Centre for Efficient Transport
A Czech transport think tank advocating modern public transport, rail investment, and high-speed railway development.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Centre for Efficient Transport, known in Czech as Centrum pro efektivní dopravu and abbreviated CEDOP, is a Czech transport-policy think tank based in Prague. Established in 2009 by Petr Šlegr, Pavel Adámek, and Marek Binko, it focuses on the development of public and rail transport in the Czech Republic. Its stated approach draws on contemporary European practice, with particular attention to Switzerland and other countries that integrate suburban rail, intercity services, and high-speed railway into broader public-transport systems. CEDOP is an advocacy and policy organization rather than a conventional consumer-facing transport operator. Its work has centered on explaining how rail infrastructure and service planning could improve connections between cities, suburbs, satellite towns, and regional centers. A recurring theme is that suburban rail should function as a backbone of metropolitan public transport, supported where appropriate by city rail tunnels and direct services into urban centers. The organization has used publications, public conferences, expert commentary, and participation in transport-policy disputes to advance these ideas. Its published work includes a book on suburban transport and another on the prospects for high-speed rail in the Czech Republic. The suburban-transport publication examines the use of city rail tunnels to increase the capacity and usefulness of suburban railway networks around large metropolitan areas, including the possible application of such a model in Prague. The high-speed-rail publication surveys selected systems in Spain, France, Germany, and Switzerland and presents a possible Czech network while emphasizing potential regional benefits. In May 2011, CEDOP organized a high-speed-rail conference in cooperation with the Czech Senate. The event brought attention to the Czech Republic's position within European rail networks and to the importance of connecting the country with Germany's high-speed system. The Centre also became involved in a public dispute concerning Czech Railways' planned acquisition of Siemens Viaggio trainsets, marketed as Railjets, from Siemens. CEDOP challenged conclusions in an expert assessment commissioned by Škoda Transportation, arguing that the assessment had understated the financial and operational case for the trains and had made assumptions about the timing of Czech high-speed railway construction and trainset obsolescence. Available reference material provides limited information about CEDOP's current leadership, organizational structure, funding, present activities, and current operating status. It is therefore best characterized as a Czech transport-policy advocacy and research organization with a public profile built around rail modernization and integrated public-transport planning.
History
The Centre for Efficient Transport was founded in 2009 in the Czech Republic by Petr Šlegr, Pavel Adámek, and Marek Binko. Šlegr had previously served as a Deputy Minister of Transport of the Czech Republic. The organization was created as a transport-policy think tank advocating public-transport concepts suited to the twenty-first century, with a particular emphasis on railways and the adaptation of successful European practices to Czech conditions. CEDOP's policy outlook gives special attention to Switzerland, while also drawing on examples from other European railway systems. Its work argues for treating rail as an integrated part of metropolitan and regional mobility rather than solely as a long-distance intercity mode. One of its principal themes is the use of suburban rail as the backbone of public transport in urban agglomerations. This includes consideration of city rail tunnels that could increase network capacity, improve through-running, and provide more direct connections between suburbs, satellite towns, and city centers. Prague has been identified as a potential setting for such an approach. The Centre has communicated its ideas through publications. Its book "Suburban Transport - The Backbone of Public Transport in Agglomerations" addresses metropolitan rail planning and the potential role of urban rail tunnels. The publication also considers how these concepts might be applied in Prague. In 2011, CEDOP issued "High Speed Railway even in the Czech Republic," a study of high-speed railway systems in Spain, France, Germany, and Switzerland. It described a possible future high-speed network for the Czech Republic and emphasized the effects such infrastructure could have on regional accessibility and development. In May 2011, CEDOP organized a high-speed railway conference in cooperation with the Czech Senate. The event helped bring the high-speed-rail question into a national policy discussion. Petr Žaluda, then Director General of Czech Railways, argued at the conference that the Czech Republic risked becoming an outsider in European rail transport if it delayed high-speed railway construction. He also emphasized the importance of connecting the Czech network to Germany's high-speed system and warned that international services such as a Berlin–Vienna connection could bypass Czech territory if the country's routes remained slower and underdeveloped. CEDOP also participated in a dispute surrounding Czech Railways' proposed purchase of Siemens Viaggio trainsets, sold under the Railjet name. Škoda Transportation opposed the planned procurement and commissioned or relied on an expert assessment prepared through the Faculty of Transport at the Czech Technical University. CEDOP challenged the assessment's conclusions, including the claim that the acquisition would be financially disadvantageous and that Czech Railways lacked suitable routes for the trains. The Centre further argued that the assessment underestimated both the likely timetable for high-speed railway construction in the Czech Republic and the useful life of the trainsets by treating them as technically obsolete by the time high-speed lines might be built. The available reference material does not establish CEDOP's current leadership, legal structure, funding, membership, or present level of activity. Its documented public identity is that of a Czech rail and public-transport advocacy organization whose principal contribution has been to promote long-term infrastructure planning, metropolitan rail integration, and Czech participation in European high-speed railway networks.
- 2011
High-speed railway publication released
[1]CEDOP published a study of high-speed railway systems in selected European countries and proposed a possible future Czech network.
- 2011
High-speed railway conference held at the Czech Senate
[1]The Centre organized a Senate-linked conference addressing the Czech Republic's need for high-speed rail and international network connections.
- 2009
Centre for Efficient Transport founded
[1]Petr Šlegr, Pavel Adámek, and Marek Binko established CEDOP in the Czech Republic as a think tank focused on public and rail transport.
Products and positioning
A Czech transport think tank promoting integrated public transport, stronger suburban rail, and high-speed railway development through research, publications, conferences, and public-policy advocacy.
Book and transport-policy publication
Suburban Transport - The Backbone of Public Transport in Agglomerations
A CEDOP publication focused on suburban rail as the backbone of public transport in metropolitan areas. It discusses the construction of city rail tunnels as a way to increase capacity and improve the use of suburban railway services around large cities. The work also considers whether this model could be adapted for Prague, including more direct connections between suburban communities and urban centers.
Book and transport-policy publication · 2011
High Speed Railway even in the Czech Republic
Published in 2011, this book reviews high-speed railway systems in Spain, France, Germany, and Switzerland. It outlines a potential high-speed railway network for the Czech Republic and explains how improved connections could benefit Czech regions. The publication presents high-speed rail as both a national transport project and a means of strengthening regional accessibility and European connectivity.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011High-speed railway policy conference
Czech Republic
CEDOP organized a conference in cooperation with the Czech Senate to promote discussion of high-speed railway construction and the Czech Republic's connection to neighboring European networks.
Outcome. The event featured public support from Czech Railways leadership for timely high-speed railway development and stronger connection with Germany.
Brand decisions
- Challenge to the Railjet procurement assessmentOther
Background
A dispute developed between Škoda Transportation and Czech Railways over the planned purchase of Siemens Viaggio trainsets, marketed as Railjets. An expert assessment associated with the dispute argued that the purchase was financially disadvantageous and that Czech Railways lacked suitable routes for the trains.
Action taken
CEDOP publicly challenged those arguments, disputing the financial assessment and the assumptions about route suitability, high-speed railway timing, and the expected useful life of the trainsets.
Aftermath
The available source confirms CEDOP's intervention but does not provide a complete account of the procurement's final outcome.
- Škoda Transportation — Škoda Transportation was associated with the opposing expert arguments in the procurement dispute; the available source does not provide a direct corporate response to CEDOP.
Recent events
- 2011
CEDOP publishes a study of high-speed railway development in the Czech Republic[1]
Product launch
The Centre published a book examining high-speed railway systems in selected European countries and outlining a possible Czech network with regional-development benefits.
- 2011
High-speed railway conference held with the Czech Senate[1]
Campaign · Other
CEDOP organized a Senate-linked conference where participants discussed the need for Czech high-speed railway construction and connection to Germany's high-speed network.
- 2009
Centre for Efficient Transport established in the Czech Republic[1]
Other
CEDOP was established in Prague by Petr Šlegr, Pavel Adámek, and Marek Binko to promote modern public- and rail-transport concepts in the Czech Republic.
CEDOP challenges arguments in the Railjet procurement dispute[1]
Other
The Centre disputed an expert assessment associated with Škoda Transportation's opposition to Czech Railways' planned purchase of Siemens Viaggio Railjet trainsets.
Sources2 sources
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