High-speed rail in the Czech Republic
High-speed rail in Czech Republic is at planning stage only. Even though České Dráhy own and operate multiple rolling stock capable of speeds of , other than Velim railway test circuit there is no infrastructure capable of speeds over . Czech rolling stock manufacturer Škoda Transportation produces high-speed rolling stock on regular basis. Infrastructure. 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 (Správa železnic, SŽ) 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 . New high-speed routes will consist of the following shorter sections: In 2018 SŽDC identified following three shorter sections as pilot projects: 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. Rolling stock operated in the Czech Republic. Since 2004 České dráhy have been operating seven ČD Class 680 sets. 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 18 November 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 (classes 10-91, 21-91, 72-91 and 88-91). 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 (ЧС200) 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 .