A new tram line will be created to serve Prague’s planned Žižkov freight station neighborhood

A new tram line has been approved to service the planned residential district in the former freight station Nákladové nádraží Žižkov.

The new city district will accommodate up to 15,000 people in 4,500 flats. Currently, the main connection to this location by public transport is provided by trams along Jana Želivského Street and several bus lines. However, due to an increase in population because of the planned residential development these connections will be insufficient in the long run.

“The transformation of the freight station is crucial for Prague, not only because of its location, but especially because of its potential. It is essential for the city that this newly emerging city district is accessible both for pedestrians and easily accessible by public transport,” Prague Deputy Mayor Petr Hlaváček (United Force for Prague), responsible for territorial development, said.

The new tram line will have five stops, connecting at the junction of Jana Želivského and Olšanská, then leading north from the freight station and further east to the underpass at K Červeného dvoru Street, from where it will continue through the existing rail corridor. The line will end with a loop at Malešická Street and the newly designed Jarovská Street, the creation of which will help ease car traffic on Jana Želivského Street. The proposed route will enable a possible extension of the tram line further into Malešice.

“I have been trying to speed up the construction of new tram lines as much as possible since the beginning of my term. In addition to reliable ecological transport for the population, trams are also an urban element that will attract more people to the new city district, help start emerging services, and provide new residents with a comfortable connection around the city. And at Nákladové nádraží Žižkov, we can also use the existing tracks of the former railway line for this,” Deputy Mayor Adam Scheinherr (Praha sobě), repsonsible for tranport, said.

The entire line should be created before the construction of the housing as an integral part of the area’s development. The Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Praha) is coordinating all the construction plans in this location.

“The revitalization of brownfields is crucial for Prague, and Nákladové nádraží Žižkov offers great potential not only in the capacity of flats, but also in the overall development of the area. Its transport connection is so important not only for future residents, but also for the entire area of Žižkov. The new district will also be interesting for its cultural content,” Ondřej Boháč, director of IPR, said. The National Film Archive will be located in the main building of the original railway station.

A change in the zoning plan is currently being made for the territory of Nákladové nádraží Žižkov to enable the transformation of the brownfield into a residential area.

A project by developer Central Group in the northwest part of the territory is currently in preparation and its construction should start next year.