The Ministry of Transport wants to relieve Czech roads of trucks, and to make railway transportation more attractive for shippers.  As of 1 February 2005, the state organisation, the Railway Transportation Route Administration (SŽDC), introduces a significant discount for the so-called combined transport.
 
SŽDC, by law, performs the role of the owner of the track, which is the property of the state.  After meetings with the Ministry of Transport, it introduces a discount on the price of the use of the railway transportation route for combined transport trains, effective 1 February 2005.  The discount is 40 % of the overall sum, and is granted to all combined transport operators.
 
The Ministry of Transport has thus responded to the increased volume of truck traffic on Czech roads.  The discount is one of a broader range of measures which are to address the significant increase in road freight transportation after the country joined the European Union.  Detailed information on the price for the use of the railway transportation route, and the provided discounts, is published on the web pages of the Railway Transportation Route Administration - www.szdc.cz.