<translation>Position of KZsP on the intention to close Masaryk Station</translation>

The Club for Old Prague is concerned about the process of approving changes to the zoning plan aimed at the demolition of Masaryk Railway Station and the use of its land for development projects.

In connection with this intention, the Domestic Council of the Club issues this statement:

1. Defense of the station as a functional whole

Masaryk Railway Station is probably the oldest fully functioning metropolitan station in Europe from the first phase of railway construction, i.e., before 1850. This fact alone is an extraordinary and significant value that must be taken into account in the visions of the future of the station, and therefore the entire area, including the depot and maintenance facility, has been declared a cultural monument.

The intention to quickly demolish the station has not been supported by any technical, transportation, or other generally significant reason:

a) the argument about the disadvantage of terminal stations is misleading. In several other European capitals, terminal stations function very well, are not considered inferior, and are not closed (Paris, London, Budapest, Rome…).

b) the argument about the redundancy of two large stations in relatively close proximity is poorly thought out. Each of them fulfills a different function in the spectrum of the transportation network. Moving connections from Masaryk Station to the Main Station would significantly multiply its operational load to the point that it could not be solved by ordinary construction modifications but only through a fundamental conceptual change to the Prague railway hub. In this context, the construction of a new underground station with connecting underground tracks to Smíchov and Vršovice is being considered, but this would require extraordinary investment in the range of tens of billions of crowns. Would a developer pay for it who would acquire the released land at Masaryk Station?

Masaryk Railway Station, which is a significant transportation hub for commuter transport, has several irreplaceable advantages:

c) the only level and barrier-free connection of the station to the center (this advantage would disappear with the relocation of tracks to the Main Station)

d) excellent location in the very center of the city with perfect connection to public transport means time savings for commuters traveling to Prague for work (in contrast, the contemplated relocation of tracks to the Main Station encounters its transportation serviceability for the central Prague station, which is completely inadequate - too distant tram station, only one metro line with small platform capacity)

e) considerable funds have recently been invested by the state in the upgrade of the tracks at Masaryk Railway Station, around one hundred thirty million crowns, this investment would be wasted with the premature exclusion of the station from operation.

It follows from the above that the immediate motive behind the thoughts of the quickest closure of the station is merely the desire for commercial use of attractive land in the city center regardless of the meaningfulness and benefits of this step for Prague residents and the inhabitants of the region.

2. Use of the station area

The construction of new residential or administrative buildings on the peripheral lands of Masaryk Railway Station (Na Florenci Street) is possible while adhering to the building conditions suitable for integration into the environment of the urban conservation area.
However, there are still other areas in the extensive site of Masaryk Railway Station that are not necessarily needed for railway operations and could be made available for new uses sooner or later. We would welcome it if these areas were not utilized in a straightforward developer manner (administration, shopping center), which are already in surplus in the center of Prague, but were dedicated to what is in short supply in the center - open space, park greenery, pedestrian paths.
It should be considered that this peripheral area of New Town was predominantly used for garden areas before the station was built and was never consistently built upon. From the perspective of urban planning connections of the Prague monument reserve, to which New Town belongs particularly due to its layout, it is undesirable to create new streets and busy communication links here.

In simple terms: We do not want another Palladium!

3. Railway Museum of the National Technical Museum

If it holds true that the most suitable use for a monument is the preservation of its original purpose, then the most suitable use for the former workshops, depot, and abandoned operations of Masaryk Railway Station is the Railway Museum of NTM. In its exhibition, 40 to 50 historical railway vehicles can be displayed. It is a proven fact that worldwide there is a sharp increase in interest in such institutions as a result of the growing popularity of movable and immovable industrial heritage monuments.
We therefore wholeheartedly support the intention to establish a Railway Museum at the Masaryk Railway Station site, as decided by the Czech government in its resolution. In this context, we point out the fact that the ownership rights to the aforementioned lands and buildings belong precisely to the National Technical Museum, and therefore free planning of construction activities on these lands is not possible.
We request that the Railway Museum project be completed and not artificially questioned for the sake of the business visions of private investors.

4. Conclusion

In connection with the above arguments, we call on the representation of the City of Prague, led by the mayor, not to succumb to the pressures of the developer-business lobby to close Masaryk Railway Station and to defend the way of its use that is most beneficial for the citizens:

• preservation of the terminal for commuter transport
• moderate construction and revitalization of the area with an emphasis on greenery and open space
• quality restoration and cultural use of the protected buildings
• realization of the intention of the Railway Museum of NTM

PhDr. Richard Biegel, Ph.D., signature executive of the Club for Old Prague

PhDr. Kateřina Bečková, signature chairwoman of the Club for Old Prague

Prague, September 18, 2008