The first part of the repairs at the Kolín bus station will be completed by September

Visualization: Petr Brožek

Kolín - The first phase of the repairs of the Kolín bus station will be completed by the end of August, at the latest in the first weeks of September. ČTK was informed by Kolín's mayor Vít Rakušan (STAN). The overall reconstruction, costing around 60 million, for which Kolín received a subsidy from the EU amounting to 50 million crowns, is expected to last approximately a year and a half, but no later than the end of next year.

In the first phase, Kolín is renovating the area in front of the station. Builders are laying new surfaces for the roads and sidewalks, repairing street lighting, parking bays, and bus bays.

During the reconstruction of the bus station, repairs to the train station, being prepared by the Administration of Rail Transport Routes (SŽDC), are also expected to begin. "I have negotiated with the General Director of SŽDC Pavel Surý about the plan for the reconstruction and the form of the architectural design," said Rakušan. According to him, SŽDC has prepared a minimalist design that will be well coordinated with the architectural design of the bus station.

The train station, according to Rakušan, is to regain its original appearance. A glass terrace is to be built, for example with a café, and the original large clock will return to the building.

Rakušan also discussed with Surý the future underpass from the station to Starokolínská Street. In this street, the city plans to build a parking lot for about 120 to 130 cars, on land rented from the Czech Ports. "There was also a proposal to sign a memorandum between SŽDC, the Czech Ports, and Kolín regarding the revitalization of the area around the station," said Rakušan. The memorandum is intended for all parties to agree on the construction of a parking lot. SŽDC is to guarantee that it will actually build the underpass up to Starokolínská Street. The Czech Ports would guarantee a long-term lease of the land so that Kolín could recover its investment from the collected parking fees. The construction of the underpass and parking lot is to begin only after the completion of the station reconstruction, that is, not before 2019.

The fundamental idea of the reconstruction is to provide a passage between the bus and train stations "with dry feet." The bus station is to take the form of a modern terminal, allowing higher comfort for passengers using both public transport and transfers to trains. The Kolín bus station is utilized by both long-distance and regional connections. In its current form, the station, according to the city hall, does not create a functional whole.