All Aboard! Prague's New Railway Museum to Launch by 2030

By renovating and expanding the historic workshop halls near Prague’s Masaryk Railway Station, the National Technical Museum plans to open a Museum of Railways and Electrical Engineering by 2030.

The updated cost of the project has now risen to 1.89 billion CZK, including VAT, up from the originally projected 1.69 billion.

The new museum will stand on the site of the former workshops along Husitská Street, featuring a newly constructed building and a covered track area.

“These buildings are officially recognized cultural landmarks,” said Karel Ksandr, director of the NTM.

“They commemorate the arrival of the first train to Prague, which took place 180 years ago this year.” The historic moment occurred on August 4, 1845, when the first train pulled into what is now Masaryk Station. The first official ceremonial train was greeted at the Gate of Glory on August 20 of the same year.

An architectural study is already complete, and the museum has acquired additional land next to the site.

In collaboration with the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University (CTU), the team is working on solutions to reduce energy consumption in the historic halls. According to Ksandr, the concept was inspired by the railway museum in Kyoto, Japan.

One key challenge was determining the main entrance. After negotiations with nearby property owners, NTM secured a plan for the entrance to face towards the city center.

The exhibits in Prague will be regularly updated.

Highlights include Emperor Franz Joseph’s personal saloon car, along with historic locomotives and wagons from different periods.

Among the standout pieces are two restored steam locomotives, the 210.001 Serenyi and the 411.019 Conrad Vorlauf, both unveiled to the public two years ago.

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