Police will not pursue prosecution for negligence in maintaining the railway bridge at Výtoň

Prague - The police will not initiate criminal prosecution in connection with the failure to perform repairs and maintenance of the railway bridge below Vyšehrad in Prague. Prague police spokesperson Jan Rybanský stated today in response to a ČTK inquiry that according to the conclusions of the criminologists, the factual basis for the crime of abuse of property was not fulfilled. The criminal complaint was filed last August by the association Nebourat, which, along with some experts, criticizes the plan to relocate the protected monument to another site in Prague.

"The case, which was investigated for suspicion of committing the crime of abuse of property, was shelved at the turn of April and May," Rybanský said. ČTK is seeking a statement from the association.

According to the criminal code, a person commits abuse of property, among other things, by harming an important cultural interest by "destroying, damaging, rendering useless, or misappropriating" an item of greater value that is protected under another legal regulation. The perpetrator may be punished with up to two years in prison, a ban on activity, or forfeiture of the item.

The initiative Nebourat emphasized when filing the criminal complaint that every owner of a cultural monument has an obligation to care for its good condition and protect it from damage and devaluation. The Railway Administration, which is responsible for the bridge at Výtoni, has allegedly violated this obligation for some time. The state organization rejected this claim, stating that it has long warned of the poor condition of the bridge and the necessity to address the situation.

The Railway Administration intends to demolish the existing bridge and, together with the Prague City Hall, is looking for a location to relocate the bridge structure. In May of this year, they reported that they had begun seeking a designer for the construction of a new bridge, which is to have three tracks instead of the current two. Work is planned for the years 2027 to 2029, with costs estimated at 3.4 billion crowns.

The railway bridge at Výtoni has existed since 1872. It was replaced at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries by a structure that spans the Vltava River to this day. According to experts, it is an important technical cultural monument in an exposed part of the Prague heritage reserve. Due to the poor condition of the bridge, currently only one train can pass over it at a reduced speed of a maximum of 20 kilometers per hour.