Transport Yearbook 2005

Transport sector in 2005

Infrastructure

The transport infrastructure investment growth continued also in 2005. On a year-on-year basis, the overall investment costs increased almost by 24% in current prices and they generated approximately 2.2% GDP (except expenditures in local roads and other public urban transport infrastructure). The majority of funds came from the State Fund of Transport Infrastructure which participated in the above amount roughly by 60% as in the previous year. In total the expenditures from the State Fund of Transport Infrastructure on construction, modernization and maintenance amounted almost to 47 billion CZK in 2005. Such expenditures represent actual funds invested from the State Fund of Transport Infrastructure including expenditures which will be covered from appropriate EU funds. As from the beginning of 2005 the expenditures in class II and class III roads are no longer covered by the State Fund of Transport Infrastructure budget but only from appropriaate regional budgets.

The investment into road infrastructure was higher by almost 30% compared to the preceding year of which investments into roads in ownership of the regions, i.e. class II and class III roads, amounted to almost 10%. The expenditures into railway infrastructure have increased by less than 10% in the same year. Funds expended in transport infrastructure repairs and maintenance remained more or less at the level of preceding years. The expenditures in the road network in this area grew by almost 10% and also the expenditures in railway infrastructure repairs and maintenance increased moderately. A break in the time series of 2003 as concerns such railway infrastructure expenditures has been caused by a change in the cost structure.

As from 1 January 2003 the transformation of the Czech Railways, state organisation, to the Czech Railways, joint stock company, and to the Railway Infrastructure Administration, state organisation took place. The latter one was charged with the management of the state owned railway infrastructure. According to a contract between the Railway Infrastructure Administration and the Czech Railways, joint stock company, the latter will provide the operation, modernization and development of the railway infrastructure. In 2003, compared with previous years, the cost structure has changed – the costs no more included the depreciation of the infrastructure equipment.

The modernization of railway transit corridors is to be counted among the most important investment actions of the Railway Infrastructure Administration, state organisation, in 2005. The parameters of such modernization follow international agreements, to which the Czech Republic acceded, and these parameters satisfy in this way the Directive on the interoperability of the trans-European conventional railway system and they are comparable with the parameters of similar railway lines abroad.

Subsequent to the completion of the 1st railway transit corridor on the Děčín – Praha – Česká Třebová – Brno - Břeclav route and of the main branch of the 2nd corridor Břeclav-Přerov-Petrovice at Karviná the construction works on the connecting leg of the 1st and 2nd corridor between Přerov and Česká Třebová continued. In this section the Krasíkov-Česká Třebová project has been completed. Part of this section is made by an extensive relaying of tracks in a geologically difficult terrain and by three new tunnels representing a substantial traffic shortening and acceleration. Within this construction project also a testing section with a fixed riding track was implemented in the Czech Republic for the first time. Moreover, the implementation of the projects “Modernization of the Přerov-Olomouc line, 2nd part”, and the “Optimization of the Zábřeh na Moravě- Krasíkov line” were in progress. The “Modernization of the Červenka-Zábřeh na Moravě” was launched in August 2005 as the last project on this leg. The latter two projects were implemented with the EU financial involvement.

Design work is well advanced on the priority part of the 3rd railway corridor between Prague and Cheb which will ensure the shortest interconnection with Western Europe. Also the optimization of the Plzeň – Stříbro line is progressing well – it will be the first project on this section. A study has been developed for the Prague Smíchov – Beroun section to design a layout for the new routing of the line, the so called “Tunnel variant” which follows the route of the prospective high-speed line. By analogy, a tunnel re-laying on the route of the high speed line has been designed also in the section Rokycany-Plzeň.

Preparatory working plans have been developed for the section Mosty u Jablůnkova – Dětmarovice (3rd corridor), and the work will continue in 2006.

As a follow-up to the modernization of railway transit corridors the modernization of important railway junctions was in progress. The passage through the railway junctions Děčín and Choceň was completed and by end of 2005 the optimization of the Bohumín railway junction will be finished. Also the optimization of the Ústí nad Labem railway junctions was proceeding well. In a very high tempo the implementation of the project “New connection” between the Prague Main Station and Prague Libeň railway stations has proceeded. This construction makes part of the ongoing building of passages through the railway junction Prague.

In line with the policy of increasing the safety on railway crossings altogether 31 crossings and crossing safeguarding equipment were constructed in 2005.

The electrification of lines is to be counted among other investment actions of importance. The following electrification actions were completed: electrification of the Horní Dvořiště – České Budějovice in the section Rybník – Lipno was completed, work on the electrification of the Kadaň – Karlovy Vary, Ostrava Svinov – Opava line was launched as well as the electrification of the Ostrava main station – Ostrava Kunčice line. Working plans for the electrification of the České Budějovice – České Velenice and Letohrad – Lichkov lines are underway.

As far as other constructions are concerned, the constructions covering the reconstruction of lines including their optimization for higher speeds are worth noting. The following constructions were completed: “Increase in the speed of the Cheb – Františkovy Lázně line“, „Increase in the speed of the section Popelín –Počátky, Žirovnice on the Veselí n.L. – Horní Cerekev line“. The construction “Increase of the speed on the Plzeň- Česká Kubice line” was launched.

Concerning the motorway network construction, a new 17 km long section of the D1 motorway between Vyškov and Vrchoslavice was completed. In Bohemia, a half-profile of the part of the D11 motorway between Libice and Hradec Králově was put into operation, and within the D 3 motorway extension the construction II-A Chotoviny-Stoklasá Lhota was completed. In 2005, also the construction of the D8 motorway was in progress as well as the construction of the central part of the Plzeň by-pass, including the Valík tunnel on the D5 motorway, the construction of the D3 motorway in the section Mezno-Chotoviny and the R6 expressway in the section Prague-Pavlov and in the section Karlovy Vary. In the Moravia region the construction of the D1 motorway continues in the area of Kroměříž as well as the D 47 motorway in the section Lipník nad Bečvou – Ostrava – Poland border.

Concerning the class I roads: a number of actions important in terms of the traffic were completed. This is the case, for instance, I/20 Písek (7th construction), I/48 Frýdek-Místek-Dobrá II. construction, I/13 Ostrov by-pass, I/38 Debř- V.Klementa road or I/58 Bohumín-Chalupki-border bridge.

Of the more important constructions completed in 2005 as regards class II and class III roads, which are already in the ownership of regions, the following may be quoted: II/150 Prostějov-Králíčky II relaying, reconstruction of the II/406 Dvorce-Telč-Třešť road, construction of the Velké Meziřičí by-pass, repair of the core road communication leading to the Strážný border crossing and II/328 Kolín - Ovčáry road, III/4867 Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, III/4945 Liptál, and III/05013 Uherské Hradiště - railway underpassage.

In 2005, repairs of the damage on waterway structures caused by floods in 2002 were finished. These repairs were underway from 2003.

As part of the waterway development, actions focused on the construction, rehabilitation and modernization were implemented. Of these the more important measures were: completion of the “Quay of the transhipment of bulk materials in Ústí nad Labem”, launching of the constructions” Anti-flood gate of the navigation channel Vraňany-Hořín”, Děčín-Rozbělesy port – antiflood protection”. Moreover, in 2005, reconstruction of navigation walls of locks in Poděbrady and Lysá nad Labem, constructions designed for the extension of the navigation way of the Elbe river in the section Chvaletice-Přelouč were launched, as well as a number of minor construction designed for the improvement of anti-flood protection of vessels in ports and on waterways, including the equipment of waterways. At the same time, preparation was in progress concerning a priority construction for the development of waterways: “Improvement of navigation conditions on the Elbe river from Ústí nad Labem up to Czech Republic/FRG state border, the preparation and implementation of secondary investments of the construction “Přelouč II water step” in order of completing the navigation of the Elbe river up to Pardubice.

Construction of the terminal North 2 at the Praha-Ruzyně airport was progressing in 2005, and it was predominantly covered by EIB credit. Total amount invested was 5 billion CZK, including additional projects.

Vehicle fleet

In the course of 2005 an absolute increase in all registered road vehicles by 234 295 has taken place, which represents an increase by almost 4%. In 2005, 56 422 vehicles were definitely deleted from the vehicle registration and 10 177 vehicles were exported from the Czech Republic. In this period, 218 204 new vehicles and 146 706 used vehicles were registered. In total, 6 231 601 vehicles of all types and categories were registered in the Central Register of Vehicles as of 1 January 2006. The number of passenger cars increased by almost 3.7% during 2005, which represents almost the same increase as in the preceding year. However, a substantially higher growth has been recorded for lorries, namely by almost 12% on a year-on-year basis.

As far as the age of motor vehicles is concerned, a moderate increase in the age of the vehicle fleet has again taken place in the course of 2005. The average age of passenger cars increased from 12.53 years to 12.82 years. On the contrary, the average age of lorries has again decreased from 8.99 years to 8.66 years. As regards other motor vehicle categories, including motorcycles, the average age has increased: for motorcycles, for instance, by almost 2 years. Motorcycles are still remaining the oldest category as registered in the Central Register of vehicles. The freight trailers and road tractors are remaining the youngest categories even in 2005, and they are reaching an average age of 8.17 years and 7.63 years respectively.

Road traffic census in 2005

A nation-wide traffic census on the road and motorway network in the Czech Republic has been carried out in 2005. The traffic census is being done periodically every five years. It covers all motorways and class I and class II roads and selected class III roads. The complete action has been ensured by all regional authorities and all motorway and road managers. The methodology of counting and the method of its organization, including its performance, was prepared by the Road and Motorway Directorate of the Czech Republic.

Already during the census the processed results have drawn attention to certain peculiarities for which no analogy could be found in any other results of counts in preceding years. These finding were confirmed by final outcomes.

In the period from 2000 the freight transport intensity has increased to an extraordinary extent: by 42%, of which by almost 90% on motorways. Such large total increase per 5 years on road and motorway network has never been recorded so far. The indicators of truck transport growth are completely extraordinary: an increase by about 80% has been recorded on roads and on motorways by 160%, which represents a total increase by 105% on roads and motorways all in all. Similar figures have never been established so far. Such exceptional truck transport growth was especially influenced by the entry of the Czech Republic into the European Union, particularly by the abolition of the border customs control. This has entailed a substantive acceleration of the journeys, notably on motorways. Ultimately, the truck transport towards Western Europe has concentrated on D5, D1 and D2 motorways: Rozvadov – Plzeň – Praha – Brno - Lanžhot. The greatest increase is in the section Plzeň-Rozvadov. In this connection it is interesting that while the truck traffic on the Rozvadov border crossing substantially increased, the traffic on other main road crossings towards the West stagnated or even dropped. On the overall motorway network there is an extraordinary large proportion of heavy vehicles (41%), while on roads about 22% only. The share of truck transport in the motorway traffic is about 13% - 20% in the section Plzeň Rozvadov. As concerns roads, the truck transport share is 2% in the average, and less than 5% on class I roads.

Passenger cars show an intensity growth between 15 to 20%, which is at the level of the previous period of 1995 – 2000 (15 – 22%), and 31% on motorways (in 1995 – 2000 it was 13%). The total proportion of passenger cars travelling on motorway and road network dropped.

The proportion of the motorcycle transport is insignificant – 0.5 to 1.0 % on roads and 0.2% on motorways.

Average traffic intensities went up by 23% from 2000, however, on motorways by 50%, on roads by 20% and on class I roads by 22%. The average intensities are reaching 10 000 vehicles/day on class I roads, 2 500 vehicles/day on class II roads and 700 vehicles/day on class III roads. Average intensity on motorways is reaching more than 32 000 vehicles/day, and 94 000 vehicles/day on the most loaded section (D1 motorway Prague-Chodov) where this figure is reaching more than 100 000 vehicles/day on weekdays.

Transport

The passenger and goods transport development trend revealed no significant changes in 2005. In general, a moderate increase of public passenger transport performance has taken place, namely by 2.4%, and on the contrary, the same figure applies for the fall in the number of passengers carried. Traditionally the performance and the number of passengers travelling by air has increased, namely by about 10%, and the airport performance even by almost 13%. The number of embarked and disembarked passengers on the largest international airport Prague-Ruzyně exceeded 10 million passengers in 2005. A moderate railway passenger transport performance growth remained unchanged also in 2005, and it has increased almost by 1%. In the same period, the number of passengers carried by rail dropped only slightly – by 0.3%. International transport has recorded a substantially higher increase in the number of railway passengers carried - by more than 5%. The declining bus transport trend continued also in 2005. The transport performance went down by almost 10%, and the number of passengers carried by almost 8%. On the contrary, the public urban transport performance increased by about 5%, and the number of passengers carried dropped by less than 2%. The inland waterway passenger transport performance almost stagnated in this period.

As far as goods transport performance in tonne-kilometres is concerned, all transport modes apart from the waterway transport recorded a decline. In total, the transport performance declined by more than 3% and the transport volume dropped by less than 1%. By analogy with the preceding year, also in 2005 the road freight transport dropped much more significantly - by almost 5.6%, and the volume of goods carried dropped only by 1%. It is already for the second time from the year 1999 when the road freight transport shows a decline. The declining trend continues also in railway goods transport where the performance dropped by 1.5% and the volume carried by less than 4%. On the contrary, the inland waterway transport performance went up significantly, namely by more than 50%, and the volume of goods transported was almost two-fold. The air cargo transport performance more or less stagnated in 2005.

Accidents

In 2005 there were almost 200 000 traffic accidents (199 262 exactly) reported to the Police of the Czech Republic, which represents an increase by 2 778 accidents, i.e. by 1.4% compared with the previous year. Altogether 1 127 persons were killed due to accidents (i.e. death within 24 hours after the accident – the EC and other international statistics takes account of the number of persons dead within 30 days from the time of the accident – this would correspond to 1 286 killed persons in our case), and there were 4 396 persons seriously injured and 27 974 persons slightly injured. The material damage was estimated at 9.77 billion CZK, which is only a moderate increase compared with the previous year, i.e. by less than 1%.

The total number of killed persons in 2005 is the lowest from 1990, and if we take into account the death within 24 hours, this would only slightly exceed the limit of 1 100 killed persons. The second lowest number of killed persons was recorded in 1990 – 1 173 killed persons. The greatest number of killed persons was in 1994 when 1 473 persons died, which means that the number of killed persons in 2005 was lower by 346 persons compared with the year 1994. Also for the first time from 1990 the number of killed persons in two subsequent years shows a decline, on an year-on-year basis. In 2004, the number of killed persons went down by 104 persons, and by additional 88 persons in 2005, compared with the previous year. At the same time, as from 2003, the adverse development of the number of killed persons was successfully stopped. The greatest year-on-year decline occurred in 1998 when the number of killed persons was lower by 207 persons than in 1997.This decline has been caused, first of all, by the reduction of the speed limit in built-up areas. The above figures relate to deaths within 24 hours after an accident.

Of the total number of monthly monitored accident items an increase was recorded in the number of accidents for almost the half of the items, however, only a quarter of these monitored items showed an increase in the number of killed persons. The greatest increase was in number of accidents that happened within built-up area (increase by 4 393, i.e. by 3.1%.) and with accidents that happened on a carriageway covered with untreated winter ice (increase by 2 673 accidents, i.e. by 1.7%). Contrary to this, the greatest decline was in the category of accidents outside built-up area , namely by 2.9%, and with accidents on a dry carriageway surface – 2.1%.

The greatest part of accidents as reported to the Police of the Czech Republic occurred on the territory of the capital city of Prague, namely 33 349 accidents with 61 killed persons. However, in terms of the seriousness this situation on the Prague territory is the most favourable because there are only 1.8 killed persons per 1 000 accidents. The lowest number of accidents was reported to the Police on the area of the Karlovy Vary region, namely 6 457, and the greatest number of killed persons was on the territory of Central Bohemian region.

The balance of the number of killed persons was adversely influenced only by drivers of small motorcycles (including the mopeds) and motorcycle drivers because the number of killed persons caused by these drivers amounted to 12 persons or 64 persons respectively, i.e. by 7 persons or 8 persons more than in 2004. Unfortunately it should be stated that more than 60% of killed persons were killed in cases when the offender drove away from the place of the accident.

The development of accident consequences on road network is to be assessed positively also in 2005. These results are also confirmed by relatively high year-on-year decline of killed persons, which is considered as a fifth greatest decline from 1990. Negative trends in terms of the number of killed persons were recorded, for instance, in the following categories of the offenders: pedestrian child – increase by 8 persons (accidents caused by children in 2004 entailed no death), unknown driver (increase by 14 persons), motorcycle driver (increase by 8 persons), and others.

Regrettably, from the Police of the Czech Republic statistics it follows that on roads of the Czech Republic almost every eighth (exactly 7.8) hour in 2005 a man has died, and every 19 minutes a man has been slightly injured and every two hours a man has been seriously injured in an accident. In average, almost every 3 minutes (2.6 exactly) an accident has been reporded to the Police and every hour the caused material damage exceeded one million CZK.