Investor wants to negotiate with Prague about the planned terminal in Malešice

Prague - Representatives of the Austrian railway carrier Rail Cargo Group, which wants to build a container terminal in Prague-Malešice, wish to negotiate with the capital city regarding the project. At today's meeting at the planned construction site, the company's representative Vladan Hodek stated this. The plan for the railway transshipment facility, which is currently undergoing an environmental impact assessment (EIA), is criticized by representatives of local districts and residents. Prague is also preparing a study for the future use of the location and intends to commission another study to address the supply of the metropolis.

The investor is currently processing dozens of comments received regarding the EIA process. For example, the capital city demands that the company propose various alternatives to the plan, including a zero option, meaning its non-implementation. According to Hodek, the company will meet this request. Additionally, the company is willing to negotiate the focus of the transshipment facility. According to Deputy Mayor for Local Development Petra Kolínská (Greens/Trojkoalice), the city lacks adequate infrastructure for local supply.

According to Hodek, it is possible to expand the function of the terminal; however, the main activity of Rail Cargo Group is long-distance freight transportation. Local residents and the town hall criticize this, stating that this type of logistics facilities belongs on the outskirts of the city. The town hall of Prague 10 is now commenting on the commissioning of an urban study for the entire area, according to which a residential district should gradually emerge, and any operations should minimally burden the population.

Prague, according to Kolínská, will commission the development of a so-called city logistics study, i.e., the supply of goods to the city, by the end of the year. Only after its preparation, which the deputy mayor expects in the second half of next year, does the city hall intend to evaluate whether and to what extent it will agree to the construction of the terminal. According to Hodek, the investor is willing to negotiate with the city but needs a clear statement on whether the city wants this type of operation in the given location or not.

According to the current plans of the investor, the new terminal is expected to handle two to three train sets and 110 trucks daily. The transshipment facility is to be built by Rail Cargo Terminal Prague, which falls under the Austrian group Rail Cargo Group. Residents and local governments learned about the intention at the end of last year from the EIA system, where investors must disclose their intentions for environmental impact assessment.

Opposition to the construction of the transshipment facility has been voiced by the town halls of Prague 10, 9, and 14. According to them, a residential district should emerge at the site of the proposal. Prague 9, on the other hand, is concerned about increased traffic on the Industrial semi-ring, which could be expected after the opening of the transshipment facility.

Local residents also reject the construction of the terminal, having gathered a petition with nearly 1900 signatures. Recently, it was discussed by the Prague councilors, who acknowledged it and urged the city council to prepare a logistics and freight transport study in Prague.

The area for the railway terminal in Malešice has been reserved in the zoning plan since 1964. The proposed new Prague zoning plan also includes it. According to the announcement in the EIA system, the transshipment area of around 80,000 square meters is expected to have two cranes for container handling, six railway tracks, and the placement of up to 900 containers.