After years of stalled plans, Prague’s Main Railway Station is entering a new phase of redevelopment.

One of the largest urban and infrastructure projects of the coming decade in Czechia, the transformation of Prague’s busiest transport hub — where up to 100,000 people pass through daily — is finally gaining momentum.

A new joint vision has emerged between the city, the state, the Railway Administration, and private investors. The goal is clear: to prioritize transport efficiency, coordinated development, and public benefit over fragmented commercial gain.

“This is not a single project. There are at least forty overlapping plans involving different stakeholders — from government to museums,” explains Petr Návrat, an urban planner at Onplan Lab, the firm coordinating the redevelopment. “We’re trying to create a unified vision that aligns transport, economic, and urban needs.”

Rather than selecting one master plan upfront, officials are adopting a “test planning” approach. Three competing concepts will be developed, each offering different transport solutions, zoning ideas, and urban functionality.

These proposals will be shaped by interdisciplinary teams — including transport engineers, economists, architects, and city planners — who will assess costs, benefits, and capacity.

“We want hard data about the impact on public transit and the city’s economy before we even consider an architectural competition,” said Deputy Mayor Petr Hlaváček. The first results are expected by the end of the year, providing input for the new Metropolitan Plan, which could make the Main Station area its first official amendment.

A key element will be New Connection 2 — a proposed tunnel allowing trains to run beneath central Prague, reducing congestion and improving connectivity.

However, complications loom. Preservationists are seeking to declare the 1970s departure hall a protected monument, which could severely limit future modifications. If approved, even the main access road and adjacent parking lot could fall under protection as structural extensions of the hall. “That would restrict many necessary interventions,” Svoboda noted.

New District Above the Tracks

A new urban district is also planned above the railway corridor, bridging the gap between Vinohrady and the city center. The first area likely to see construction is the Vinohradská tunnel entrance, where Penta Real Estate is working with the city, preservation authorities, and the National Museum.

“We expect to secure a zoning change by the end of this year,” said Rudolf Vacek of Penta. One proposal even involves relocating part of the museum into the new building.

Development over the rest of the tracks — including the platforms — remains a longer-term goal, but discussions are evolving. “Local authorities want 40–50% of the space used for housing, and at least two public institutions,” said Vacek. “There’s no interest in building a soulless office complex. We’re open to anything — from apartments and public services to even a hospital. But it must come from consensus.”

For decades, Prague’s Main Station was caught between clashing interests and fragmented efforts. But with experts from Copenhagen, Vienna, and Amsterdam now advising the city, and a joint strategy emerging, the station’s future looks far more cohesive.

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