Metro line D is planned for many years, Prague has postponed it again
Prague – Selection of information about the planned new line D of the Prague metro, its construction will start on April 21:
– Route D has been spatially defined in the city’s zoning plan and later in the Principles of Territorial Development since the 1990s, as a connection between the southern sector of Prague and the center. The first plans to establish line D were made in the 1970s.
– The line, marked ID, should have ten stations, the whole planned route is 10.6 km.
– In the first phase, line D will run from Pankrác to Nové Dvůr (five stations), then three stations will be added towards Písnice, later a connection from Pankrác to Náměstí Míru.
– Stations will be excavated or excavated: Náměstí Míru (excavated, transfer to route A), Náměstí Bratří Synků (excavated), Pankrác (excavated, transfer to route C), Olbrachtova (excavated), Nádraží Krč (partially excavated, part is on the bridge , transfer to the train), Krč Hospital (excavated), Nové Dvory (excavated), Libuš (excavated), Písnice (excavated), Depot Písnice (excavated).
– A new-generation automatic metro will run on the line without a driver. Modern light trains will be longitudinally through the cars. There will be security walls on the platforms with sliding doors between the platform and the tracks.
– Commissioning is expected in 2029.
– According to this year’s update, the total estimated price of line D is 97.79 billion crowns.
Selection of events related to the planned construction of line D of the Prague metro:
1970s – The first plans were made for the legacy of D. The route was to lead from Žižkov or Strašnice to Palackého náměstí, and from there to Modřany.
October 8, 2013 – Prague councilors approved the construction of metro D for almost 25 billion crowns. The first section was to lead from Pankrác to Písnice. The route, which is over ten kilometers long, was to be completed by 2022. It was to serve several housing estates in the Krč, Lhotka, Libuše, Nové Dvůr and Písnice areas and other catchment areas. It has to relieve line C.
October 18, 2013 – Route D received a zoning decision from Prague 4.
September 15, 2014 – The then Prague mayor Tomáš Hudeček (TOP 09) said that the construction of route D from the Náměstí Míru station to Písnice would cost 60 billion crowns. Later, other cost estimates emerged.
July 21, 2015 – Prague councilors have decided that trains without a driver will run on route D. The construction of the first part should be completed by 2022.
June 23, 2016 – Prague applied for a building permit for construction from Pankrác to Písnice.
August 6, 2016 – It is announced that the project documentation for metro line D is being operated by Metroprojekt. The same company also designed new metro stations A.
August 11, 2016 – The deputy announced that the municipality had suspended the construction proceedings in July, mainly due to restricted land purchases.
December 12, 2016 – Prague will have to rework a change in the zoning plan for route D. The Supreme Administrative Court has rejected the city’s cassation complaint against the judgment of the Municipal Court in Prague, which annulled the change in the zoning plan.
February 6, 2017 – Deputy Dolínek said that the first stage of the construction of metro D could begin in 2019 and be completed by 2023.
April 19, 2017 – The Supervisory Board of the Prague Transport Company (DPP) has decided that construction will begin in the Pankrác – Olbrachtova section, then the Písnice section will be built.
November 7, 2017 – Prague councilors have approved that the city will buy the land needed for construction from private owners; there will be a depot on the land.
March 22, 2018 – Prague representatives decided to establish a joint venture between the city and the developer for the construction of the metro. DPP wanted to establish the company due to problems with the purchase of land.
May 22, 2018 – Prague councilors instructed the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) to begin work on changing the zoning plan, which will allow the construction of a route from náměstí Míru to Žižkov and to Vysočany.
May 24, 2018 – It is announced that DPP and the Penta Investments Group are planning to establish a joint venture due to the purchase of land for metro line D. However, councilors rejected the plans for DPP and Penta in August 2018.
March 21, 2019 – The management of the capital estimated that the construction of line D from Písnice to náměstí Míru would cost 72 billion crowns. So far, the preparation costs have been about a billion crowns.
May 27, 2019 – DPP signed contracts with Hochtief CZ, Metrostav and Strabag to carry out a geological survey.
June 19, 2019 – DPP in Pankrác started a geological survey for the construction of metro line D. The survey was to cost about 1.58 billion crowns.
October 31, 2019 – The Senate approved a railway amendment according to which the operation of the metro will be possible even without drivers.
January 7, 2020 – DPP announced public procurement lines for the first part of metro D, which includes the transfer station in Pankrác, the new Olbrachtova station and the tunnels. The construction of the first section will take 7.5 years and will cost about 10.8 billion CZK without VAT.
April 6, 2020 – Coronavirus has slowed down preparations for the construction of line D. DPP has extended the deadline for tenders by two months.
July 3, 2020 – The Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) banned DPP by a preliminary measure to enter into a contract with the winner of a public contract for the construction of the first section of metro D.
September 11, 2020 – According to the DPP, the construction of metro D between Pankrác and Olbrachtová will probably not begin until the spring of 2021, originally excavation was to begin in September 2020.
October 16, 2020 – The Office decided that DPP must reconsider the objections sent to it by Eurovia CS for the tender for the construction of the first part of metro D.
April 23, 2020 – Launched approved change to the zoning plan, route D is completely recorded in the city zoning plan.
June 7, 2021 – The management of the capital agreed to start construction of the first section from Pankrác to Nové Dvory. The costs should be around 52.09 billion crowns, including inflation. Construction of the first part could begin according to the document in October 2021.
June 14, 2021 – Deputy Mayor Adam Scheinherr announced that there was a risk of delaying the start of construction. The Ministry of Transport annulled its own decision rejecting the municipality’s bias in deciding on the construction. The decision postpones the issuance of a building permit. The case must be re-discussed by the MoD.
June 17, 2021 – The council decided that the capital would start building line D, as the first section from Pankrác to Nové Dvory. However, the start date of construction is not clear. The deputies approved the guarantee of construction financing. DPP will raise money for it from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and commercial banks. The city also wants to negotiate state funding.
June 29, 2021 – DPP announced that it could confirm the contract with the winner of the tender for the construction of the first part of metro D. Petr Mlsna, Chairman of the Office, decided by the Office’s decision that the conditions and the course of the tender were in order.
March 9, 2022 – DPP announced that it has obtained a valid building permit for Metro D and can begin construction. The Ministry of Transport rejected the opponents’ appeal against the issuance of the building permit, which is so final – it came into force on March 24. The construction itself will begin on April 21.