Electrification of the Šatov – Znojmo Rail Route Segment Has Been Completed

12. 11. 2009

On 12 November 2009, for the first time in history, an electrically-powered train drove on the Šatov – Znojmo route. By this the route electrification was ceremonially completed and it will establish a direct connection between Vienna and Znojmo, increase the track speed up to 90 km/h and contribute to enhancing traffic safety. As a part of the project, a new bridge was built on its original pillars over the Dyje River and two new platforms were constructed in the Znojmo railway station. The construction project, which was implemented by the consortium of the Skanska DS a.s., OHL ŽS, a.s. and FIRESTA – Fišer, rekonstrukce, stavby a.s. companies, has been proposed to be co-financed by the European Union from the Cohesion Fund through the Transport Operational Programme. The total financial cost amounts to CZK 1,231 billion.

The investor is the Railway Infrastructure Administration, state organization. Its CEO, Jan Komárek, said, “Completion of this construction is of significance not only for the development of regional railway transport, but also for increasing the integrity of the European railway network. The electrified route segment continues the route segment from the state border with Austria to Šatov, which was already reconstructed in the past. Thus, a direct connection was established between Znojmo and Vienna, the capital of Austria, without any need to change locomotives. Besides a lowered environmental burden and increased safety of railway traffic, conditions have been created for shortening the running time.”

Thanks to the electrification and overall reconstruction, the track speed will be increased up to 90 km/h. The electrified route segment is equipped with the ÖBB 15 kV 16 2/3 Hz alternate overhead contact line system. The route segment also has an increased traffic clearance (corresponding to the UIC GC clearance limit) and enhanced track load limit (corresponding to the D4 class). The S49 rails on concrete sleepers with flexible attachments were used as material for the track superstructure. A drainage system with a ballast bed was constructed under the new rails. Nearly 12.5 km of the railway bed and track superstructure, 8 bridges and 13 culverts along with safety and telecommunication devices were reconstructed.

“Besides the introduction of the electric traction, the biggest change was the complete reconstruction of the railway station in Znojmo and the construction of a new railway bridge on the original pillars over the Dyje Rver,” said David Sichrovský, the Project Manager of Skanska DS a.s. The new load-bearing structure is a space grid construction of the total length of 220 m and the height of about 50 m above the water course. To highlight the finished bridge development, the viaduct in Znojmo is illuminated, creating a unique nocturnal image.

Two new platforms were built at the Znojmo railway station, one by track no. 1 in front of the station building, and a partially-roofed island platform between tracks no. 2 and no. 4. In their central part, both platforms are divided with an overpass and exit signals into two separate sections.  The height of the edge of the platforms is 550 mm above the surface of the rail to make getting on and off the train easier for passengers. As regards its architectonic design and shape, the new roofing of the island platform has been adjusted according to the roofing of the 1stplatform. A modern information system comprising of eight information panels and a station public-address system has been installed in the station. The public-address system is completed with voice beacons to make orientation easier for blind and visually impaired people.

Trains (motor-coach units) will start operating in the Šatov – Znojmo route segment from 1st December. The electrified operation will be launched concurrently with the new flow chart, i.e. from 13th December 2009.

A new track safety device of the 3rdcategory, the automated station block type without any intermediate blocks, has been constructed in the Šatov – Znojmo inter-station rail route segment.  Axle computers are used to check whether a track is free. All the railway crossings in the Šatov – Znojmo rail route segment, which were secured with warning crosses, have been newly secured with level crossing light signal devices of the relay type with their own diagnostics. Three of them are moreover equipped with railway gates.

The contractor of the construction is the consortium of the Skanska DS a.s., OHL ŽS a.s. and FIRESTA – Fišer, rekonstrukce, stavby a.s. companies, with Skanska DS as its leading member.

The total financial cost amounts to CZK 1,231 billion. The construction was funded through the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure.

The Project of “Electrification of the Šatov – Znojmo Rail Route Segment, incl. the Programme of Power Saving” has been proposed to be co-financed by the European Union through the Transport Operational Programme. The total amount of support from the Cohesion Fund may be up to CZK 947, 808, 783.