Railway Administration: Tender for the track in Bubny and decision regarding Masaryk Station

Prague – The preparation of the railway line from the center of Prague to Václav Havel Airport has moved forward. The Czech Railways Administration has announced a tender for 3.8 billion Czech korunas for the modernization of the line from Bubny to Výstaviště, including the station, which should be part of a large transformation of Prague's Holešovice. The administration also obtained a zoning decision for the complete reconstruction of Masaryk Railway Station in the city center. This was stated by Jiří Svoboda, the general director of the Czech Railways Administration, at a press conference. The projects are part of the railway from Prague to Kladno, which will have a branch to Václav Havel Airport.

The modernization of the line from Prague's Bubny to Výstaviště is expected to be completed by 2025. The administration set the highest allowable price of 3.8 billion korunas for the contract announced today. According to Svoboda, this is one of the most important milestones for the entire line from Prague to Kladno. "Together with the Kladno segment, this marks the actual start of the entire construction and, above all, the beginning of the transformation of the entire Holešovice. The old station long divided Holešovice into two disparate parts, while the new railway will naturally connect both parts," said the head of the Czech Railways Administration.

The most prominent element of the modernization will be the new station Prague Bubny, which will be constructed behind the Negrelli Viaduct and will be connected to the metro station C Vltavská via an underground vestibule. The architectural design of the station, which will have three platforms and four tracks, is the responsibility of the Jakub Cigler Architects studio. Initially, it will consist of a single building, with a grassy relaxation area on the roof offering views. Later, in conjunction with the construction of a new district in the vicinity, an administrative building should be added directly above the station, while the station vestibules are also expected to be used commercially. According to the mayor of Prague 7, Jan Čižinský, the station should become a natural center for the new district, along with the building of the Prague Philharmonic, and also the main point of its transportation services.

As part of the modernization of the segment, a railway stop Prague-Výstaviště will also be created on the edge of Stromovka Park, which according to Čižinský will significantly relieve traffic during large events at the Prague Výstaviště or occasionally in Letná. Furthermore, a new footbridge should connect Stromovka with Letná across the railway. The line will run, for the most part, on a new viaduct, which will allow for the integration of Holešovice into one functional area and the elimination of a railway crossing on Bubenská Street, as well as the elevation of the bridge structure on Dukelských hrdinů Street, where in the past, trucks repeatedly destroyed tram lines due to low clearance.

Another part of the planned line to Kladno and the airport that has entered a new phase is the modernization of Masaryk Railway Station. The Czech Railways Administration has received a final zoning decision. Construction is expected to start in 2023.

The project includes the expansion of the existing track layout from seven tracks to nine and an increase in line speed to 100 km/h in the section to Libeň, and the modernization should also include a new vestibule in the form of a roof connecting the area of Na Florenci, Hybernská, and Opletalova streets with access to individual platforms. New tracks will also be created for operational maintenance in the Hrabovka area. There will be a total of three external and three language platforms in the station's concourse. Access to the platforms will be available from two directions, besides the existing concourse, also newly from the new roofing. All tracks, technologies, and catenary systems will be reconstructed. An interesting feature will be the rigid catenary used due to the compressed construction height under the roof platform. The station will be equipped with a train protection system ERTMS/ETCS and will operate exclusively with trains equipped with the mobile ETCS component.

Both projects are part of the railway line from the center of Prague to Kladno, which is divided into several sections. Currently, only one is completed, namely at the Negrelli Viaduct. At the beginning of October, the Czech Railways Administration announced a competition for the construction of the section from Kladno to Kladno Ostrovce. The new connection is to be electrified, running on two tracks and will allow for train operations to the airport and Kladno at ten-minute intervals.