The steering committee recommended relocating the main train station in Brno

Brno - The Steering Committee of the Brno Railway Node established by the Minister of Transport today recommended moving the Brno main train station to the site of the current freight lower station. At the same time, it rejected the commitment to finance the underground railway, known as the north-south rail diameter, from the funds of the State Transport Infrastructure Fund (SFDI). This was stated today in a press release by the spokesman for the Ministry of Transport, Zdeněk Neusar. The recommendation will serve as a basis for the government, which will make the final decision about the station.

Brno city councilors, meanwhile, in a February resolution, requested that "a meaningful part of the diameter be operational in the foreseeable future from the commissioning of the station." Deputy Mayor Richard Mrázek (ANO) perceives today's decision as anticipated. "It was not to be expected that the ministry would give Brno a blank check for the construction of the diameter. What is important is that the resolution also includes a task for the Railway Infrastructure Administration (SŽDC) to prepare a feasibility study for the underground railway as soon as possible. I think it is in line with what the council voted for," Mrázek told ČTK.

He assumes that after the completion of the study, there will be an agreement between the state, the region, and the city on how to finance the diameter. SŽDC is also satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations. "The resolution is in line with SŽDC's position and recommendations. It is a significant step for the future construction of the railway node," said SŽDC spokeswoman Kateřina Šubová.

The steering committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Transport, SFDI, the Railway Infrastructure Administration, Czech Railways, and the leadership of Brno and the South Moravian Region. The committee has also instructed SŽDC to examine the technological and capacity possibilities of both variants, including the unchosen variant of the station in the city center. Cargo carriers are increasingly opposed to the relocation of the station, wanting to maintain the separation of corridors for freight and passenger transport. Currently, trains can pass through Brno on two routes; after the relocation of the station, all transport will go through the new main station.

From the variants of the relocated station, the steering committee selected a subvariant that addresses the junction of the Chrlice line into the underground station, which allows for the construction of the underground railway. However, before it can be built further north to connect to the Tišnov line, its underground station beneath the main station's tracks will serve as the terminus for trains from Chrlice.

"The ministry's goal now is to present a final proposal within two months for a government meeting," Neusar stated. By mid-year, it should be clear which variant the government will support.

If it also supports the relocation of the station, preparatory work for the construction of the new station, which aims to solve the capacity problems of the current one, will continue. The construction is estimated to cost around 45 billion crowns, and city infrastructure must also be prepared. According to estimates, the new station could take six years to build, with the most optimistic estimates suggesting the start could be as early as 2020. The Green Party and civic initiatives, however, want to continue fighting for the preservation of the station in the center.

The government once decided in 2002 that the station in Brno would be moved, but since then, there has been no binding zoning decision issued.