Brno station is awaiting reconstruction costing a quarter of a billion

Brno - The Brno train station is set for a reconstruction costing a quarter of a billion crowns. The reconstruction will begin next autumn and is being conducted by Brno new station development, which has leased the station building from Czech Railways until 2048; the repair is part of the lease agreement. Among other things, the Secese restaurant will be reopened, and an underground parking lot for 350 cars will be created. This was reported by Czech Television's news website (ČT). Although a decision is currently being made about the location of the new Brno train station, Czech Railways must maintain the station in operational condition, so repairs are necessary.

In the first phase, not only the departure hall will be reconstructed, but also the left wing, which is planned to house shops, a café, and the restored historic Secese restaurant, which functioned until five years ago at the edge of the first platform. "That space is so noble and so beautiful that once it is painted and cleaned, it will function on its own," said architect Tomáš Rusín from Studio RAW.

According to the architectural study, the appearance of the main vestibule will also change. Ticket counters will be relocated, and tickets will no longer be sold from the sides but directly opposite the entrance to the building, where snack stands currently stand. The staircase leading to the platforms will also disappear and be replaced by escalators. "There will be a complete repainting, skylight installation, window replacement, and the creation of new operational spaces," said Jiří Hos, chairman of the board of Brno new station development, to Czech Television.

During the reconstruction, demolition and construction will also take place. Workers have already demolished one warehouse near the train station by the Grand hotel and are preparing to demolish another. In their place, work will then begin on preparing the site for the underground parking lot for 350 cars.

Brno residents decided on the location of the new Brno train station in a referendum held in October. However, due to low participation, it is invalid. Of those who voted, 80.94 percent expressed support for the modernization of the railway hub on Nádražní Street in the city center, and 67.89 percent supported an open design competition. Thus, they primarily supported the positions of the referendum initiators, who have long disagreed with moving the station further from the center.

The result of the referendum, which saw participation of only 24 percent of voters, is non-binding for the city. Therefore, it has free hands in deciding on the variant. A feasibility study is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year.