for electricity and heat generation, coal purchasing, and the production of custom energy blends using existing facilities. Update (04.02.2026): Coal extraction at the ČSM mine ended overnight into 01.02.2026, and the last coal cart was brought up on 04.02.2026. About 750 employees left at the end of January and roughly 150 more by the end of February; around 700 stay on for decommissioning and new business lines (Karvinský a havířovský deník, 04.02.2026: https://karvinsky.denik.cz/zpravy-region/okd-stonava-d-l-csm-posledni-vozik-tezba-cerne-uhli-karvinsko-cesko-konec-2026/). — Source: https://english.radio.cz/czech-bituminous-coal-mining-end-january-2026-8868006

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:cc1e3d67:en 2025-04-08T06:00:00Z

Czech defence group STV Invest, owned by businessman Martin Drda, is buying half of Promet Tools (Promet Group), which holds 35% of truck maker Tatra Trucks in Kopřivnice, giving it an indirect 17.5% stake; NIKA Development of Michal Strnad's CSG group remains majority owner with 65%. The parties did not disclose a price (STV Group, 08.04.2025; E15, 08.04.2025). Update (06.10.2026): The European Commission cleared the acquisition of joint control of Tatra Trucks by NIKA Development, Promet Group and STV Invest, finding no competition concerns (case M.12172) — despite CSG owner Michal Strnad's displeasure at the rival's entry (European Commission, Daily News, 06.10.2026; Hospodářské noviny, 06.10.2026). — Sources: https://www.stvgroup.cz/en/news/promet-group-and-stv-invest-form-strategic-ownership-partnership-for-tatra-trucks-to-strengthen-its-further-development · https://www.e15.cz/byznys/prumysl-a-energetika/z-rivalu-se-stavaji-spolumajitele-zbrojovka-stv-vstupuje-do-tatry-ovladane-jejim-konkurentem-1423767 · https://byznys.hn.cz/c1-67940530-stv-se-stane-spolumajitelem-tatry-i-pres-nelibost-strnada-dohodu-schvalila-evropska-komise · https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/mex_26_2088

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:18800683:en 2025-04-04T06:00:00Z

On the 23.991 km Kopidlno–Dolní Bousov line (eastern Central Bohemia), abandoned since 2010 (formerly used for sugar-beet transport), Czech rail technology firm AŽD resumed passenger service on 4/5 April 2025 with the autonomous EDITA railcar (a converted class 810 diesel unit) — described by AŽD as Europe's first autonomous passenger train on an open line. Staff must still be aboard for legal reasons; the roughly CZK 320 million investment was about one third EU-funded. In 2025 the train runs on selected weekends/holidays, with commercial regular operation planned from 2029. — Source: https://www.railvolution.net/news/azd-s-autonomous-train-runs-with-passengers