Fight for dormitories in Prague. Freight carriers want to avoid plans for new passenger trains
Plans for new passenger lines are seen by freight carriers as cannibalization.
The Association of Railway Freight Carriers ŽESNAD.cz wants to take all steps to reveal the plans of the capital’s management to introduce new passenger lines on one freight railway line in Prague. According to freight carriers, passenger trains are to run on lines that are used by freight trains today. There is a risk that they will no longer fit on the dormitory due to the priority given to passenger transport.
These are, in particular, the existing S49 line from Roztoky to Hostivař and the new S61 line from Vršovice to Běchovice. This week, Prague announced that RegioJet has won the carrier competition for these routes. “We are absolutely horrified by these plans. We already have a huge problem gaining capacity and if another link is introduced, we do not have to get to the dormitory at all in Prague, “ said the executive director of ŽESNAD.cz Oldřich Sládek. At yesterday’s meeting, the presidency of the ŽESNAD.CZ association decided to take all steps that would prevent this. “Prague knows about our protests, but it is not dealing with us in any way. It is a complete cannibalization of rail freight,“Sládek added.
Main problem: Malešice
The main problem mainly concerns the Malešice area. From Libno to Malešice, the line is single-track, the so-called derailment in Liben and double-track have only been talked about for years. Passenger trains of the S49 line already run here. “Gaining capacity between them is now a big problemSládek added. For carriers, this is one of the main freight connections in Prague. They also have to use it because, with a few exceptions, they are not allowed to drive through Central Station. The shutdown of RegioJet trains is also to be moved to Malešice, the main problem will then arise at the northern head of the Malešice railway station, which will run lines from Vršovice to Běchovice. “In addition, it will be a stop train, which means the lines continue only,“Sládek added.
Deputy Mayor for Transport Adam Scheinherr said during yesterday’s filming of the Podcast Zdopravy podcast (the episode will be published on Friday) that he is meeting with freight forwarders. “I’m actually a little unhappy with how they’re doing. I always tell them: let’s unite and let us put pressure on the Railway Administration to move projects like the Libeň Shift and let us achieve this together. It is not a struggle between passenger rail and rail freight. It is such a great pity that freight hauliers oppose us when joint pressure on the Railway Administration would be much more beneficial. “ said Scheinherr.
According to freight carriers, Prague’s plans are at odds with all the words about the transfer of freight transport from road to rail, to which the state has committed itself. This position is held by the current Minister of Transport in the resignation of Havlíček, as well as the future Minister Martin Kupka. “There is a real risk that the large investments of noiseless hauliers, new ETCS locomotives and the modernization and development of intermodal terminals are in danger of being thwarted. Above all, another loss of railway competitiveness and the transfer of goods to the roadSládek added.
Solution? New dormitories
According to him, there is currently no infrastructure in Prague for the further development of passenger rail transport. “Only a new one has to be created, the existing one can no longer fit, “Warns Brewer. If Prague’s plans pass without a new infrastructure for passenger transport being built, it will mean only more trucks in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region and less goods on the railways.
The amendment to the Railways Act, which passed the parliament this year and has already been signed by the president, provides for the possibility of declaring a so-called specialized infrastructure. For example, it could declare some routes only for a certain type of transport, either passenger or freight. ŽESNAD.cz will push the state to use such an opportunity on these lines.
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