On 1 February 2005 a meeting took place in Vienna, at the Ministry of Transport, Innovation, and Technology, focused on the issues of the co-operation of the Czech Republic and Austria in the sphere of railway transportation.  The Deputy Minister of Transport, Ing. Vojtěch Kocourek, Ph.D., and State Secretary of the Austrian Ministry of Transport, Innovation, and Technology, Mag. Helmut Kukacka.
 
At the beginning of the meeting, the parties informed each other about the progress achieved in the removal of technical and administrative obstacles in cross-border railway transport, especially concerning the operation of the Austrian Rails’ Taurus engines, and the electrical units of the CDT 680 Pendolino line, by Czech Rails.  Also, the possibilities of setting up, renewing or modernising railway crossings between the Czech Republic and Austria were discussed.
 
The main topic was the co-ordinated implementation of the railway connection between Prague - České Budějovice - Linz.  Both parties continue to consider the project a priority.  The Czech Republic plans to complete the modernisation of the corridor on its territory by 2016, whereas Austria plans to complete its modernisation by 2012.  The Czech and Austrian delegations agreed to co-ordinate their steps, in order to make better use of funds from the European Union structural funds.
 
Another theme was the launch of expert meetings on the improvements of the infrastructure on the Brno – Vienna line, up to high-speed parameters.
 
At the end, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Ing. Vojtěch Kocourek, Ph.D., suggested that another meeting be held in April this year in České Budějovice, focused on the issues of the Prague – Linz corridor, and on regional connections in South Bohemia.  This offer was warmly accepted by the Austrian side.