The best solution for the transportation terminal in Liberec was designed by the studio OV Architekti

Liberec - In the architectural competition for the transfer terminal of railway and bus transportation in Liberec, the Prague studio OV Architekti won. The jury's decision was almost unanimous, said Deputy Mayor Jiří Janďourek (Mayors for the Liberec Region) during the presentation of the winning design today. The city will showcase the three best designs at the end of May and beginning of June at the Linserka Cultural Center. The terminal is being jointly prepared by the Railway Administration (SŽ), the Liberec Region, and the city of Liberec. A condition is the establishment of a fast railway connection from Prague to Liberec.

The transfer terminal, which will connect railway, bus, and public transport, will be created by the reconstruction of the main Liberec train station. Its main historical building will be preserved, but the station will get rid of unattractive later additions. A modern glass ticketing hall will be added, and the platforms will be protected from the elements by a lightweight glass roof with integrated solar panels. “We wanted to bring some character that lets you know by its shape that you have arrived in Liberec,” said architect Štěpán Valouch.

The winning design offers solutions to most long-standing problems in the area between the train and bus stations. “By moving the bus stops closer to the tracks and emphasizing accessibility, we will minimize transfers and significantly increase passenger comfort,” stated SŽ General Director Tomáš Tóth. The project is designed to be implemented in phases and can be divided among different investors.

The study includes the reconstruction of the historical train station building, which will be complemented by a modern addition for the bus terminal. A parking garage for up to 600 cars is to be built nearby, which will free up space on the other side of the street for further construction. “By connecting the departure and arrival halls and adding more services, a large common check-in area will be created that corresponds to the significance of the fifth largest city in the Czech Republic,” added Governor Martin Půta (Mayors for the Liberec Region).

The bus terminal must give way to the tracks near the dispatch building and the historical platform building, which is not protected as a monument and could not be incorporated into the accessible station. Tóth estimated the project's costs at 3.5 billion crowns, with contributions from the region and the city for financing. A condition for the project's realization is the establishment of a fast railway connection from Prague to Liberec; without this, the terminal has no purpose, according to Tóth. Work on the station reconstruction will not start before 2035.