Page 1 of 8 PRAHA Czech Republic
Page 2 of 8 System The capital of the Czech Republic has 1.2 million inhabitants and is situated on both sides of the Moldau (Vltava) river. The relatively new metro system follows the common Eastern European model with three basic lines forming a triangle in the city centre and tunnels very deep below street level. The first section of line C (north-south, 14.2 km) was opened between Sokolovská (now Florenc) and Kacerov in 1974. This line continued to Háje in the south in 1980 and crossed the Vltava river to Holešovice in 1984. Most stations have a central platform, but not Hlavní nádrazi (Central Rail Station) and Vyšehrad (situated inside the motorway bridge crossing the Nusle valley). The western branch of line A (east-west, 9.9 km) (Nám. Míru-Dejvická) opened in 1978 and until 1990 it reached its final station Skalka. Hradcanská and Staromestská were restored in 1997/98. The newest is line B (25.8 km). The city section between Florenc and Smíchovské nádrazí opened in 1985, a first extension to the south-western suburbs in Nové Butovice opened in 1988. The line grew to the north-east (Ceskomoravská) in 1990, and finally in 1994 to the south-western terminus at Zlicín. This section is not very deep and some station use daylight. Between Hurka and Luziny there is an artificial science-fiction-like bridge tunnel (see picture below). The easternmost section to Cerny Most opened with 3 stations on 9 Nov 1998 (Vysocanská, Rajská zahrada, Cerný Most). On 15 Oct. 1999 an intermediate station was opened to the public, Hloubetín. One more station, Kolbenova (planned as CKD) was built between Vysocanská and Hloubetín, it finally opened on 8 June 2001. Photos UrbanRail.Net (More photos below)
Page 3 of 8 The Prague Metro system is 49.9 km long with 51 stations and operates from 5:00 to 24:00 with trains every 4-10 minutes (2.5 min. peak hours). Due to heavy flooding in mid-august 2002, the Prague Metro was closed for several months along the central section (deep stations). Service was maintained on all outer branches. Trains Here you can see the same trains running in Budapest, Moscow and all other ex-soviet metro cities (5-car trains of 81-71 series in service on Lines A & B). Prague can be proud of having the best acoustic station announcement in Europe. New trains (M1 series) are being delivered for Line C, where also some modernised trains (81-71M) are in service. In Oct. 2001, the former local rolling stock manufacturer CKD was taken over by Siemens and under the new name SKV it will produce the remaining units. New metro train at Innotrans 2002 in Berlin UrbanRail.Net Stations Most stations on Line A and Line B are very deep and of the three tunnel type with long escalators leading to a central distribution tunnel. Line C doesn't run very deep though. Network maps can be bought in one of 6 transport offices. Stations are clean and well ventilated. Transport Museum The Prague Transport Museum (Patockova 4, April-Oct. Saturday, Sunday and holiday 9-17h) exhibits mainly old trams and buses, but now it also offers a good survey of the history of the Prague Metro. History 9 May 1974: C Florenc - Kacerov 12 Aug 1978: A Nám. Míru - Dejvická 7 Nov 1980: C - Háje
Page 4 of 8 19 Dec 1980: A - Zelivského 3 Nov 1984: C - Holešovice 2 Nov 1985: B Florenc - Smíchovské nádrazí 11 July 1987: A - Strašnická 26 Oct 1988: B - Nové Butovice 4 July 1990: A - Skalka 22 Nov 1990: B - Ceskomoravská 11 Nov 1994: B - Zlicín 8 Nov 1998: B - Cerný Most 15 Oct. 1999: B Hloubetín added 8 June 2001: B Kolbenova added Projects Construction of a 3.9 km line C extension from Nadrazí Holesovice to Ládví began in Sept. 2000 with completion in 2003. The line will cross under the Vltava river and there will be one intermediate station at Kobylisy. In a second stage the line will reach Letnany (2006). Other long term projects include 2 new lines and extensions of the existing line A: Line D - Vysocanská - Hl. Nadrazí - Nám. Míru - Pankrác - south Line E - semicircular (Pankrác - Andel - Hradcanská - Vltavska - Palmovka - Line D) Line A - extensions on both sides and a branch south from Strašnická Practical Info - OPERATION Trains run from 5:00 to 24:00 every 4-10 minutes (2.5 min. peak hours). - FARES (2002) The fare zone system covers the whole region (including CD commuter trains) where Prague City is zone P and 0. All tickets are valid on buses, trams, metro and commuter trains (except single tickets). For the Prague city area prices are as follows (in Czech crowns): Single Ticket 12 CZK, (8 CZK without transfer) 24-Hour-Ticket 70 CZK
Page 5 of 8 3-Day-Ticket (72 hours) 200 CZK 7-Day-Ticket (168 hours) 250 CZK 15-Day-Ticket (360 hours) 280 CZK Travelcards (with photo-id): Monthly Pass 420 CZK 3-Month-Pass 1150 CZK Annual Pass 3,800 CZK [1 Euro is approx. 34.50 Czech crowns] Links Dopravní podnik hl.m. Prahy (Official page) Metroprojekt (Construction company) Metrostav (Metro construction) ROPID (Regionální organizátor pražské integrované dopravy - Tariff union) Praha Metro and other city transport by Tomáš Rejdal Metro u nás by Ondra Hála Metro flooding Aug 2002 (flash show) City Transport in Prague Signalling on the Prague Metro Photos Line A (from west to east)
Page 6 of 8 Line B (from southwest to northeast) Line C (from north to south)
Page 7 of 8 Renamed stations A: Leninova - Dejvická; B: Sokolovská - Florenc, Moskevska - Andel, Švermova - Jinonice, Dukelská - Nové Butovice; C: Fucikova - Nádr. Holešovice, Gottwaldova - Vyšehrad, Mladeznická - Pankrác, Primátora Vacka - Roztyly, Budovatelu - Chodov, Druzby - Opatov, Kosmonautu - Háje. If you plan to travel to Prague order Michael Brein's GUIDE TO PRAGUE BY THE METRO for only $5.00