High-speed rail and the Czech railway industry (2. strana)
HSR and the Czech railway industry: a vision for the future and new perspectives
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"The construction of high-speed rail in
Czechia is a highly debated topic and
the outlines of the project are beco-
ming clearer. Within our association,
there are many companies that have
historically been involved in manufac-
turing vehicles and key vehicle and in-
frastructure components worldwide. It
is absolutely crucial for the railway in-
dustry that Czech companies have the
opportunity to get involved in this ma-
jor project. This objective should be a
priority for all the relevant ministries,
as it can create multiplier effects and
increase domestic GDP," is how Ma-
rie Vopálenská, Director General of
ACRI, describes the situation.
Seats, wheelsets, electronics,
rails, and traction equipment -
all that is on the agenda
Czech railway industry companies are
ready for the opportunity and are alre-
ady supplying their products and pro-
viding services to many high-speed ra-
il projects abroad. Czech companies
have already delivered many compo-
nents for high-speed trains or infrast-
ructure elements. AMiT supplied pa-
nel computers for high-speed trains in
Saudi Arabia and BORCAD manufac-
tured first-class seats for the same
project.
"High-speed lines are currently the
largest project in Czech history, both
in terms of the transport development
of the country and financially. We
would be shooting ourselves in the foot
if we did not involve Czech companies
in building the network; many of them
can be called into action, for example,
for servicing and supplying spare parts
for the high-speed trains and for simi-
lar matters. A number of the compani-
es have experience with conventional
lines, and if they have the know-how
and technologies for the high-speed
ones, we, logically, welcome this. We
are still only inching ahead through
the approval processes. In order to ac-
tually pick up high speed, we cannot
do without Czech companies and the-
ir experts," says Jakub Bazgier, Direc-
tor of the High-Speed Rail Constructi-
on Authority of the Railway
Administration Authority.
Bonatrans, a company headquarte-
red in Bohumín, Czech Republic, has
extensive experience with wheelsets,
which are essential for the safe opera-
tion of high-speed trains. IG Watteeuw
from Brno delivers gearboxes for trains
that are already in service in Italy and
China, for example. Complete traction
systems with speeds of over 250 km/h
are a great benefit for leading high-
speed train manufacturers such as Al-
stom, CRRC, and Hyundai Rotem.
"Our companies can participate di-
rectly in the production of the vehicles
and in the deliveries of infrastructure
products and services. Flat-bottom ra-
ils from Třinecké železárny (the Třinec
Ironworks) have proved themselves in
the construction of high-speed lines in
Europe and elsewhere. OLTIS Group
offers comprehensive and highly flexib-
le information systems with many com-
ponents for use in transport, forwar-
ding, and logistics. Vehicle manufacture
includes as an integral part testing and
trials, in which experts from VÚKV or
AV R&D can participate. In all respects,
high-speed rails and trains represent a
huge opportunity for the Czech railway
industry," adds Marie Vopálenská.
Support from the government and in-
dividual ministries plays a crucial part
It is a common practice abroad that
the country's industry participates in
large-scale transport projects. The
Czech Republic's experience in this re-
gard is most extensive in the defence
industry, where local companies often
participate in projects. This model
could serve as a template for large ra-
ilway projects.
"We meet regularly with ministerial
representatives as it is essential that
the Czech railway industry becomes a
priority for all the parties involved. Be-
sides the fact that Czech companies
have the necessary expertise and en-
sure that the money stays on home
ground, there is one more aspect - re-
ferences. If Czech companies get such
a major reference, it will improve their
chances in bidding for other projects
abroad to further increase exports,
which reached a record high of CZK 60
billion last year," adds Marie Vopálen-
ská with regard to the advantages.. p
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rail transport
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institutions
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