Slovakia Moves Closer to European High-Speed Rail with €3bn Infrastructure Plan

Slovakia has outlined how it could join Central Europe’s future high-speed rail network after completing a feasibility study for new lines connecting Bratislava with the Czech Republic and Austria. The project would combine upgrades to existing tracks with the construction of new high-speed sections.

Slovakia’s rail infrastructure manager Železnice Slovenskej republiky (ŽSR) has presented the results of a national feasibility study examining how high-speed rail services could be introduced in the country and connected to neighbouring networks in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Austria.

According to International Railway Journal, the study identifies a preferred solution worth about €3.1 billion that focuses on expanding the Bratislava rail hub and building new railway lines towards the Czech and Austrian borders. ŽSR Director General Miroslav Garaj said the study shows that Slovakia has a realistic opportunity to join high-speed rail developments already underway in neighbouring countries and become part of Europe’s expanding fast rail network.

Bratislava Rail Hub Would Be Reorganised

The study evaluated three development scenarios and 38 technical options before selecting a solution that largely relies on modernising existing infrastructure around Bratislava while adding several new sections of railway.

Two alternative scenarios considered building entirely new corridors designed for trains running at 160–200 km/h, including new crossings over the Danube River and the Little Carpathian mountains. However, planners concluded that these options would be more difficult to build and offered weaker economic returns. The preferred option therefore combines targeted new construction with upgrades to the existing rail network in the Bratislava region.

A key element of the proposal is the construction of a new railway station called Bratislava West, planned near the town of Stupava about 22 kilometres north of the capital. The station would serve as an operational centre for domestic services, maintenance and train formation, while also acting as a stop for future high-speed trains.

Moving maintenance facilities and stabling yards away from Bratislava main station would free up space in the city centre and allow more passenger services to operate through the hub. The plan also includes upgrading track layouts at the main station and increasing speeds from 30 km/h to 50 km/h, as well as extending freight infrastructure to handle trains up to 750 metres long.

New High-Speed Lines Towards the Czech Republic

The programme would be built in two phases. The first phase, scheduled for 2030–2040, focuses on reorganising the Bratislava railway hub and building a new line connecting the districts of Lamač, Bratislava West and Zohor. This line would run roughly parallel to the D2 motorway and support speeds of up to 160 km/h.

The second phase, planned for 2046–2050, includes the construction of a new high-speed railway between Bratislava West and the Czech border. This section would be designed for speeds of up to 320 km/h, allowing trains to continue towards the Czech high-speed railr network and the city of Brno. Another planned connection would link the Austrian railway line from Marchegg to Bratislava West, enabling fast services from Vienna to continue northwards through Slovakia.

Faster Connections Across Central Europe

If completed, the project would significantly shorten travel times between major Central European cities. Preliminary estimates suggest that journeys between Bratislava and Brno could take around 46 minutes, while travel between Bratislava and Budapest could drop to roughly 1 hour and 42 minutes. The study estimates total investment costs at around €3.06 billion, although this figure does not include land acquisition or preparatory work.

Further steps will involve detailed traffic simulations and coordination with neighbouring countries to ensure the infrastructure integrates smoothly with their planned high-speed rail systems. According to ŽSR, the project would strengthen Slovakia’s position within Europe’s future rail network and improve international connections to cities such as Vienna, Brno, Prague and Budapest.