Czech infrastructure operator SZ, in collaboration with the Czech Ministry of Transport, has presented a plan for electrification and ETCS that prioritises exclusive ETCS operation on the main TEN-T corridors. Plans call for the installation of overhead lines on nearly 600 km of track. Between 2031 and 2033, modernisation projects including electrification are scheduled for 235 km of lines. A further 355 km will undergo simplified electrification, requiring no major interventions to the track infrastructure. This plan is complemented by regional projects funded through the modernisation fund. At the same time, the plan accounts for the anticipated increase in the use of battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs), a shift the ministry intends to support through additional vehicle subsidies. Regarding ETCS, the primary focus lies on the TEN-T corridors, which account for around 90% of the Czech Republic's total rail transport volume. A simpler signalling approach is envisaged for secondary lines, as in addition to lower ETCS levels, plans there include the deployment of the ETCS PZV train-stop system, which is compatible with standardised ETCS on-board units. Currently, 670 km of track are under exclusive ETCS operation. In 2026, around 180 km will be added to this total. In December 2026, the Southern Corridor connecting Prague and Ceske Budejovice will be incorporated into the system.
