In May, work will begin on the extension of the Prague train station underpass

Prague - In May, work will begin on the extension of the underpass at Prague's main railway station. The work, costing 219.55 million Czech crowns, will be carried out by a consortium of companies Metrostav and Hochtief. This was reported today by the Railway Administration. The underpasses leading from the center towards Vinohrady and Žižkov are expected to open in August next year.

"The extension of the northern underpass behind the existing platform 7 will result in a significant reduction in the walking distance from the main station to Žižkov and Vinohrady. The exit of the pedestrian route will be located on Seifert Street via the Churchill Square commercial center. The exit from the underpass will be ensured by not only stairs but also a pair of escalators and an elevator, ensuring barrier-free access," said Jiří Svoboda, the General Director of the Railway Administration. According to him, the underpass extension is designed so that the station can be further expanded with additional island platforms in the future.

The work will also involve the relocation of tracks, the existing cable duct, the water supply, and adjustments to the sewage system. An information and orientation system will be established in the extended underpass. Related adjustments to the overhead traction system and the enhancement of communication and pedestrian areas at the exit from the underpass are also part of the project. A fence and outdoor lighting will also be constructed along part of the path from the underpass.

In the following years, the construction of the underpass will be followed by the replacement of the information and orientation system throughout the station, and platforms five to seven will be renovated. These will also be equipped with escalators. Ceilings in all three underpasses will be replaced and unified with the extended northern underpass. Shelters from the 1990s will be replaced with new ones, and their appearance will be consistent throughout the main station.

The Railway Administration first announced the tender for the extension of the underpass from the main station last June. It planned a connection between the main station and Žižkov and Vinohrady. The only bidder in the tender was the consortium of companies Metrostav, Hochtief, and AŽD Praha, whose bid was 74 percent higher than the originally estimated 700 million Czech crowns. Under the current contract, the Administration decided to split the project into parts. Thus, the competition is currently only for the underpass to Seifert Street, making the price lower. At the same time, it should make the construction easier. Further parts of the originally planned contract will follow.