Praha will withdraw from the construction of the tram line Pankrác-Budějovická

Prague - The Prague City Hall is likely to abandon the extension of the tram line from the Prague Uprising through Pankrác to Budějovické Square. The plan is not supported by the Prague 4 municipal authority. Instead, trams will terminate in front of the post office at the beginning of Budějovická Street in Pankrác. This was stated today by the Deputy Mayor of Prague 4 Zdeněk Kovářík (ODS) and the Technical Director of the Transport Company (DPP) Jan Šurovský. DPP has now commenced the extension of the line along Na Pankráci Street between the intersections with Na Veselí and Hvězdova streets.

"On behalf of the city district, I can say that under no circumstances should the (tram) line extend beyond the main post office. We have 450 parking spaces there, which is, of course, impossible to replace. There is no traffic reason for that extension either,” Kovářík said.

A study is currently being developed, which has not yet been finalized and approved by the city, the company, or the municipal authority. "We are approaching an agreement, and there are only minor details left, such as whether the crossing should be half a meter wider or half a meter narrower. Those are, really, I would say, just details,” Kovářík said.

Šurovský stated that the city and Prague 4 have agreed on extending along Na Pankráci Street and further to the post office. "We agreed that it makes sense for both local and long-distance connections. However, it is indeed a contentious issue due to parking, and it is not completely urgent,” he said. According to Šurovský, the company aims to complete the mentioned study as soon as possible and present it to the Prague leadership for discussion.

In the future, there would not be a classic tram loop in front of the post office, but a turnaround with one island platform. Trams would stop there and alternatively depart. Passengers could transfer to the metro line D. Another stop would be created in front of the Arkády shopping center, where transfers from tram to metro line C would be available.

According to the original plans, three stops were to be established along the 1.5-kilometer route: Pankrác, Zelená Liška, and Budějovická. At Pankráci and Budějovická, a new interchange was to be built between trams, buses, and the metro. Costs were estimated at 700 million korunas.

Besides Pankrác, Prague also plans a new line to Slivenec and Libuš. A new branch to the future Dvorecký Bridge, which will connect Prague 5 and 4, is also being created as part of the reconstruction of the line on Nádražní Street in Smíchov.