The planned high-speed connection between Dresden and Prague is a key element of the European rail network. The Bundestag voted on Thursday evening in Berlin in favor of building the line, which is to become part of the corridor from Vienna via Prague to Berlin. The Czech government had already approved its construction last year, and there is also an agreement with Austria to accelerate the expansion of the Vienna–Prague route.
Construction costs for the 150-kilometer Dresden–Prague section alone are estimated at 5.6 billion euros. The reason is complex tunneling: the centerpiece consists of two 30-kilometer single-track tunnels through the Ore Mountains, connecting Heidenau in Saxony with Chabařovice in the Czech Republic. 18 kilometers of the tunnel lie on the German side. It would be one of the longest railway tunnels in Europe, traversable at speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour.
Construction is scheduled to begin at the end of 2032, with commissioning planned for 2044. Instead of the current two and a half hours, the journey from Dresden to Prague would then take only one hour. The new route is intended to replace the scenic but chronically overloaded and outdated line along the Elbe.
For the Czech Republic, the project also aims to improve connections to German North Sea and Baltic ports, which are important for the country’s foreign trade. The structurally weak region of northern Bohemia hopes for an economic boost from the improved transport links. The EU is supporting the project financially as part of the European high-speed rail network.
Source: www.faz.net
