Breakthrough in Preparation of Railway to the Airport: Správa železnic Will Continue to Develop the Southern Tunnel Variant under Střešovice

Czech and foreign expert teams examined four variants of the railway line routing: widening and recess of the track in the existing trail and three routes of the tunnel led under Střešovice and excavated using the TBM method, i.e. using earth-punching shields. Expert opinions agree that the most suitable variant is the so-called South variant, which leads under the Central Military Hospital, the Church of St. Norbert and Pod Hradbami Street.

“Správa železnic has put a great effort into choosing the route. We wanted to be absolutely sure that we had done everything essential to be able with a clear conscience to choose the best option. That is why it is very important for us that the greatest Czech professional authority and the greatest European professional authority have issued the same recommendation,” says Petr Hofhanzl, Director of the Civil Engineering Administration West. Prague is again a bit closer to being among the dozens of European cities that already have their modern railway to the airport.

“The opinions of the University of Ruhr and the Czech Geological Survey are important not only for the line, but also for the inhabitants of Střešovice. Apart from a clear recommendation of the so-called southern variants, it confirms that the line will not have any negative impact on the inhabitants of Střešovice or on the buildings located near the tunnel,” adds Deputy Director of the Civil Engineering Administration West Jakub Bazgier. In areas where the tunnel will be closer to the surface, there is soft soil that absorbs vibrations. The parts that lead through the rock mass are again deep enough so that vibrations from construction or operation do not reach the surface. Besides, to the general impact on the buildings in the proximity of the new tunnel, experts from the University of Ruhr also dealt specifically with the impact on a number of concrete important buildings. These were, for example, the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Veleslavín Heating Plant, the Tram depot Střešovice and the Central Military Hospital. The opinion showed that the construction of the tunnel would not have any negative impact on these buildings.

The new line will significantly improve the lives of all residents of Prague 6, but not only them. It will also be a fast and convenient alternative for the inhabitants of Kladno, who commute to the metropolis every day to work by car via Prague 6. After new line completion, so-called Green Radial, a relaxation zone with cycle paths, promenade and sports elements will be created on the route of the original railway.

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