BRATISLAVA, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- To improve transport cooperation, the Visegrad Four (V4) countries -- Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia -- have signed a declaration on a high-speed rail network to run across Central Europe, local media reported Tuesday.
The strategic development project came about at a meeting in northern Slovakia between Slovak transport minister Arpad Ersek, Polish infrastructure minister Andrzej Adamczyk, Hungarian foreign affairs and trade minister Peter Szijjarto and Czech transport minister Dan Tok.
"I think that we'll consider it to be our priority to make travelling by train faster, more comfortable and especially the most preferred way of transport. Building a high-speed train line should thus be our common goal," stressed Ersek, adding that as part of its presidency of the V4 group, Slovakia would do its best to push this ambitious project forward.
The high-speed rail network should link the cities of Warsaw, Prague, Bratislava and Budapest in several years. Trains on this line are to run at a speed of 250 km/h. The project, which was initiated by Hungary, should significantly reduce travel times between the four countries, and is expected to be a viable alternative to road and air transport.
The technical parameters of the new line as well as a preparatory report for a sustainability study should be clear by the end of the year. The V4 countries hope the European Investment Bank will fund the project.
