The city district of Brno-střed supported the relocation of the train station in Brno to the river

Brno - The municipal council of the Brno-střed district today supported the construction of the Brno railway station in a shifted position by the river. The second option is to build in the center under Petrov, near the current station, which is already insufficient in capacity. The South Moravian Region already supported the relocation of the main station in January. Brno will express its opinion at the end of February, as it is preparing a public opinion survey. The decision of the region and the city is merely a recommendation to the government, which will ultimately decide on the location of the new station.

At the council meeting, several members of the public advocated for the preservation of the station in the center. The voting was preceded by a long political debate in which councilors expressed their views on the various options. The coalition parties Greens and Žít Brno supported the station in the center under Petrov, while the coalition parties ANO and KDU-ČSL, as well as opposition parties ČSSD, ODS, TOP 09, and KSČM, supported the relocation. Ultimately, 29 councilors voted for the option of relocating the station, 11 were against it, and one councilor abstained from the vote.

The construction of the station is expected to take about six years. The cost of the station by the river is estimated at 42 to 45 billion crowns, while under Petrov it ranges from 42 to 56 billion crowns. According to a feasibility study conducted by the Railway Infrastructure Administration, construction by the river could start in 2020, while under Petrov it would not begin until at least 2026.

Proponents of the relocation point out that construction by the river could begin earlier, allowing for partial funding from the European Union, which is not expected under Petrov. They also mention the greater readiness of the project, lower costs, and easier future connections to high-speed rail. Supporters of the station under Petrov, on the other hand, argue that the relocated station will prolong travel times for people and make access via public transport more difficult, while access to Petrov is already well developed.

The position of the district does not carry the same weight as Brno's decision will. However, the coalition in the district is similar to that in the city hall, with Žít Brno, ANO, KDU-ČSL, and SZ governing Brno-střed, while TOP 09 is additionally in coalition at the city hall. Both councils also include representatives from ČSSD, ODS, and KSČM, who have long advocated for the relocation. Recently, the City's Architect Office also expressed support for the relocation.