CZECH infrastructure manager Správa železnic (SŽ) said that three consortia led by Vinci Railways, Gülermak Invest, and Strabag Motorway have expressed interest in bidding for a public-private partnership (PPP) concession to build, operate and maintain the new Prague - Václav Havel Airport railway.

The concessionaire will be responsible for financing and constructing the approximately 40 km electrified and double-track line. The project involves upgrades to the Prague-Veleslavín - Prague-Ruzyne section, construction of a new line from Ruzyne to Václav Havel Airport, and a link from the airport to the Prague - Kladno main line, which is also being upgraded under a separate project to offer a future airport service. The concessionaire will also construct the airport station and, upon completion, will maintain the new line for 25 years, with SŽ responsible for operations management. The new line will offer a 25-minute journey time from Prague city centre to the airport and it could open in 2030. The project forms a central component of the wider modernisation of the Prague–Kladno railway corridor. As part of this initiative, the line will be fully electrified and upgraded with the European Train Control System (ETCS), a signalling and control solution. Furthermore, all level crossings along the route will be eliminated to enhance safety and improve operational efficiency.

In total, the modernisation and construction work will span almost 40 km of railway. The timeline for delivery anticipates that construction will begin in 2025 and continue through to 2029. The journey from Prague city centre to the airport will be reduced to just 25 minutes, while the trip to the city of Kladno will take approximately 30 minutes.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is also proposing EUR 700 million (US$ 782 million) in financing for the project, which it says is worth EUR 1.65 billion (US$ 1.8 billion). The remaining funding will come from a mix of public investment and private capital from the chosen concessionaire.