Faster connections, new opportunities. High-speed rail lines (HSR) will significantly shorten travel times throughout the Czech Republic. This reduction in travel distances will primarily transform the relationship between the capital and the regions, improve access to cities, and connect them to key transportation hubs. Cities such as Ústí nad Labem, Jihlava, and Pardubice will gain a more strategic position. This leap forward in railway infrastructure will affect labor mobility, housing, and regional development. Will regional capitals become suburbs of Prague? And how will the development of high-speed rail affect areas outside the main routes? The discussion focused on planning new connections between cities and the practical impacts on residents.

Discussion participants:

• Petra Špačková / Social Geography, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague
• Tomáš Hudeček / former mayor of Prague, author of the “Cityscience” series
• Jakub Komárek / PAQ, economist

Moderator: Nikita Poljakov