Evaluation of the usefulness and relevance criteria for high-speed railway route construction projects: case study of Czechia

The main goal of this article is to assess the effectiveness of the high-speed railway routes construction programme in Czechia according to the criteria of usefulness (with primary links to potential revenues) and relevance (with primary links to potential costs) as integral parts of applying the original methodology of multi-criteria evaluation of public projects within transport infrastructure. The first set of performed analyses focused on observing the development of relevant traffic flows. They were outlined based on data from the movement of mobile phone users and verified through surveys of passenger preferences and other indicators. The second set of analyses was based on an evaluation of relevant external (natural and social conditions) and internal (technical and operational conditions) factors. The practical benefit of these analyses is an evaluation of the position of the planned four routes in terms of the examined criteria. They represent an important basis for setting priorities as a strategic component of managing an investment programme.