Slovakia secures 141 million euros for railway modernization
- Slovakia received over 141 million euros from EU grants for railway infrastructure modernization.
- The funding represents nearly 8% of the total cohesion envelope of the Connecting Europe Facility.
- This achievement underscores Slovakia's effective competition for European resources in transportation projects.
In a significant achievement for Slovakia, the country successfully obtained over 141 million euros in European grants aimed at modernizing its railway infrastructure. This funding was secured under the recent call of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), reflecting Slovakia's robust performance amidst competition from all 27 EU member states. The allocated funds are among the highest ever received by Slovakia through CEF and represent nearly 8% of the total cohesion envelope available for this program. The ministry is dedicated to enhancing safety, speed, interoperability, and environmental sustainability of the railway transport system across the nation. Minister of Transport Jozef Raž emphasized the success of the Slovak projects, which are directed towards strategic initiatives such as increasing the speed of rail travel to 160 km/h, full electrification of key railway lines, and enhancing the safety and efficiency of transport within the Košice railway hub. Projects like the modernization of the Vydrnįk to Spišská Nová Ves railway line are particularly noteworthy, with nearly one hundred million euros allocated for this essential endeavor. Additionally, considerations for the modernization of another pivotal section extending to the border with Ukraine have also been announced. The European Commission noted improvements in the quality of the Slovak projects, citing systematic preparation and professional engagement with Brussels. Denisa Žiláková, State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, further elaborated on the positive evaluations received for other projects such as the upgrading of the Paludza to Liptovský Hrádok railway line and renovations of the transshipment terminal in Dobrя. These projects have received high scores and stand a good chance of attracting funds in the next round of evaluations post-documentation. Ultimately, this substantial financial backing reflects Slovakia's strategic focus on utilizing European resources efficiently, affirming its commitment to creating a safe, fast, and eco-friendly transportation network.