photo: redakce RAILTARGET/Railways in Czech Republic
Foreign giants are fighting for the Czech market of high-speed VRT lines. Their entry promises modernisation of technologies, cost savings and a significant strengthening of the competitive environment. In this article we present the most active foreign players trying to establish themselves on the Czech market.
The ambitious project to build high-speed lines (VRT) in the Czech Republic is attracting the attention of leading global players. Major foreign companies are appearing in the tenders, bringing experience from international infrastructure projects. Their entry into the Czech market could bring not only modernisation of technologies, but also cost reduction and strengthening of competition. The Ministry of Transport thus welcomes the opening of the Czech market, which should bring greater transparency and increase quality.
So who are the foreign companies interested in Czech VRT? Who will bring technologies from South Korea, who will bring best practices from Poland and who will bring know-how from high-speed rail in Spain? Here is a detailed overview of what we can expect from these foreign players and how they can change the future of Czech rail.
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Budimex: Polish master expands its operations to the Czech Republic
Among the first major players to express interest in Czech VRT is the Polish company Budimex. The company has been involved in the modernisation of railway infrastructure not only in Poland but also in other European countries. Budimex's key projects include the modernisation of Warszawa Zachodnia railway station, one of the most important transport hubs in Poland, and the construction of the longest railway tunnel in the country. However, the company is not limited to railway construction - it has also been involved in the construction of major motorway sections and bypasses.
In recent years, Budimex has expanded its operations to the Czech market. In October 2024, it began construction of a 7.6-kilometre section of the D35 motorway between Džbánov and Litomyšl, its first motorway contract in the Czech Republic. Budimex's growing interest in Czech transport projects is confirmed by its participation in tenders for other major infrastructure contracts, including the construction of Czech VRT.
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Acciona: Spain's high-speed expert
Another major company that has shown interest in the Czech market is Acciona from Spain. Acciona has many years of experience in building high-speed lines in Spain, a country with one of the most extensive VRT networks in Europe. Acciona has proven its expertise in the implementation of major rail projects not only in Europe but also on other continents. Acciona has been involved in the implementation of key sections, such as the Madrid-Barcelona line, where it has been responsible for the construction of a 20.6 km long section including a 2,950 m long tunnel and several viaducts.
Its approach combines technological innovation and an emphasis on sustainability, in line with the needs of modern European infrastructure. Acciona's entry into the Czech market could mean the introduction of best practices and technologies from high-speed networks that have been successfully operating in Spain for many years. Acciona participated in the tender for the project documentation for the Czech section of the high-speed line between Světlá nad Sázavou and Velká Bíteš, which was the largest contract for the Czech VRT to date. Despite being one of the major bidders, the tender was eventually awarded to a consortium led by the Czech company SUDOP Praha.
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Dohwa Engineering and Korea National Railway: technology from South Korea
Asian companies such as Dohwa Engineering and state-owned Korea National Railway (KNR) are also interested in getting involved in VRT projects in the Czech Republic. These companies bring experience from South Korea's highly modern rail network, which is known for its technological maturity. KNR, which is in charge of managing South Korea's railways, caught the attention of Czech officials during a visit in September, when its president held talks with Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka about potential cooperation. Their entry into the Czech Republic could significantly contribute to the technological modernisation of our infrastructure.
Dohwa Engineering, with an extensive portfolio of infrastructure projects across the globe, is able to deliver comprehensive engineering solutions from planning to implementation. Established in 1957, Dohwa Engineering is one of the largest engineering companies in South Korea and has completed more than 10,000 projects in 76 countries, including major rail projects in Poland, Peru, Panama, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Philippines, Tanzania and Algeria.
In 2023, Dohwa was awarded a major contract to design a high-speed line between Katowice and Ostrava. This section is a key part of the TEN-T trans-European transport network and will connect Poland with the Czech Republic. For Dohwa Engineering, this project represents an important reference and an opportunity to bring its advanced engineering know-how to Central Europe.
Greater competition brings benefits for the Czech railway
The Ministry of Transport sees the opening of the Czech VRT market to foreign players as a step towards creating a healthy competitive environment that could bring significant cost reductions and improved project efficiency. Until now, the construction and modernisation of transport infrastructure in the Czech Republic has been in the hands of a limited number of companies, which has led to higher costs. The arrival of new foreign companies, such as Budimex, Acciona, Dohwa Engineering and Korea National Railway, may thus change the current balance of power and increase transparency in Czech tenders.
The Ministry believes that this new competition will not only bring modernisation and innovation, but also reduce the burden on public budgets and improve the quality of transport construction. The entry of strong foreign companies into the VRT sector is therefore a positive signal for the future of the Czech railway network.
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Sources: railway.supply, seznamzpravy.cz, ekonomickydenik.cz, RAILTARGET.cz