Mainly on the Elbe River - Central Europe

4.6.5 Comparison of investments into long-distance infrastructure in road, railway and
waterway transport in the CR
The method of financing transport infrastructure considerably changed over time. Until 1989,
investments were financed from the state budget according to the proposal of the state planning
commission. Between 1989 and 30 th June 2000, development of road and water infrastructure was
financed from the state budget while railway transport was funded from the allocated budget of ČD,
s.o. (Czech Railways). Since 1 st July 2000, the transport infrastructure is funded by the State Fund
for Transport Infrastructure (SFDI). On 1 st January 2003, the Railway Infrastructure Administration
(Správa železniční dopravní cesty - SŽDC) was established to finance railway transport. The SFDI
and SŽDC are partially funded by public resources and by own incomes:
• SFDI – apart from public resources financed from road tolls, motorway stamps (the road
tax is transferred to SFDI in full amount, fuel tax only partially), direct grants from the
state budget and EU funds
• SŽDC – the actual income is from route fees (public budgets are represented by SFDI)
The SFDI is of public budget nature. The SFDI budget is approved by the Parliament of the CR,
Chamber of Deputies. SZDC is not under public control.
Fundamental changes were caused by the revolution in the year 1989 and splitting of the state
in 1993. The subsequent changes in transport infrastructure funding resulted in impossibility to
trace integrated line of investments for transport infrastructure. Also since 1 st January 2005,
funding of II. and III. class roads is transferred to the regional level (with SFDI partnership). Before
1989, the investments within the “planned economy” were realized in waves (campaigns), which
surged and then declined:
• in the 50s - 70s the electrification of railway lines
• in the 70s navigability of the upper section of the Elbe river to Chvaletice completed
• since the 70s construction of motorways and speedways in progress
After each wave, only maintenance was realized.
4.6.6 Infrastructure investments
The only relevant data line is available since 2000 (see the chart below). The figures are
presented per year, the amount without inflation is not available.
A feasibility study for “Improvement of Conditions for the River Transport in Central Europe (mainly on the Elbe
River)“ realized within the ChemLog project 176