The Czech government has confirmed that it will be adding more investment budget for its rail infrastructure to Koruna 46.9 billion for 2020.

Investment projects have been prepared for 2020 by SZ, amounting to over Koruna 24.2 billion – exceed last year’s amount of Koruna 4.6 billion. 

Despite suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the investment will still be of a high value, amounting to 28% of the annual budget. 

SZ director general, Mr Jiří Svoboda, “Regardless of the current situation, we continue without interruption in the preparation of other planned investment projects.”

The funding will cover track repairs and maintenance for tracks between Děčín-Prostřední Žleb and Dolní Žleb, to repair unstable embankments between Hájek – Dalovice as well as to repair the Mostek – Horka u Staré Paky line.

Moreover, the Czech Transport Ministry is looking to change a number of rules for road and rail transit. 

The latest rules may see passengers being stopped from transiting in the scenario where they “behave noisily, reproduce music or sing noisily, or use loud audio-visual technology or harass other passengers with other inappropriate behaviour or odours.” 

Chairman of the Association for Public Transport, Rudolf Mládek, said, “It is generally known that different people give off different smells, use very different cosmetics and also that the type of cuisine, or diet, affects the overall aroma. What smells to one person, may perceive exactly the opposite by another. So who in the Czech Republic will assess the ‘smelly passenger’? Who determines the excretory intensity of the odour?” 

The Ministry said, “The aim of the amendment is to enable the introduction of these rules for carriers in land transport with regard to the report of the State Health Office on the growth of obesity in Czech society.”