SŽ will repair the roof of Prague's main train station, instead of a parking lot there will be a relaxation zone

Prague – A complete reconstruction of the roof of the check-in hall, including the creation of a relaxation zone instead of the current parking lot, is awaiting the new hall of Prague's main railway station. The work is expected to start in 2023 and last about four years. In addition, the reconstruction of the historic Fantova building continues, with the first part expected to be completed in January. This was communicated to ČTK by the spokesperson of the Railway Administration, Nela Friebová. The main station was opened 150 years ago.

The Railway Administration has been planning the roof reconstruction of the new check-in hall for several years. There are problems, for example, with leaks in the building at some places; the administration also wants to address the condition of the parking lot, which is currently located on the roof of the hall. After the reconstruction, a relaxation zone should be created in its place. There are also plans to build a pedestrian crossing across the main road in the axis of the Fantova building and make spatial changes in the interior of the new check-in hall.

According to Friebová, the preparation for the reconstruction is divided into two phases. "Currently, the project documentation for the first phase of construction is being processed, and an architectural competition is being prepared for the second phase," she noted. The actual construction is planned for the years 2023 to 2027. The work will again be divided into individual phases, during which the spaces of the new check-in hall will be partially closed. The administration does not yet have the costs for the roof reconstruction.

The reconstruction of the heritage-protected Fantova building continues at the station. The repair of the facade should be definitively completed in January next year. According to Friebová, it is practically finished already; the builders are just completing the final finishing works on the lowering of the entrances in front of the building, including barrier-free access. The reconstruction of the outer part for 299 million crowns included external plasters, stone and plaster elements, refurbishment or creation of replicas of all 348 windows and doors, the roof, reconstruction of trusses, and all roof skylights and light wells.

In September this year, the repair of the interior spaces of the historic building also began. Currently, large historical halls and their background in the northern part are being repaired, which should be completed in the second half of next year. For the repair of the remaining parts, the administration is currently processing project documentation. "As part of the construction modifications, there will be an effort to restore and preserve historical elements and the overall historical appearance of the Fantova building, returning its original significance, considering the completed architectural-historical survey," described the spokesperson. The entire reconstruction of the interior spaces is expected to cost 779 million crowns.

The main railway station in Prague was opened on December 14, 1871, then still as the Emperor Franz Joseph Station. The Fantova building, built according to the design of architect Josef Fant, replaced the original, then no longer adequate station building at the beginning of the 20th century. Together with the adjacent hall above the platforms, it is the largest Art Nouveau monument in the Czech Republic. The Railway Administration hopes that the current reconstruction will revitalize the building. After completion, travelers should find a café, restaurant, waiting room, and children's corner there. The colonnade hall will function as a VIP waiting area, and the large hall will become a multifunctional space for cultural and social events. New sanitary facilities for visitors to the cultural halls will also be created in the reconstructed spaces. Currently, the building is used by the Railway Authority, Czech Railways, the Railway Administration, and the police. They will continue to be located here after the reconstruction. In the 1970s, a new check-in hall was subsequently built.