ACRI – supporting railway transport in the Czech Republic

Transport development is crucial and essential for the economical growth of any society or country. When looking at our congested and damaged roads, and the ever-increasing prices of petrol, it is clear that further development of road transportation is significantly restricted and, above all, extremely expensive. Air transport also has its limitations. Any further marked development is only possible through a combination of the individual types of transport, with particular emphasis on the use of railway transport. It is indisputable that, from a European and a worldwide persepctive, railway transportation is currently experiencing a renaissance.

This can be seen in the Czech Republic as the way our railway network is perceived has changed during recent years. Partial changes are gradually taking place and it’s now being considered as a transport system with good prospects.

The Czech Republic transport policy for the period 2005-2013 correctly assumed that railway transport would start focusing on fast and quality public transport services (long-distance and regional), which is based on lines running at regular intervals and on quality suburban and city public transport lines on the most overloaded transport routes, which would be included into integrated transport systems. The transport policy further directs all its steps towards establishing rail transport as the backbone of these systems. The majority of Czech regions have already established integrated transport systems, with the rest in the final stages of implementation.

The Association of the Czech Railway Industry (ACRI) supports, to the highest possible degree, the development of suburban transport that is connected to other types of transportation. Investments into the suburban transport development and transport integration bring a number of positive changes to the transport services’ quality. The railway has become an essential part of these transport systems. In many regions and cities, railway transportion is integrated, makingit more attractive for passengers to use and thereby contributing to the reduction in journeys by road.

Growth is noticeable not only in public transport, but also in freight transportation. In the Czech Republic, the freight transport market is mainly divided between road (81%) and railway (15%). The remaining 4% falls under other types of transport. Strengthening the inter-modularity of freight transport, and the creation of concepts of the public logistical centres on our territory, both form another important transport policy target. For this, it is necessary to provide closer links between railway, water and combined transport and their logistical processes, and also new flexible, efficient, and cheaper technologies for the transfer of consignments from one type of transport to another, including the delivery of consignments to the logistical and distribu – tion services.

The majority of railway vehicles in the Czech Republic (public and freight) are nearing their planned life expectancy. In recent years, one of the priorities of the Czech railway industry (in the area of rail vehicle production and modernisation), has been to satisfy the demand for renewing vehicle fleets. Although many modernisation programmes are being carried out, the number of rail vehicles and their condition does not fulfil operator needs. The aim of these projects is to offer modern and reliable vehicles for public and freight transport services. Finance for vehicle fleet renewals comes mainly from the Regional Operational programmes of the EU, from the Eurofima Company funds and from the operator’s resources.

The Czech railway phenomenon

Railways have been a tradition in the Czech Republic for more than 180 years, and the country has one of the densest railway networks in Europe. It is understood that one in six Czech people commute to work via train (ref: CER yearbook) and the railway is seen as a worthy, ecological and economic alternative to road transport.

But has enough been achieved to enable the railway to continue to be a phenomenon into the 21st century?

The former Rieghoffer wagon plant in Prague, the wagon plant at Kopřivnice, the first Czech-Moravian machine works in Prague (later ČKD), Škoda plants in Pilsen together with a range of other producers, have always been at the top of their professions. The quality of their products can be shown through large export orders to all continents except Australia. Rieghoffer’s saloon coach, sleeping and dining cars, ČKD and Škoda Pilsen steam locomotives still have a reputable name worldwide. This long-standing tradition is succesfully linked with the present representatives of the Czech railway industry who do not rely only on tradition but invest significantly into the development of new products, in the purchase of new technologies and renewal of production areas. This technological innovation in rail transport is a necessary prerequisite to ensure competitiveness of this industrial branch which is dynamically developing.

The number of employees in the railway sector has increased over recent years, and the turnover (recorded in 2011) is 84% higher than in 2005. In fact, these figures mean an increase of performance, productivity and last but not least, shows the competitiveness of our growing industry. The Czech railway industry has great potential, and further investments into this sector will have a multiplied effect on domestic economic development: they will positively influence employment, will ensure good transport services and a higher quality of travelling and will increase export of companies.

ACRI takes part in results of this branch through its positive activities. In recent years, it has become an indispesable part of the rail industry and holds the position of a respected and regarded representative and partner in this field.

Our aims are to promote harmonisation of railway and road costs, and to highlight the advantages of railway and combined transportation. We also pursue concrete aims to support the railway industry and transport engineering as an important industrial field of activity. These goals are in line with the whole European Union. Among other topics, there is an advancement of interoperability, support of pro-export abroad, legislative activity and cooperation with other partner associations, including UNIFE and the Union of Transport of the Czech Republic.

European standards cannot be missed out because they form an important element of technical standardisation and harmonisation and are the condition for implementation of interoperability of railway systems of individual member states of the community. ACRI closely cooperates with the Office for Technical Standardisation, Metrology and State Testing and with the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic within international cooperation when creating and discussing technical standards in railway transportation. This cooperation mainly includes negotiation of draft standards and proposals of the Czech Republic’s viewpoint on these standards.

ACRI is the unique Centre of Technical Standardisation acting in the railway sector. For companies in the railway sector it is necessary to participate in the creation of standards, to have the possibility to comment on rules and principles and to be in close contact with European standardisation organisations. Moreover, development shows that it is necessary to keep preparing railway standards with regard to TSIs (Technical Specifications for Interoperability) to avoid overlapping or lacking standards.

The Association of the Czech Railway Industry (ACRI)

Fifty ACRI member companies employ over 21,000 employees and together create an annual turnover of 82 billion CZK, of which 47% is from the export business. The member companies significantly contribute to the economical growth of the company and partake in the gross domestic product.

About the author

Marie Vopalenska has been a Director of ACRI since 2004. From that time the association has tripled the number of members and has become a respected partner for ministries and other stakeholders. Prior to her role as ACRI Executive Director and later General Director, she worked for Mikroelektronika as their Latin America Area Sales Manager.