A direct train line connecting the center of Prague to Václav Havel Airport is finally on the horizon, following decades of delays and broken promises.
The Ministry of Transport recently announced the project, which will feature nine stations, with some sections of the route running underground. The completion date is set for 2030.
The journey will start at Masaryk Station, which is undergoing significant renovations to accommodate the new line.
A new platform will be constructed above the existing tracks, which will also include green spaces as part of the modernization. Once operational, trains will depart every 10 minutes, offering a reliable and efficient service for both locals and tourists.
“We held an Investor’s Day, which attracted considerable interest from foreign partners,” said Martin Kupka, the Minister of Transport and a member of the ODS party. While no investor has been confirmed yet, preparations for the line are already underway in some locations.
A Faster, More Convenient Journey
Currently, getting to the airport from Prague’s city center can be cumbersome. The most common route involves taking the metro towards VeleslavÃn and then transferring to a trolleybus.
This journey can take up to 40 minutes. The state has been promising an easier connection for more than 30 years, but until now, those promises have remained unfulfilled.
Once completed, the new train line will reduce the travel time to just 25 minutes, making it a much more convenient option for travelers.
Public-Private Partnership
What makes this project particularly notable is that it will be the first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in the history of Czech railways. A private investor will be responsible for building and operating the line, with financial support from the state.
The line will not terminate at the airport but will continue to the nearby city of Kladno. The total cost of the project is estimated at 28 billion crowns.