In Kladno, a petition against the demolition of the station is still ongoing, the mayor has positive feedback on it

Kladno - In Kladno, a petition is ongoing for the preservation of the Kladno train station or the announcement of an architectural competition for its new design. The author of the petition is opposition councilor Anna Gamanová (STAN). The city is receiving more positive feedback regarding the planned modern building, which will offer more comfort and functionality, Mayor Milan Volf (Choice for Kladno) stated today in response to CTK's inquiry. The decision to demolish instead of renovate was recently made by the Railway Administration (SŽ), which is modernizing the track and the building. SŽ justified its decision by the poor condition determined by supplementary surveys. Architect Václav Kruliš submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Culture for the building to become a monument, CTK reported today.

Since January, over 1,000 residents of the largest city in Central Bohemia, which has around 70,000 inhabitants, have signed the petition. The station, referred to as Vejhybka, has been in operation since 1855. It serves the Prague - Rakovník and Kladno - Kralupy nad Vltavou lines. It is easily accessible, for example, from the district of Kročehlavy, but is located about two kilometers from the center of Kladno. According to Gamanová, it will be the center of a significant development area. "Schools, parishes, and train stations are not demolished. Because they are a fixed part of the identity of cities," the councilor stated.

According to Volf, the modern airy functional building is much more welcome, as it has predominantly positive feedback and will serve its purpose significantly better and longer. It will also bring greater comfort to passengers. "I understand that there is a group of people who simply love old buildings, and I understand their stance. But I cannot agree with the opinion that the old train station building forms the city's identity, and I would be very surprised if these people succeeded in their request for it to become a national monument. I don't think that will happen, but I don't want to pre-judge," added the mayor.

Kruliš points out, among other things, the cultural and historical values that the new building will not replace. "In the collective memory of the city, the building with over 150 years of history is deeply rooted in the experiences and life paths of its residents and has been a witness to many pivotal events in the history of the 20th century," stated the architect in the justification for the proposal to declare the station a monument. He also questions the practicality of constructing a new building.

The conceptual study for the new departure hall was created by the studio Jakub Cigler Architekti. According to Volf, the top priority must be the best possible solution. "And that, after considering all circumstances, is clearly a new building. The Railway Administration, which is the investor of the entire massive multi-billion project and the owner of the station, has always had a responsible approach, and I must thank them for their cooperation. I have experienced many investors in Kladno, but perhaps never at such a professional level," the mayor added. The planned building is to be located closer to the upcoming underpass by the track. According to a study commissioned by the city and the Railway Administration, its operation should also be more energy-efficient.

The Railway Administration continues to modernize the section between the Kladno main station and the Ostrovec stop. A fundamental change will be the expansion of the track to double-track and electrification. The Kladno railway section is part of the line between Kladno, Prague, and Václav Havel Airport in Prague. The commissioning is scheduled for September 2025. The renovation of the more than five-kilometer Kladno section of the track and adjacent buildings will cost around 3.7 billion crowns excluding VAT, including underpasses, platforms, and the like.