HThe main city wants to publish a study by the end of this year, which will test a possible new metro line. It should get O as a “round trip” and create a ring around the name of the wider center of Prague. The current three metro lines should intersect, for example, at stations Dejvická (A), Anděl (B) and Budějovická or Prosek (both C). According to Prague Deputy Mayor Adam Scheinherr (Prague himself), it is necessary to prepare for how to continue the development of the metro network after the planned line D is completed – even if it has not even started construction.

The city is constantly growing. In 1974, when the first route C from Florence (then Sokolovská) to Kačerov was put into operation, Prague had a population of 1.1 million, now almost 1.4 million. “In the last twenty years alone, 170,000 people have come to Prague, and another 270,000 should be added to the new developing areas,” explains Scheinherr, adding that 150,000 people in the section from Smíchov to Pankrác alone would use the already planned O line. who now run either by bus or by metro with a transfer to Florence.

The expected length of route O is 363 kilometers and should have 2 stops. So far, however, it is planned without the northern part, so it will take the form of the letter U. After the completion of the new route without the mentioned northern part between Podbaba and Čakovice, the Prague metro network would measure 114 kilometers and have 101 stations. Now the Prague metro has 65 kilometers and 61 stations, the equally large Bavarian Munich has 103 kilometers of metro and 96 stations.

In addition, the construction of the new O line is intended to prevent the metropolis from being overwhelmed by the cars of commuters. “There are already 240,000 of them. Every car that stays in the Central Bohemian Region is a win-win for Prague, ”points out Scheinherr.

Therefore, a working group is now being set up to prepare the terms of reference of the study and to examine all aspects in terms of economic, environmental, territorial development or transport. So far, the city has only a basic concept through which territories the route should lead.

“What exactly will the individual stations look like, what the connections to other metro and tram lines will be, or what the construction technology will be, ie which parts will lead the routes to the surface and which in the tunnels, a thorough detailed study has to say,” Scheinherr said.

The city would like to prepare the documents before the autumn elections, so that a contract for a contractor can be announced by the end of the year. A more detailed study should cost 10 to 20 million crowns. According to Scheinherr, Prague is preparing this assignment also so that the new city management has the documents on the table and can decide soon. WITHthe study could be completed in 2025, and if all went well, the city could have a building permit for the first southern part of the line in 2033.

“In the preparation of constructions, we have to come up with longer-term visions. And be prepared – when the metro D is completed, it would be ideal to be able to follow up immediately on the work on route O, “adds Scheinherr, pointing to the lengthy preparations of metro D.

Politicians have been talking about the construction of the fourth line from Pankrác to Písnice for more than thirty years, but it was only during this election period that Prague was able to acquire key plots of land so that it could complete the construction procedure at all. In 1990, it was planned that eight new “déčka” stations would be operational in 2003. The previous election coalition again promised in 2013 that the new line would run in 2022 and the city would receive five billion in European subsidies for its construction. In 2015, it became clear that Prague did not have all the necessary land secured for the construction of the Krč Hospital and Krč Railway Station.

Route D is expected to begin construction in the next few months. Last year – just before the holidays – the city already signed a contract for the construction of the first part with the winning consortium of Subterra, Strabag and Hochtief, but construction has not yet begun because the authorities are handling an appeal against the building permit.