Mezno Tunnel Boring Launched

Modernization of the line Sudoměřice – Votice on Czech Rail Transit Corridor IV continues successfully. Today, Správa železniční dopravní cesty (SŽDC) festively launched boring another of the two tunnels in construction – Mezno Tunnel. Its construction will allow decreasing journey times of trains running from our capital city to the south of Bohemia.

Mezno Tunnel will be 840 metres long, thus being almost by 200 metres longer than Deboreč Tunnel (660 metres) the construction of which started last December with 380 metres having been bored. Both tunnels are being bored by a so-called New Austrian boring method, consisting in mechanical separation of rock and its subsequent safeguarding by primal tunnel lining which activates the rock massif’s basic properties.

”Besides both tunnels on this (so far single-track) line section, a second track will be added as well as a new railway station Červený Újezd. Completion of the whole modernization is expected for 2022“, said Mr. Mojmír Nejezchleb, Deputy Director General of SŽDC for Infrastructure Modernization.

The line will be led mostly in a new path which will be by two kilometres shorter than the current one. Trains’ speed will increase up to 160 kph which will result in a decrease of journey times for express trains between Prague and Tábor down to one hour.

The construction supplier is the company OHL ŽS which assured the implementation of the previous line section Tábor – Sudoměřice including the Sudoměřice Tunnel which was the first railway tunnel in South Bohemia.

Total investment costs of the construction designated as Modernization of the line Sudoměřice – Votice equal CZK 6,321,033,524 (VAT excluded). The project is co-financed from the European Union Cohesion Fund under the Operational Programme Transport 2014–2020. The EU contribution can amount up to CZK 3,758,091,942. National financing is assured by the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure.

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