Opponents of the train station relocation want to distribute 100,000 posters before the elections

Brno - Up to 100,000 leaflets stating that the relocation of the Brno train station has not yet been decided are planned to be distributed by the coalition Nádraží v centru from today until the municipal elections in October. Citizens can influence the fate of the station in the upcoming elections for the Brno council, said coalition coordinator Svatopluk Bartík to ČTK today. The coalition aims to strengthen the positions of political parties advocating for the current location of the station by that time.
    The coalition decided to distribute posters to people on the streets and at public transport stops after two municipal companies refused to display them in public spaces. They argued that they would not promote opinions contrary to the intentions of the city hall, which supports the relocation of the station, even for a fee.
    According to Bartík, however, no decision has been made regarding the relocation, and the project for the reconstruction of the Brno railway node can be revised to a version with the station at its current location. "The project is already three years behind schedule, and neither the city, the region, nor the state have committed a single crown to the relocation. All promised investments will go towards infrastructure and surrounding buildings," Bartík said to ČTK today. So far, no funds for the relocation have been obtained from EU funds. According to Bartík, the station should thus become one of the main campaign topics that will lead to a broad discussion.
    The coalition Nádraží v centru was formed in the spring of 2004, with the primary goal of promoting a referendum on the relocation of the station. In the referendum held in October 2004, nearly 70,000 residents of Brno voted against the relocation. However, due to low participation of around 25 percent, the referendum was not binding for the city administration.
    The reconstruction of the railway node, briefly dubbed the relocation of the station, has many opponents in Brno. They point to the high costs of the construction, which would also move the main train station further from the city center. However, the city council supports the project, arguing that it is necessary. The current form of the node began to be developed in the first half of the 19th century; according to councilors, it is chaotic and hinders the city's development. The current station reportedly does not meet technical conditions for the introduction of modern high-speed trains. A model of the city area affected by the reconstruction of the railway node has been on display in the vestibule of the Moravian Regional Library in Brno since Sunday.