The runway to the airport is taking shape. Trains will arrive at the Dlouhá Míle terminal in 2028
The railway administration has published the design of the Dlouhá Míle terminal, which will be part of the new railway line in the Prague Ruzyně – Prague Václav Havel Airport section. “The railway line at Václav Havel Airport is already taking concrete shape!” said Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib, adding that a large parking lot with a capacity of 2,000 spaces will be created. The Dlouhá Míle railway terminal will be strategically located near the Václav Havel Airport, the Prague Ring Road and the Šestka Shopping Center.
There are to be photovoltaic panels on the roof, which will cover the building’s energy requirements and possibly charge electric cars. The public competition was won by the architectural design of the studio Pavlíček Hulín architects and AFRY, the website informs about it Railway reports. The track to the airport is valued at 40 billion and should start operating in 2028.
“The railway is the best solution in Prague for connecting to the airport. It is not a separate building along its entire length, but a branch from the train connection between Prague and Kladno. Thanks to this, time, space and costs are saved,” adds Hřib, adding that the separate stop will be right next to the airport.
The terminal will be located near the runway of the airport, the Šestek Shopping Center and the Prague Ring Road. “A new transport hub will be created, which will create an important connection between the railway and road transport, city and suburban buses and, in the future, also trams. The new P+R parking lot will significantly expand the infrastructural equipment of the wider area of the airport and ease the traffic of Prague 6,” said Jiří Svoboda, director general of the Railway Administration.
The railway line at Václav Havel Airport is already taking on concrete outlines! 👍
This is the future form of the Long Mile terminal, which will be in a strategic location near the airport, the Prague ring road and the Šestka shopping center. There will also be a large P+R parking lot with a capacity of up to 2,000 spaces. 🧵 (1/5) pic.twitter.com/W3i4XCDS73— Zdenek Hřib (@ZdenekHrib)
August 18, 2022
“The railway to the airport is under the control of the Railway Administration, and it should be ready in 2028,” Mayor Hřib said, adding that by then the city is preparing “a large-capacity trolleybus connection that will strengthen transport to the airport”. When the railway connection is ready, Prague will find another use for the trolleybuses.
The technical feasibility of the winning design was checked by AFRY. According to her, this is the result of ongoing negotiations with the investor and other interested entities. “The architectural design fully utilizes the potential of the terminal not only as a transport hub, but also as a target point for future development in the vicinity. Our priority is functionality, safety, easy orientation, intuitiveness, fluidity of movement and speed of transfers. Furthermore, the quality and attractiveness of the environment, which motivates the use of public transport,” said Jiří Pavlíček from the office Pavlíček Hulín architekti, which is the author of the architectural solution.
Photovoltaics and electric car charging
According to the creators of the proposal, the dominant feature of the future terminal will be its roof. The height of the roof will change according to the functions of individual parts of the building. The roof should be lowest above the bus platforms, then it should rise along the curve towards the main entrance to the underground part with the transfer to the train. The roof is glazed in the middle part of the design and lets light into the lower levels. Its southern part contains photovoltaic panels that are supposed to cover the terminal and possibly allow electric cars to be charged in the parking lot. The solution also includes ancillary functions of the terminal such as ticketing, waiting room, small shops, technology facilities, drivers and more.
The track to the airport is part of the railway from the center of Prague to Kladno, which is divided into several sections. Currently, the only one completed is the Negrelli Viaduct. Construction of other sections will probably start next year, starting with the reconstruction of Masaryk station. The new connection is to be electrified, run on two tracks, and should enable the operation of trains going to the airport and to Kladno in ten-minute intervals. The estimated cost of the entire track is around 40 billion crowns.