The model of the Brno train station by the river can be found at the Old Town Hall

Robert Kotzian (ODS)

Brno - Brno today presented a model of the long-promoted new train station in the so-called relocated position by the river in the historic rooms next to the Old Town Hall. It received a zoning decision for the third time in September, and Deputy Mayor Robert Kotzian (ODS) hopes its fate will be better than the previous two unused ones. He emphasized that if a consensus on the location of the new station cannot be found in Brno within the next three to four years, the current generations will not see the new station in Brno.
The model of the station, including the new neighborhood, was moved from Běhounská Street to the building at Radnická 2 for 115,000 crowns. However, according to Kotzian, the model still needs minor adjustments, as some ten-year-old visions are already outdated. The model, for example, includes a new sports hall and tram lines may be routed differently.
The location of the station has been a topic of dispute for decades. In 2004, a referendum was held in which Brno residents favored keeping the current location. However, due to low turnout, the result was not binding.
Kotzian pointed out that the station at its current location is definitively ruled out, and the coalition "Station in the center" is currently advocating for a location below Petrov, roughly where the so-called Little America is located.
"We agreed that it is necessary to build a new station. As a representative of the city, I am, however, a proponent of the station by the river. It would be well connected to future high-speed lines. A bus station would be created under the train station, and transfer between all modes of transport, including cars and bicycles, could be realized via escalators and lifts," Kotzian clarified. He emphasized that the city would also free up large areas for development close to the center.
Both variants of the new station estimate similar costs of around 20 billion. However, Kotzian believes that connecting high-speed lines to the station in the center would be very costly due to the construction of a system of three large tunnels, among other things, under the historical center and under Kohoutovice.
Although the city has been advocating for the relocated station variant for several years, the Ministry of Transport has still ordered a re-evaluation of both variants. "The documentation for the feasibility study is being completed and will be ready by the end of the year. Then it will be possible to compare both variants in detail and identify their pros and cons. It is important that we reach an agreement in Brno within the next three to four years. Otherwise, there will be no new station, and we will face the issues of the current one. The programming period of the European Union will end in 2020, and who knows what will happen after that," Kotzian hinted.
According to him, Brno has the opportunity to connect with the new station to international European corridors, which is not possible with the old one. According to estimates from the city and the Railway and Transport Administration, construction could begin in case of an agreement in 2017 or 2018.
The design of the new neighborhood that would arise from the relocation of the station is currently only captured in the zoning plan and an urban study has been created. "The city has only defined transport corridors and green areas here and is working on a new plan. Other projects should be handled by private capital," Kotzian added.