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Challenges and Perspectives of Modern Railways

Challenges and Perspectives of Modern Railways

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TRANSPORT

Challenges and Perspecves

of Modern Railways

How does one of the key players in the industry perceive the future of railway transport in the

Czech Republic? In an exclusive interview with Dan Kurucz, CEO of Alstom for the Czech Republic

and Slovakia, we discussed plans for high-speed rail, automaon, and technological innovaons that

could transform the face of railway transport.

High-Speed Rail (HSR) in the Czech Republic is moving

into the project preparation phase, and Alstom has

extensive experience in this area. In which aspects

would you like to be involved in their development?

Alstom is a global leader in high-speed transport, whether

in terms of infrastructure or rolling stock. Our trains account

for more than 50% of high-speed trainsets worldwide, and

we hold the world speed record of 574.8 km/h.

In the Czech Republic, we aim to participate not only

in supplying high-speed trains but also in building

the necessary infrastructure. These railways differ

significantly from conventional ones, both in terms of

construction and safety technologies. We are ready to

collaborate with local manufacturers and construction

companies, to help them get involved in the development

of HSR. However, it is important to note that no Czech

company has previously built high-speed railways or

developed corresponding rolling stock.

Alstom is a global leader in ETCS and the primary

supplier of this system in the Czech Republic.

Since January 1, 2025, ETCS has been

implemented on selected railway lines.

How do you assess its deployment?

We evaluate the deployment of ETCS positively – since

January, exclusive operation has been running on

selected lines with 100% safety and 99.2% operability,

which we aim to further improve. Currently, 622 km

of railway lines are covered, representing 40% of all

railway traffic. We are planning further expansion, and

ultimately, every railway line should have a certain level

of security ensured through ETCS.

Dan Kurucz