SaS: High-speed Rail Project Needs to Be Re-evaluated, May Not Deliver Benefits

Bratislava, 13 April (TASR) - The mega railway project to build a high-speed line in the Zahorie area in western Slovakia needs to be re-evaluated, as Slovakia is risking making a multi-billion-euro investment without any real benefit, said the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party about the project on Monday, arguing that Slovakia is moving in the opposite direction from its partners. SaS vice-chairman and MP Marian Viskupic pointed to the inefficiency of the entire project. "Available data shows that the project will save approximately 19 minutes of travel time between Bratislava and Brno. More than 80 percent of this - about 16 minutes - would be achieved on the Sekule-Rakvice section, which would cost approximately €400 million. Conversely, the most expensive section, Bratislava-Sekule, costing more than €2 billion, would bring virtually no additional benefit to Slovak passengers," he stated. According to Viskupic, if we can achieve a decisive impact with €400 million, it makes no sense to invest billions more without a clear benefit. He stressed that Slovakia must invest based on data, not illusions. "Otherwise, we risk paying for another expensive project that won't serve the people, but only political ambitions," said Viskupic. SaS transport expert Peter Bathory stated that Austria and the Czech Republic have opted for a route that bypasses Slovakia. "Austria and the Czech Republic have signed a memorandum in which they clearly state that their priority is the Vienna-Breclav-Brno-Prague-Berlin rail corridor. That is, outside of Slovakia's territory," he said. Rail-infrastructure operator ZSR is preparing a high-speed rail project in Slovakia with a budget of €3.1 billion as part of a plan to connect Budapest, Bratislava, Prague and Warsaw. The first phase, to be implemented between 2030-2040, includes modernising and expanding the Bratislava hub, constructing a Bratislava West station, and connections to existing lines. The second phase, scheduled for completion between 2046-2050, calls for the construction of a full-scale high-speed rail line to the Czech Republic with a line speed of 320 kilometres per hour and a connection to Austria. am/df