Czech Motorways and High-Speed Rail: How the Transport Network Will Change by 2042

The Czech Republic is undergoing a major road and rail upgrade, with Prague Airport set to be accessible by train by 2031. Find out which motorways will be completed by 2033, when high-speed rail will be operational across the country, and what these plans mean for driving across the Czech Republic

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The Czech Republic is undergoing one of the largest modernizations of its transport infrastructure in recent decades. It is not just about individual sections of roads - the country is simultaneously completing its motorway network and laying the foundation for a high-speed railway, which will eventually connect major cities and airports according to European standards. The plans of the Ministry of Transport and relevant departments were discussed on the ČT24 program "90'" by Radek Matl, head of the Roads and Motorways Directorate, and Tomáš Tot, director of the Railway Administration.

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Autobahns: by 2033 - basic network, by 2050 - expansion

According to Matl, the key task in the coming years is to complete the basic network of motorways by 2033. This is about 400 kilometers of roads, which should close the main transport corridors of the country. Then, by 2050, the network is planned to be expanded by another 600 kilometers and finally connect the motorways to each other at the speed level.

The year 2026 has already become indicative in this regard: according to the Czech publication Zdopravy.cz, about 40 kilometers of new sections will be opened during the year, and about 100 kilometers more will be built. In particular, the construction of the D35 motorway section between Ostrov and Vysočy Mit through the Homole tunnel continues, and in the spring of 2026, a consortium led by STRABAG received a contract for the construction of another 16-kilometer section of the D35 between Ulibice and Gorzyce - the work is designed for about four years. In parallel, work is underway on the border section of the D11 motorway towards Poland and on the D48 route.

As for the speed of movement, everything is not so clear-cut. Matl confirmed that in some sections it is theoretically possible to increase the permitted speed to 150 km/h, but the final decision is political, not engineering. The D1 motorway will definitely not be affected by such changes - both due to the high traffic load and the peculiarities of the relief and geometry of the road.

Another detail that distinguishes the Czech plans among neighboring countries is the digitalization of the autobahns. In the future, the roads will be equipped with a system capable of exchanging data with autonomous vehicles: for example, warning drivers about an approaching ambulance before it even appears in sight.

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Railway: train to the airport in 25 minutes

The most anticipated news concerns the connection with the Vaclav Havel Airport. The new railway line, which will connect the center of Prague with the airport and the largest city of the Central Bohemian Region, Kladno, will significantly reduce travel time - it will take just 25 minutes, and trains will run at an interval of 10 minutes. Construction of the station is scheduled to begin in late 2029, and completion is scheduled for the third quarter of 2031.

In parallel, the Czech Republic is working on a network of main high-speed railways throughout the country - they are planned to be completed by 2042. According to preliminary calculations by Tot, the cost of a ticket for such lines will be up to 450 crowns, which is approximately in line with prices in other European countries. The question of the maximum speed (250 or 320 km/h) is not a priority at the moment - much more important are the modernization of safety systems, the full digitalization of the railway and the gradual automation of train control and communication with passengers.

Read also, in December 2026, Eurostar will launch the first direct rail connection between London and Antwerp.

When and what is planned to be reconstructed in the Czech Republic's transport system

Briefly about the timing, if we reduce everything to the main landmarks:

- 2026 - commissioning of new sections of the D35, D11 and D48 motorways;

- 2029–2031 - construction of a railway station and a line to Prague Airport;

- 2033 - completion of the basic motorway network;

- 2042 - completion of main high-speed railways throughout the country;

- 2050 - final expansion of motorways by another 600 km.

For those who regularly travel through the Czech Republic in transit to other EU countries or plan a trip by car, these plans have a very practical meaning: new sections of autobahns are gradually reducing the load on old routes such as the D1, and the development of the railway to the airport may eventually become an alternative to your own car for part of the route.

Given the active construction of new highways in the Czech Republic, more and more drivers are choosing the route through this country.

In such a situation, the “Green Card” is not a formality, but real protection: without it, crossing the border in your own car is impossible, and fines for its absence start at 1,000 euros and can be accompanied by deportation or even seizure of the vehicle. The electronic version of the policy has the same legal force as the paper one and is accepted in all member countries of the system - just show a PDF file from your smartphone.

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Reminder! Interrail and Eurail passes allow you to travel by train in 33 European countries, but not all journeys can be used without additional charges. We have already told you what the difference is between the Global Pass and the One Country Pass, how much they cost and when you need to book a seat separately.

Photo – generated by Gemini