KDH Backs High-speed Rail to Prague, But Urges Raz to Prioritise Regional Tracks

Bratislava, 23 January (TASR) - The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) on Friday welcomed the government's strategic plan to build a high-speed rail line between Bratislava and Prague, but it stressed that visions of the future mustn't serve as a smokescreen for the critical reality faced by rail transport in Slovakia. KDH added that its vice-chair and MP Igor Janckulik has called on Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) to treat the safety and reliability of railway lines used by thousands of commuters daily as a priority. The party urged the minister to prepare a clear timetable for upgrading critical sections and making dangerous level crossings safe, insisting that EU funds should be spent primarily on removing speed limits and increasing the safety of infrastructure. "First and foremost, the modern rail network is about whether a father gets to work safely and on time or whether a student freezes in a faulty carriage," warned Janckulik, adding that Raz must focus primarily on the condition of domestic infrastructure. "It's unacceptable to focus only on high-speed trains at a time when people are being killed on unprotected level crossings and trains are colliding due to outdated systems. KDH will support major development projects, but only if they go hand in hand with rescuing everyday rail transport immediately," stated Janckulik, stressing that people in the regions need things to function now, not in 15 years. According to KDH, the current state of Slovak railways shows signs of systemic failure. jrg/df