Brno is looking for a contractor for a study on an underground cable car

Brno - The Brno city council announced today a competition for the developer of a feasibility study for an underground rail system, known as the north-south rail diameter. Councillor Filip Chvátal (KDU-ČSL) said this to journalists. The study aims to indicate whether it would be better to route a tram or railway line or a traditional metro under the city center, and whether the project is economically viable at all. The railway is expected to cost billions of crowns. The city would like it to be developed alongside a planned new train station, which will be located by the river. The underground railway is intended to ease traffic congestion in Brno.

The estimated price of the contract for the study is expected to be 12 million, with an additional 2.5 million for a survey focused on transport connections and serviceability of the city and suburban areas, while a traffic model will cost two million. "The specific goal of the study is to assess whether new rail transport is feasible and, if so, in what form. Tram, commuter train, and metro variants are all on the table," said Chvátal.

For the city, one of the key indicators will be how much the load on the main tram lines will decrease. "The study will also assess the impact of the diameter on the environment, transportation behavior in the city, and will also take into account the number of people who would use the new option. A fundamental factor will be the economic evaluation of the project and its potential impact on improving transportation services," said Chvátal.

The discussion about an underground rail system in Brno has been ongoing since the 1970s, with the city long hoping for faster connections in the north-south direction and a significant easing of surface transportation, which has been overloaded during peak times in recent years.