The Liberec Region plans an architectural competition for a transfer terminal at the railway station

Liberec – The Liberec Region would like to announce an architectural competition this year in collaboration with the city of Liberec and the Railway Administration for the modifications of the Liberec train station. This was stated by governor Martin Půta (Mayors for Liberec Region) to ČTK. In the future, a public transport transfer terminal, which will connect rail and bus transport – Central Station, is to be created at the train station. A large-capacity parking lot and also apartments are to be built on the site of the current bus station.

The vision to connect bus and train transport in a single area was presented by Liberec's city architect, now deputy mayor Jiří Janďourek (Mayors for Liberec Region) along with other experts back in 2012. However, the Liberec City Hall rejected it four years later and continued with the preparations for the construction of the terminal at the current bus station. The intention was then handed over by the city to the region in 2019, which first had it reworked and then withdrew from it. "The original proposal was indeed interesting, however, the bus station had so few platforms that it would not suffice for suburban transport," said the governor.

The joint project Central Station anticipates using the building of the Liberec train station as a base not only for train passengers but also for bus transport. The building, which is not fully utilized today, should become the center of the terminal. However, a condition for the realization of the project is the removal of the first track, which has practically not been used for years. It is precisely on its site that there should be space for bus departures. The station would thus allow passengers a convenient transfer from trains to buses and also to public transport.

The terminal at the train station should also address the dismal facilities of the bus station in Liberec, which, although modernized in the mid-90s, did not have money left for a check-in building with facilities for passengers and drivers. As a result, a temporary structure made of construction containers has served as facilities for nearly 30 years. Before the terminal is completed, the facilities for passengers should, according to Půta, be moved to the nearby Uran building, which belongs to the city. The city hall is preparing its reconstruction, but it is not yet clear when it will begin.

The new transport hub at the station is expected to connect all types of transport – rail, bus, and public transportation, but also car transport due to the proximity of the parking lot within ten years. "This is precisely the direction Europe is heading towards, creating integrated transport hubs. This should bring great comfort for passengers as well as significant clarity and quality of travel," Janďourek previously stated to ČTK. Similar terminals serve, according to him, for example in Pardubice, German Zgorzelec, or Dresden. The region and the city want to obtain subsidies from European funds for the project worth hundreds of millions.