Double track for safe, rapid rail travel

prospective

Projects such as this are helping the EU to become a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy by 2020, as set out in the EU 2020 growth strategy. The EU is facing some tough challenges, including an ageing population, an insufficiently qualified workforce, the need for greater innovation, striking a balance between economic growth and environmental degradation, and ensuring secure, clean energy supplies. Regional policy projects across the EU are playing an active role in dealing with these and many other challenges, by undertaking projects designed to generate employment, raise educational achievement, develop renewable energy sources, boost productivity and give all citizens access to opportunities. The projects and the regions play a pivotal role in this, as they generate real results that contribute to achieving the strategy’s key goals.With speeds of up to 160 km/h, new crossings, anti-noise walls, culverts and island platforms, the new infrastructure has reduced travel times and is making it easier and safer for passengers to access trains.Signalling the way forward in sustainable transportThe section overhauled under this project forms part of the 4th national railway corridor (Děčín state border – Prague – Benešov near Prague – Tábor – České Budějovice – Horní Dvořiště). The main project goal of the Czech Republic’s Railway Infrastructure Administration was to create a smart and sustainable traffic solution by modernising this section of railway track and encouraging people to move from road transport to rail transport.Fast pace of changeThe track section used to be an electrified single-track line. Apart from laying a 15.7 km double-track line, the modernisation works also included adapting and reconstructing the track substructure, overhauling the superstructure, undertaking drainage works at level crossing bridges, upgrading control and communication equipment, and building a new transformer station. Reconstruction of the railway yards at the Planá nad Lužnicí and Tábor railway stations (including building a subway and island platforms) have also helped ensure that passengers have comfortable and barrier-free access to trains.Tilting box trains can now travel up to 160 km/h on the new line, while standard trains are able to cruise along at 110 km/h. On top of increased train speeds, the project works produced 16 km of culverts, 3 km of crossings, 30.78 km of electrification, and almost 6 km of anti-noise walls. Boasting two 140m-long platforms, a new train stop called ‘Tábor - Čápův Dvůr’ was also built, adding to the options available to travellers in the region.