<p>8000 people reject the demolition of the train station in Ústí nad Orlicí</p>

Ústí nad Orlicí - More than 8000 people are opposed to the demolition of the train station building in Ústí nad Orlicí. The historic building from 1874 is set to make way for the straightening of the railway. This is reported by the website www.stop-demolici.wz.cz. The organizer of the petition, Martin Kadrman, hopes that public interest will persuade the investor to change the project.
"With good will, it is still possible to adjust the modernization plan for the line. How many people need to express their protest before the state authorities start to address it?" Kadrman asked.
According to him, people should protect the cultural heritage of the country, as the times when old buildings were demolished in the name of progress have long passed. Pavel Halla, spokesperson for the Railway Infrastructure Administration (SŽDC), remarked that the petition should have been created earlier. Discussions about the railway route have been ongoing for several years, and the last variant had the least opposition.
"Funds from the EU have already been promised, which are conditional on meeting deadlines. There have been years of discussions around this, even with public involvement, and it’s almost sad that they are entering this again now," Halla said.
According to Halla, the main concern is the safety of passengers on the platforms. The train station building currently stands between the tracks. The railway corridor will come closer to the Tichá Orlice, speeding up train connections, and the new building will meet current requirements, including barrier-free access, Halla added.
"Another thing is that the renovation of the building would represent an amount of 20 million, but it would still not meet safety standards," he stated.
The company plans to start construction in November 2009, with completion expected around June 2013. The current station was built in a historicizing style according to the design of architect Rudolf Frey in 1874, and its layout resembles the letter H. It is to be replaced by a glass-steel structure with a wavy roof. However, many people, including experts, do not like the building.