Extended Underpass Opens at Prague Main Station

“The extended underpass will significantly help the residents of Vinohrady and Žižkov as well as those who work or study here. It will significantly shorten the walking distance not only directly to the main station, but also to the city centre,” Director General of Správa železnic Jiří Svoboda says. The underpass itself is connected to a pedestrian path that leads to Seifert Street, with a direct connection to the Churchill Square commercial centre. The exit from the underpass is barrier-free; there is a staircase, a pair of escalators and an elevator available.

“Eight years ago, a group of university students calculated that about 1,200 people cross the tracks in one work shift. People will have no reason to gamble so dangerously now. There is not only a functional, but also a comfortable underpass of modern design, complemented by landscaped surroundings,” Minister of Transport Karel Havlíček stated.

Construction work on the extension of the underpass began last May and included, among other things, the necessary relocation of the tracks, the existing cable collector and water supply, and sewerage modifications. The type of roofing of the underpass exit was changed during the construction.

Implemented design is unique on the Czech railway network. The whole construction was made of faced concrete, the architectural shape of a ‘helmet’ was created in the place of the luminaires. The shape was achieved by means of formwork printed on a 3D printer. Concreting was carried out with two mixes of concrete, where the technologists delivering the concrete determined the exact time when a second mix would be used to achieve the correct appearance of the structure. The architects also designed a seating staircase on the access walkway where people can sit quietly and watch the traffic at the train station.

“We are pleased that this demanding work has been completed according to the investor's requirements. We are confident that the finishing works will not restrict local residents or passengers from using this long-demanded shortcut between important central city districts,” Jaroslav Heran, General Director of Metrostav, emphasized on behalf of the contractor.

“I welcome the underpass and thank so much to Správa železnic and the contractors for the construction implementation. After many years, Prague 3, especially the area around Seifert Street, Prague University of Economics and Business (VŠE) and lower Žižkov, will have decent access to the main station, C line subway station and further into the city centre. I am very happy that this has been achieved,” Pavel Dobeš, deputy mayor of Prague 3 city district, says.

The underpass will be fully accessible from 24 September, in the following weeks only finishing works will be carried out, especially on the landscaping around the exit from the underpass. Fencing and outdoor lighting will be completed along a part of the landscaped area road. The new part of the underpass will also receive a relevant information and orientation system. The extension of the underpass will help to improve safety and prevent possible collisions of trains and pedestrians.

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