Impacts of the Implementation of High-Speed Railway on the Regional Level—Examples from the Czech Republic

The planned implementation of the high-speed railway (from now on, the HSR) in the Czech Republic is causing extensive discussions in society. These are mainly concerned with its necessity and future usability. A political point of view is often added to this. Experiences from countries where the construction and operation of HSR were pushed mainly by political motives caused unfavourable developments in its construction and operation. The visible manifestation of this main motive can be associated with increasing investment costs, delays in the entire implementation of the HSR, public resistance etc. It is, therefore, proven that the involvement of the economic dimension is also a necessary element for decision-making. The model of traffic service is often used as the basis for evaluating effectiveness. It includes assessing the level of connection between municipalities, the reduction of commuting times and associated savings, changes in migration flows, or the extent of the use of alternative personal transport. Even in this case, it would be desirable to stop at the question of whether even this evaluation is sufficient. The above assessment, for example, does not consider the socio-economic dimension for the construction and operation of HSR. The article will, therefore, focus on evaluating the results of the research of these wider economic impacts of the implementation of the HSR, which is currently being carried out. This research uses economic and transportation data to help assess the economic implications of HSR beyond the direct effects on users. The article will aim to point out possible developments through examples from Czech regions and relevant regional cities. The practical impact could be a discussion about the preparedness of individual areas for new opportunities and threats related to HSR.