The extension of the metro to the airport will be more expensive than the railway

Prague - According to estimates by the Green Party, the completion of Metro Line A to Ruzyně Airport would cost ten billion crowns more than the modernization of the railway line to Kladno with a branch to the airport. Representatives of the Greens communicated this to ČTK today. They have long criticized the completion of Line A, which would cost around 40 billion crowns, and prefer strengthening rail transport instead. They argue that this would also lead to lower operating costs.
    According to the Greens, the operation of the extended metro would cost approximately half a billion crowns annually, while the costs for rail transport would be around 300 million crowns according to their estimates. "In addition to lower costs and faster implementation, the railway has additional advantages over the metro when servicing the airport, such as shorter travel times and greater comfort for passengers," the Greens state in a press release.
    The Greens would prefer to prioritize the construction of a completely new Line D, which has been discussed for several years. However, there is currently no funding for it, and according to some estimates, constructing the tunnels and stations alone would cost around 40 billion crowns. However, the Greens point out that Line D is already needed. "The public transport service situation in Prague 4 and 12, where hundreds of thousands of residents are dependent mainly on bus transport, is critical," asserts Zuzana Drhová, a Prague councilor for the Greens.
    According to her, the repair of the Nusle Bridge will also complicate the situation in the future, likely limiting the operation of the metro on Line C. The money saved from connecting the center to Ruzyně could thus be allocated to the construction of the new line.
    In the case of the completion of Line A, passengers on the 14-kilometer route could use stations at Červený Vrch, Veleslavín, Petřiny, Motol, Bílá Hora, Dědina, Dlouhá Míle, and Ruzyně Airport. Prague will seek a contribution from the European Union for construction. In this budget period, until 2013, it could amount to around seven billion crowns.