The Railway Administration presented to the public the future shape of the new lines in the Prague railway junction. From the feasibility study, the Central Commission of the Ministry of Transport selected a variant with two separate routes in tunnels and a two-storey central station under the main station. In addition, it added four more underground stations.
Suburban trains in the metropolis are used by more and more passengers. This should also be taken into account when planning future rail lines. Therefore, the Railway Administration commissioned a feasibility study several years ago to address the future shape of the Prague railway junction.
"The central committee of the Ministry of Transport has selected the most suitable option, which will include the construction of two 10.6 km long tunnel routes and five new stations in the centre of Prague. The tunnels will intersect at two levels in the central station under the main railway station. One will run under the existing underpasses to the platform, the other will be one level lower. A tunnel with escalators will connect the two parts of the station, with lobbies in Winston Churchill Square and the new Central Station concourse." says the Transport Minister Martin Kupka.
The capacity of each tunnel will be up to 16 trains per hour in each direction. "There will be underground stops in Karlín, Václavské náměstí and Karlova náměstí and also a partially recessed stop in Florence. The new routes will help separate long-distance and regional transport. This will maintain the comfort of travelling, with minimal impact on the environment. The estimated total cost of this option is CZK 185 billion," explains the Director of the Construction Preparation Department of the Railway Administration Pavel Paidar.
The approved plan will now be included in the strategic transport plans and the Railway Administration will cooperate with state institutions and local government in its preparation. There will also be modifications to the spatial development principles and zoning plans. "The project brings new rail capacity right in the city centre, including several stops that will shorten the walking distance for passengers. The result will be not only more attractive rail transport, but also the release of the busiest sections of public transport in the centre. The enhanced rail will also take some traffic off the roads. Fewer cars in the city means fewer emissions, less noise and a significantly improved environment," reported by Zdeněk Hřib, First Deputy Mayor of the Capital City of Prague Prague's First Deputy Mayor for Transport.
The feasibility study of the Prague railway junction dealt with three basic designs and two additional modifications of one of them. One alternative option included two large stations under the main station and Wenceslas Square, between which trains would use a common four-track section. The second envisaged one central station called Opera. The original solution of the selected variant was based on faster service with fewer stops.
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