Austria and the Czech Republic have taken a new step toward strengthening cross-border railways, with Austrian Mobility Minister Peter Hanke and Czech Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik signing a letter of intent in Vienna on 10th April 2026. The agreement is designed to deepen collaboration on cross-border rail infrastructure, with a clear focus on making connections between the two countries faster, more efficient, and more appealing. Central to this initiative is the enhancement of major European rail axes linking Vienna, Prague and Berlin, alongside the route connecting Linz, České Budĕjovice and Prague. A long-term objective has been set to cut travel time between Vienna and Prague to 2.5 hours, reinforcing the importance of cross-border railways in achieving sustainable and climate-friendly mobility while boosting rail freight development across Europe.
“With this letter of intent, we are taking an important step for the future of rail transport in Central Europe. Our goal is clear: faster connections, more capacities, and an attractive offer for travellers and businesses. This way, we make a decisive contribution to the mobility transition and strengthening the economic location,” emphasizes Mobility Minister Hanke.
The agreement underscores the strategic importance of cross-border railways in supporting both passenger and freight transport, particularly as the Czech Republic continues to advocate for rail freight expansion at the EU level. A key project under this framework is the “Via Vindobona” corridor linking Vienna-Prague-Berlin, widely regarded as one of the most significant infrastructure initiatives for regional connectivity. Planned measures aim to remove bottlenecks, increase capacity, and shorten journey times across this critical route.
Progress is also being advanced on national segments that feed into these cross-border railways. On the Austrian side, efforts are concentrated on upgrading the Northern Railway between Vienna and Břeclav, targeting speeds of up to 200 km/h. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic is moving ahead with plans for high-performance lines connecting Prague, Brno and Břeclav, as well as links toward Germany. By 2040, these upgrades are expected to enable Vienna-Prague travel within 2.5 hours and Vienna-Berlin journeys in approximately 4 hours, while expanding direct connections across the three cities. Parallel developments include the Linz-České Budĕjovice-Prague corridor, where a joint study by ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG and Správa železnic is assessing traffic demand, costs, and benefits, with findings expected by the end of 2026. Coordination on construction schedules and infrastructure improvements, including electrification on the Czech side, is also intended to minimise disruptions and ensure efficient rerouting capacity.
