WATCH: High-speed train will connect Prague to Dresden in an hour

Deutsche Bahn has unveiled plans for the German segment of a high-speed rail line designed to link Prague with Dresden, including a 30-kilometer tunnel under the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory). The ambitious project aims to significantly reduce travel times between the Czech and German cities, cutting the current 2.5-hour journey to just one.

A newly released visualization showcases the proposed route, including the modernization of the existing section from Dresden to Heidenau, where trains will enter the Ore Mountains Tunnel. The tunnel will emerge near Chabařovice on the Czech side. The video also highlights the inclusion of an emergency tunnel designed to facilitate passenger evacuation via buses if necessary.

The Ore Mountains Tunnel, projected to be Germany's longest, has drawn opposition from local municipalities along the proposed route. Border-area residents have filed over 600 complaints, including calls for canceling the project and finding alternatives. Objections focus on potential risks, costs, noise, and traffic disruptions, particularly in the northern city of Ústí nad Labem, which will face the bulk of construction.

According to a regional German newspaper, construction is expected to begin no earlier than 2032, with the project slated to take approximately 12 years to complete.

On the Czech side, the Railway Administration has divided the high-speed line into three sections: the VRT Podřipsko, featuring a terminal in Roudnice nad Labem; the VRT Středohorský tunnel under the Český městředohoří; and the VRT Krušnohorský tunnel, which will connect to a terminal in Ústí nad Labem.

Once operational, high-speed trains will reach speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour, while locomotive-hauled trains will operate at up to 230 kilometers per hour. The route will allow passengers to travel from Prague to Ústí nad Labem in about 30 minutes, offering a dramatic improvement in regional connectivity.

The project represents a significant step in strengthening cross-border transportation links between the Czech Republic and Germany. Future plans, though still theoretical, include lines from Prague to Wroclaw in Poland and from Pilsen to Munich, as well as a branch from the main Dresden route to the Czech city of Most.

The total cost of constructing the basic high-speed railway infrastructure in the Czech Republic is estimated at CZK 800 billion.