The price for the station in Brno seems high to Babiš, he wanted information

Brno - The estimated cost of the new Brno railway station, around 45 billion crowns depending on the chosen variant, seems high to Prime Minister in resignation Andrej Babiš (ANO). He has requested more information. When the government will decide on the location of the station is not possible to predict, he said today to reporters in Brno, where he arrived by train with some ministers. According to Babiš, Brno has already agreed with the South Moravian Region on the location, which wants the new station in the relocated position by the river.

The government is to decide on the location of the new station. According to Babiš, it is important that the city and the region have reached an agreement. "Today we had a presentation, there are ten reasons for it to be the variant by the river. I am always interested in money. If the region and the city agreed on this, I assume they did it with the care of a prudent manager," Babiš stated. From his words, it can be inferred that the government will stick to the decision of the region and the city, i.e., that it will not lean towards the option of building the station under Petrov. This year, Minister of Transport Dan Ťok (ANO) also spoke about the option of relocating the station to the river.

However, Babiš expressed surprise at the high amount for the station. "For 46 billion for a station, one is truly surprised by that sum," Babiš noted. For comparison, he mentioned that the state plans to renovate 60 stations in the Czech Republic for six billion crowns, including, for example, Havířov and Kolín stations. "And here is one station for 46 (billion), so I logically ask, why is it so expensive," Babiš stated.

The reconstruction of the railway hub in Brno has been discussed for decades. The city and region prefer the relocation of the Main Station to the river, to the site of today's Lower Station.

According to the chosen subvariant, the construction of the relocated station will cost 42 to 45 billion, while a station in the center would cost 42 to 56 billion, not including the costs for high-speed rail lines. The final decision will be made by the government, and a statement from the central commission of the Ministry of Transport is awaited.

The Prime Minister expects that the project will also generate revenues, for example from the sale of land under the current tracks and buildings. "I have not received a complete picture of the expenses and revenues, so we will definitely discuss it in detail," said the Prime Minister, who is staying in the South Moravian Region today and Thursday.