Czechia and Hungary want to develop a high-speed railway connecting Prague, Brno, Bratislava, and Budapest, with an estimated investment exceeding €10 billion. The two countries have agreed to coordinate preparations and seek European Union funding, although the project could take another 10 to 12 years to reach the implementation stage.
The plans were announced following the first joint consultations between the Czech and Hungarian governments in Prague. Czech Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik and Hungarian Minister of Transport and Public Works Dávid Vitézy signed a memorandum on transport cooperation on 6 November 2026, covering high-speed rail, international passenger services, freight transport and infrastructure development.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar described the proposed railway as a long-term undertaking extending beyond a decade. He said the time had come to connect Prague, Brno, Bratislava and Budapest by high-speed rail, with potential links to Poland and other Central European countries.
“Europe needs concrete projects, and there aren’t many of them,” Magyar said.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said Central Europe had fallen behind in developing high-speed rail infrastructure. Both governments intend to seek substantial financial support through negotiations on the EU’s next seven-year budget for 2028–2034. The proposed railway is expected to require more than €10 billion, although no detailed project budget, funding award or opening date has been announced.
Cooperation on high-speed rail and existing services
The memorandum provides for closer cooperation on preparing and implementing high-speed railway projects of common interest in Central Europe. The two countries will exchange experience on project planning, permitting, financing models, public procurement and construction.
Czech Transport Minister Bednárik stressed the importance of coordinating infrastructure development and securing European funding.
“Transport infrastructure does not end at national borders. If we want to build a truly competitive railway network in Central Europe, we need to prepare key projects together and at the same time seek appropriate European funding for them. High-speed rail is a project with a European dimension, and that is exactly how we need to approach it,” he said.
The countries also want to coordinate their positions ahead of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework, covering 2028–2034. They will explore opportunities for joint applications under the future Connecting Europe Facility (CEF3), including through cooperation within the Visegrád Group (V4), which also includes Poland and Slovakia.
Babiš said the project could require 10 to 12 years to progress from planning to implementation. The Baltic States have already secured EU support for a comparable cross-border high-speed railway project.
The cooperation is not limited to new infrastructure. The memorandum also covers improvements to existing international passenger services, particularly on the Prague–Bratislava–Budapest corridor. The countries want to reduce journey times, increase frequencies and improve interoperability, with possible extensions towards Győr and other destinations in Central and Eastern Europe.
Links from Czechia towards Germany and Northern Europe are also included in the broader cooperation framework.
Freight transport and railway digitalisation
Freight transport is another important part of the agreement. Czechia and Hungary want to strengthen international freight corridors and intermodal transport, improve logistics and facilitate the operation of 740-metre freight trains.
The two countries will also exchange experience in implementing the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and other digital railway technologies.
The memorandum extends beyond railways to road infrastructure and mobility. Areas of cooperation include intelligent transport systems, connected and automated vehicles, alternative-fuel infrastructure, electronic tolling and road charging.
Financing models for transport infrastructure, including public-private partnerships, European transport policy and military mobility are also covered.
Opportunities for the railway industry
Bednárik said modernisation of Hungary’s railway network could create business opportunities for Czech manufacturers of trains, signalling equipment and digital systems. The Czech government intends to support their involvement in infrastructure projects.
The two prime ministers also agreed to hold regular intergovernmental consultations. A second meeting is planned in Budapest in spring 2027.
For passengers, the proposed high-speed railway would eventually offer a faster connection between four major Central European cities. However, with a construction timeline potentially extending beyond a decade, the immediate focus remains on securing funding, coordinating preparations and improving the international services already in operation.
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