The Czech Ministry of Transport is planning a high-speed rail network which will be roughly long. Several studies of a possible network have been completed, but there have not yet been any concrete proposals. There are no expectations for any operation before 2020, but Czech railway infrastructure manager has a special budget for preparatory studies. There is also promotion from the side of NGOs, e.g. Centrum pro Efektivní Dopravu. In 2017 Government of the Czech Republic approved High-speed rail development program. According to this program following routes will be developed:
The development will include the construction of new lines as well as upgrade existing lines to. In 2018 SŽDC identified following three shorter sections as pilot projects:
VRT Polabí - Prague - Poříčany - part of future RS1 and RS5
VRT Jižní Morava - Brno - Vranovice - part of future RS2
SŽ is also considering upgrading of some ETCS-equipped tracks to and also upgrading some current projects to. In 2020 SŽ called for bids to upgrade ongoing Soběslav - Doubí project and Sudoměřice – Votice project to, both projects are on Prague - České Budějovice route. The Velim railway test circuit contains a large 13.3-kilometre track with a maximum allowed speed of for tilting trains and up to for conventional trains.
Since 2004 České dráhy have been operating seven ČD Class 680sets. These Pendolino-based trains are capable of operating at and were intended for operation on the Berlin - Prague - Vienna route. While testing from Břeclav to Brno on November 18, 2004, the ČD Class 680 reached a speed of and created a new Czech railway speed record. In reality ČD Class 680 were never operated in Germany and appeared only in Austria and Slovakia; since 2012 they have only operated on domestic routes and in Slovakia. From 2010 České dráhy are receiving delivery of 20 new ČD Class 380 locomotives capable of a speed of, they operate also tens of passenger cars capable of that speed. In 2013 České dráhy also ordered 7 Railjet trains capable of a speed of.
Rolling stock manufactured in the Czech Republic
In 1974 and 1979 Škoda produced 12 Škoda 66Е locomotives capable of a speed of for the Soviet Union. These were designated as Chs200 and were used mainly on the Nevsky Express train on the Moscow – Saint Petersburg Railway. The locomotives were refurbished in the 1990s and during testing in 2007 one locomotive reached a speed of. Since 2008 Škoda has been producing Skoda 109E locomotives capable of a speed over. The ČD Class 380 batch is certified for, just as future DB Class 102, however the Slovak ZSSK Class 381 batch only for a speed of. Along with DB Class 102 will be delivered batch of double decker trainsets with construction speed of, although legislatively limited to.
