Transport Yearbook 2008

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Transport Sector Development in 2008

INFRASTRUCTURE

Infrastructure expenditures

Transport infrastructure investment in 2008, despite the starting slow down of the economic growth, substantially increased, reaching more than 90 billion CZK. Contrary to the previous year, the increase amounted to almost 29 billion CZK, which represented an increase by about 47% as compared with the year of 2007. Thus the investment expenditures into transport infrastructure create 2.47 % of GDP (except expenditures in local roads and other urban public transport infrastructure). Consequently, also the proportion of expenditures associated with GDP went up considerably in this year (in 2007 the share of investments on GDP amounted to 1.74%). As in previous years, the majority of funds came from the State Fund of Transport Infrastructure which participated in this sum by about 78% - this represents a modest decline compared with the previous year (the 2007 share amounted to 86%). Considering absolute numbers, the financial sum invested from the State Fund of Transport Infrastructure in 2008 was, nevertheless, higher than in the previous year. In 2008, the total amount invested into the infrastructure from this institution was 70 billion CZK, which is by 18 billion CZK more than in the year 2007.

Total investment funds invested into road infrastructure in 2008 showed a substantial increase on a year-by-year basis, namely by more than 9 billion CZK. This increase represented almost 23%. Of this, the investment expenditures into the roads in the ownership of regions, i.e. class II and class III roads amounted to about 17%. The investment expenditures into railway infrastructure increased even more and exceeded 30 billion CZK. Compared to the year 2007 this increase was almost 80%.

Also infrastructure repair and maintenance expenditures slightly increased, namely by 2.5%. The expenditures of this kind were most intense in the field of railway infrastructure where the increase achieved 1.8 billion CZK, which represents 25%. On the contrary, the road repair and maintenance expenditures declined in 2008 on a year-by-year basis, namely by about 1 billion CZK, which represents approximately 6.8%.

Road infrastructure

As far as the motorway network construction is concerned, the subsequent D1 Praha-Brno-Lipník nad Bečvou motorway sections were put into operation, namely the constructions "D1 0134.2 Kojetín – Kroměříž west " and "D1 0134.3 Kroměříž west – Kroměříž east". As a result, altogether 298 km of the D1 motorway are in operation at present, namely in sections of Praha - Vrchoslavice, Kojetín – Kroměříž east, Lipník nad Bečvou – Bělotín and Bravantice – Bohumín. In 2008, also the construction of the D 47 motorway Lipník nad Bečvou – Ostrava – Czech Republic/Poland was in progres, and the projects "D47 4707 Bílovec – Ostrava Rudná" and "D47 4704 Lipník – Bělotín" were put into operation.

Also the construction of class I roads, including expressways, was continuing in 2008. Among the most important expressway projects put into operation in 2008 we can mention the R 6 Praha –Pavlov, in the length of 10.4 km, the implementation of which had a positive impact on the improvement of traffic situation and the environment in communities of Hostivice and Jeneč.

As regards the construction of other class I roads, the following structures were implemented, for example: "I/35 Hrádek n. N. - Czech Republic/Poland state borders"; "I/31 ring road in HK PHS – 2nd phase" on urban ring in Hradec Králové, which (by means of the completed glazed tunnel) substantially improved the environment of the adjacent residential area; or "I/14 Liberec – Kunratická, 2nd phase, representing a qualitative jump in the traffic connection between Liberec and Jablonec nad Nisou. Among other structures of importance put into operation, we can mention, for example, the constructions "I/35 Holice by-pass"; "I/38 Jihlava by-pass south"; "I/11 Český Těšín by-pass" and "I/11 Jablunkov by-pass" improving the environment in residential sections, or construction "I/44 Červenohorské saddle – north" leading to noticeable traffic safety improvement in the mountain saddle of I/44 road section.

Among important constructions of class II and class III roads, already in the ownership of regions for 8 years, the following may be included, for example: "Road II/468 Třinec Baliny MÚK" in Moravia-Silesia region; "D8 – II/247 feeder-road to industrial zone Prosmyky, part I. and II."; "Reconstruction of class II/261 road Ústí nad Labem – Děčín" in Ustí region; "II/602 of Hradec region – Pelhřimov, 1st construction" and "II/602 of Hradec region – Pelhřimov, 2nd construction" in Vysočina region. Among more important transport investments in the road infrastructure field we can rank the constructions "II/435 MÚK R35 – Tovačov, OL/PR"; "II/367 Bedihošť – Kojetín"; "II/446 Chomutov – Pňovice"; "II/150 Dub nad Moravou – of Hradec region" in Olomouc region or"III/2784 OK České Mládeže" in Liberec region.

Railway infrastructure

In 2008 the Railway Infrastructure Administration went forward with the modernization of railway transit corridors. Situated on an important leg of the 3rd railway corridor between Přerov and Česká Trebová, the construction "Modernization of the Červenka – Zábřeh na Moravě line” was finished and by this the modernization of the whole Přerov – Česká Třebová line was completed. On the Mosty u Jablunkova - Dětmarovice leg the construction works continued focusing on the "Optimization of Slovakia state border - Mosty u Jablunkova - Bystřice nad Olší" leg (with anticipated completion in 2010). The implementation of the construction "Optimization of the Pilsen-Stříbro line” on the leg between Praha and Cheb was in progress and is nearly completed. Since November 2007, the construction "Optimization of Planá u Mariánských Lázní - Cheb line” is under implementation and the "Optimization of Stříbro –Planá u Mariánských Lázní line” was launched in May 2008. In October 2008, the implementation of the first construction between Praha and Pilsen "Optimization of Beroun – Zbiroh line” was launched, with the completion being expected in 2011.

On the fourth railway transit corridor the "Optimization of the Stránčice – Praha Hostivař line” was completed in 2008 and the implementation of the following projects was continuing: "Optimization of Horní Dvořiště - České Budějovice line"; "Modernization of Veselí nad Lužnicí - Tábor line (1st part)"; "Doubí u Tábora – Tábor" and "Optimization of Benešov u Prahy – Strančice line" to be completed in 2009. Moreover, also design work was continuing regarding other constructions of the 4th railway transit corridor.

As a follow-up to the modernization of railway transit corridors the modernization of important railway junctions was progressing. The purpose of this action was the provision of similar technological parameters as in place on the connecting corridor lines. The following structures were put into operation: "Modernization of the western part of Prague Main Station” and the "New Connection” between railway stations Prague Main Station and Prague Liben equipped with double-tracked tunnels and railway flyover, making part of the passage through the Prague railway junction. The "New Connection” is followed by "Modernization of Praha Liben – Praha Běchovice track section, which is now in progress. This section is further followed by the following constructions: "Praha Holešovice - Praha Libeň, reconstruction AB" and "Modernization of Praha Běchovice – Úvaly line section" with anticipated launching in 2010.

Among more important investment actions we have to mention the completion of the electrification of Letohrad – Lichkov line section. Furthermore, also the electrification of sections Ostrava Svinov – Opava and Ostrava main station - Ostrava Kunčice were completed. Works were underway concerning also the electrification of České Budějovice – České Velenice line, and the electrification of České Velenice – Veselí nad Lužnicí was started. In 2008, also increased attention was given to the program "Safety improvement on railway crossings”, and many of crossing reconstructions and crossing block systems were implemented.

Inland waterway infrastructure

Investment activity connected with the development and modernization of waterways, important in terms of transport, was ensured in 2008 by Waterways Directorate of the Czech Republic as well as by Povodí Labe, state enterprise, the latter having a small share in constructions which were in progress.

Core actions implemented in 2008 were the following: "Road bridge over Elbe in Poděbrady”; "Reconstruction of railway bridge in Nymburk”, 2nd phase of the transhipment wall in Mělnik port – anti-flood protection”; "Anchor standing of Edvard Beneš quay in Prague” or České Budějovice – Hluboká nad Vltavou waterway”.

Air transport infrastructure

As far as the field of air transport infrastructure is concerned, the buy-out of the land for the construction of a parallel runway on the Praha airport and the buy-out of buildings and lands from the Air Navigation Services and from the Czech Airlines could be considered the most important investment in 2008. Furthermore, as other important investment actions we have to consider the extension of the feeder to passenger area C4 and the extension of baggage sorting place at the terminal 2.

VEHICLE FLEET

As of 1 January 2009, altogether 7 081 145 of operated motor vehicles and trailers of all types and categories were registered in the Central Vehicle Register, which represents an interannually increase by almost 3%. The growth tempo slightly declined because the number of vehicles increased by about 5% in the course of the year 2007. Due to the introduction of ecological tax (charges for not-fulfilling emission limits of used cars), the end of the year 2008 saw an increased number of deregistration of older vehicles, and because of administrative reasons this decline will be probably reflected in the Central Vehicle Register also in 2009.

Traditionally the number of passenger cars increased even in the course of this period and it reached 4 423 370 with this increase amounting to 3.3%. The number of lorries increased by more than 10% and in the year 2008 it was double as compared with the year 2000. All regions in the Czech Republic have recorded the increase in the number of passenger as well as freight vehicles.

Neither the average age of passenger cars nor lorries recorded in 2008 any significant change. The age of passenger cars was 12.8 years with an interannual increase of 0.1 years, and the age of lorries remained, more or less, without a change. Also the age of buses reaching 13.3 years remained almost unchanged because in 2007 the average age of busses was 13.4 years. Freight trailers and tractors remained as the youngest category of vehicles and the motorcycles continued to remain the oldest category of currently operated vehicles in 2008. However, it is to be noted that the data on the age of vehicles show a limited explicitness, which is given particularly by the quality of data of vehicles registered earlier as well as by the fact that also the vehicles that should be ranked rather among the category of veterans are included into the calculation. Such vehicles are still registered as vehicles in service, thereby rather distorting the figure of the average year of manufacture.

TRANSPORT

In the course of 2008 the development of overall passenger transport performance expressed in passenger kilometres as well as the number of passengers carried continued with a modest growth. Total transport performance, interannually increasing by 2.3 %, is showing even a continuing growth tendency for more than 10 years. The increase in the volume of passengers carried amounted to 2.1% interannually, which is signalling that the beginning of economic crisis did not manifest itself fully in 2008 in this area. Total transport performance as well as the total number of passengers carried by public transport has been growing for the last three years, however the number of passengers carried by railway transport after a 3 year growth showed an opposite trend and declined in 2008 by 3.7% as against 2007 and the transport performance went down by only 1.4% during the same period. After a slight decline in 2007 the number of passengers carried by bus transport again increased, namely by more than 7%, and by contrast the transport performance went down by 3.3%. The volume of inland waterway passenger transport has practically stagnated over the several last years.

By tradition, air transport growth trend continues but the growth tempo substantially slowed down as against previous years. Interannual growth in 2008 as regards number of passengers carried as well as transport performance showed 2.6%. The number of passengers cleared on the Czech Republic’s airports increased substantially to less extent, namely by 2.4 % compared to 2007.

Total freight transport performance expressed in tonnes kilometres in 2008 increased by 3.1%, and on the contrary the volume of goods transported declined by 4.4%. As far as particular transport modes are concerned, the only increase was recorded in road freight transport performance. The volume of goods carried by road freight transport declined as well as the volume of goods carried by other modes. The downtrend was also recorded in railway, inland waterway and air goods transport performances and accordingly the freight transport trend in the course of 2008 did not follow the passenger transport development in this period.

On an interannual basis, the railway goods transport performance went down after 3 years, namely by about 5.3%, and also the volume of goods carried declined by 4.7%. The methodology of the railway goods transport statistics changed in 2006 and also the carriers not involved in the public transport were newly included in the statistical surveys. This involves also commercial transport, however, on the basis of conditions mutually agreed. In 2006, this resulted in the increase by 16% as concerns the performance and almost by 14% as concerns the volume of goods carried. Accordingly, the 2005 data and 2006 data are not fully comparable in terms of methodology. The data of 2007 and 2008 are already fully comparable with that of 2006. The volume of transports of air cargo as well as performance of air cargo transports were declining in the course of past 3 years and, interannually, the volume declined by 5.4 % in 2008 and the performance even by almost 10%. Inland waterway transport performance declined in 2008 by almost 4% and the volume of transported goods by 15%. The volume of transports in road freight transport declined by almost 5%, however the transport performance, as the only freight transport indicator, increased by almost 6% in 2008.

ACCIDENTS

Total number of road traffic accidents, as examined by the Police of the Czech Republic, declined by 12.2% in 2008, and also the development of accident consequences was relatively favourable in 2008 – the number of killed and injured persons was lower as well as the estimated material damage. Altogether 160 376 accidents were recorded on the Czech Republic’s territory in this year, 992 persons were killed during these accidents, 3 809 persons were seriously injured and 24 776 were slightly injured. (i.e. death within 24 hours after the accident - the EC and other international statistics take account of the number of persons dead within 30 days from the time of the accident – this would correspond to 1 076 killed persons in 2008.) The estimated material damage amounted to 7.7 billion CZK, which is decline by 8.6% compared with the previous year.

The number of seriously injured persons was the lowest in 2008 since 1990, and the number of killed persons was the 2nd lowest since 1990 (death within 24 hours after the accident). Total number of accidents was the 6th lowest since 1990.

Considering the culpability, the majority of accidents, namely 92%, was caused – as in previous years - by motor vehicle drivers, even if in terms of absolute numbers this number was by 20 295 lower on an inter-annual basis. Altogether 1.3% of accidents were caused by non-motor vehicle drivers, almost 1% by pedestrians, 4.6% by forest and domestic animals and the rest by technical defect of the vehicle, road defect or by other causes. Even if the percentages of causes were, more or less, the same as in previous year, a downtrend was recorded in all important items in terms of absolute numbers.

As regards passenger cars, 30% of accidents were caused by drivers within age interval of 25 – 34 years and almost to the same extent these drivers participated in the number killed persons. Less than 13% of accidents were caused by drivers 21 – 24 years old and approximately the same percentage to the debit of drivers aged 35 – 44 years. 20% of accidents were caused by drivers aged 35 – 44 years and almost 10% were caused by drivers aged 55 – 64 years. As regards the age of passenger motor vehicles, the highest share in the number of accidents (30%) and the number of killed persons (33.4%) was adjudicated to drivers of passenger cars manufactured within the interval of 1995 – 1999. The second largest group is constituted by accidents of vehicles manufactured within 2000 – 2004 (25%). Unfortunately, the year 2008 again saw the increase of the number of pedestrians deceased because of disregarding the right of way on pedestrian crossing, namely to 22 deaths, which is the highest number since 2002.

During last 10 years the Police of the Czech Republic investigated almost 2 million of accidents on roads in the Czech Republic, during which 11 923 persons were killed, 48 899 persons seriously injured and another more than 250 000 persons slightly injured. Estimated damage exceeds 85 billion CZK.