Work on Prague Bubny-Výstaviště railway to start in 2025

The reconstruction of the railway segment linking Prague's Bubny and Výstaviště is projected to start by mid-2025, Transport Minister Martin Kupka said during a media briefing today.

This initiative is part of a broader scheme to modernize the railway line between Prague's Masaryk station and the Central Bohemian city of Kladno, with a branch extending to Václav Havel Airport in Prague. Progress is also underway at the other end of the planned route, with construction works happening between Kladno and Kladno-Ostrovec, where the foundation for a new station building is being laid and flyover pillars are being erected, according to the railway administration.

The cost for the Bubny to Výstaviště section is estimated at CZK 3.79 billion, while the Kladno stretch is about CZK 1 million less expensive. Kupka emphasized the significance of this endeavor, labeling it as one of Czech railways' most substantial investments in recent history. The long-discussed goal of establishing a modern railway link between central Prague, Václav Havel Airport, and Kladno is now in active execution, the transport minister said.

The ongoing construction efforts in Prague's Bubny encompass the establishment of foundation structures for bridge components. The Bubny station is set to become a four-track facility following the project's completion, also gaining closer proximity to the Vltavská metro station. Notably, the new Praha Výstaviště stop's foundations are being established concurrently with the dismantling of the original bridge spanning Dukelských hrdinů Street in Holešovice.

In the Kladno section, the Railway Administration's plans involve installing a second track, revitalizing the station premises, and creating new platforms. CEO of the Czech Railway Administration Jiří Svoboda announced that, by the end of this year, one platform in Kladno will be operational, with full utilization of the track anticipated in the latter half of 2024. The anticipated benefits of the modernization are expected to reshape citizens' travel choices between individual transportation and public transit, offering a roughly 30-minute commute from Kladno to central Prague.

Looking ahead, the Railway Administration plans to announce tenders for the Prague-Ruzyně to Kladno segment and the modernization of Praha Masarykovo nádraží station. Subsequent efforts include work on the Prague-Ruzyně to Václav Havel Airport section, along with the establishment of a new station directly at the airport. Svoboda expressed confidence in achieving the prospect of directly commuting from Prague to Václav Havel Airport within this decade.