Czechia presents concept for electrification and ETCS roll-out

Exclusive ETCS operation takes priority on the TEN-T main corridors, which carry 90 % of traffic performance; on secondary lines simpler solutions such as lower ETCS levels and ETCS PZV are planned, with approval of the latter under discussion with the European Union Agency for Railways. Exclusive operation currently applies on 670 km, about 180 km will be added in 2026, and the whole southern corridor Praha–České Budějovice follows in December.

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).