Representatives of the Ústí Region approved new variants for the high-speed line Prague – Dresden
There are over twenty villages, originally with the original route.
Today, after several hours of debate, the representatives of the Ústí nad Labem Region agreed with the proposal to update the principles of territorial development in order to define a corridor for the new Prague-Dresden railway connection. The proposal was submitted by the Railway Administration (SŽ), which submitted three variants of the high-speed line. 29 deputies voted for the update, no one was against, 23 abstained. Municipalities will be able to comment on the proposed routes during a public hearing.
Twenty mayors, citizens and other representatives of municipalities and initiatives in the Litoměřice region and representatives of Chlumec near Ústí nad Labem, who do not agree with the construction of the Ore Mountains tunnel, made reservations about the line. “We want to get to the data so we can make the right decision. We are not deciding on a specific route today, “ emphasized repeatedly by Governor Jan Schiller (YES). Representatives could vote on a specific route from the border of the Central Bohemian and Ústí nad Labem regions through Ústí nad Labem to the border with Germany in about two years.
“Devastating variant”
The municipalities took into account the original route of the corridor when planning development, networking land for the construction of family houses and the like. “The new variants are fundamentally damaging to us,“Said the mayor of Libotenice Lada Rejšková (For the nice village of Libotenice). “All three options are devastating to us,” said the mayor of Chodouny Marie Cimrová (SNK European Democrats).
Chlumec near Ústí has reservations about the construction of an almost 30-kilometer-long railway tunnel through the Ore Mountains. “It has to be built in the middle of the city for ten years, which is a huge burden. There is no overview of negative effects, geological assessment of the area, “ said Mayor Roman Zettlitzer (We are PRORO! Chlumec).
After the speech of twenty citizens, the director of the high-speed line preparation department of the Railway Administration, Martin Švehlík, stated that the process of updating the principles of territorial development should answer all questions and comments.. “We are at the point where we are leaving a long-term protected territorial reserve that does not meet the project’s objectives. Over the past two years, we’ve tried to explain why this is the case, but unfortunately we haven’t been able to,“He said. “I understand that change is embarrassing,He said. “The stop in Ústí nad Labem is absolutely crucial“He stressed.
Only a comparison variant
According to Švehlík, updating the principles of territorial development is the best way to compare variants. The railway administration does not prefer any. “Construction organization, more detailed geological surveys, environmental impacts, all this will be the content of documents,He said.
Opposition representative Jaroslav Komínek (KSČM) opposed the approval of the update. “We can’t raise our hands for something that most mayors (along the track) disagree with,“He said. “There is so much ambiguity that he cannot make an informed decision, “Said opposition representative Jiří Baudis (Pirates). “Ústí supports the underground variant of the line through the city, but we were told that only the surface one will be discussed. I don’t know what to think about that. “ said opposition representative Věra Nechybová (Better North).
The first section by 2030
The Ústí nad Labem Region will announce a competition for the contractor for the update. A public hearing will follow. According to Švehlík, the first section from Prague to Lovosice should be completed by 2030, the route to Ústí nad Labem by 2040. According to Švehlík, the costs for the Czech part of the line are approximately 150 billion crowns. “The fact that the line is included in the trans-European network allows us to draw on European funding for preparation and implementation,” said Švehlík. The railway administration will start work this year on a feasibility study of the branch to Most and Louny. “For example, people will get to the center of Prague from Louny in half an hour,” said Švehlík.
The railway administration called for an update of the principles of territorial development in an abbreviated form so that the public could be involved in the approval process from the outset. The preparation of high-speed lines with connections to some regional cities is one of the priorities of the current government. The planned expressway is intended to allow trains to run at speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour. Driving time from Prague to Ústí nad Labem should be reduced by about half to 30 minutes. The new central station in the county town should be near the current western station. Behind the city, the trains go into a tunnel under the Ore Mountains and end up in Germany.
CTK
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