In Lovosice, there is a renovated train station in the Brussels style, and there will be a bistro here

Lovosice - In Lovosice in the Litoměřice region, a renovated train station designed by architect Josef Danda was opened today. The building features photovoltaic panels on its roof and has a parking lot for 73 cars next to it. The spaces are gradually being filled. The city will establish an unattended information center, along with a bistro and a café. The reconstruction took three quarters longer due to the emergency condition of the water and sewage connections and static issues in the ceiling. This was stated to reporters by the director of the Railway Administration, Tomáš Tóth.

The work, costing 184 million crowns, lasted two years. It included the restoration of the façade, roof, ticket hall, and the area in front of the station. The facility has been serving passengers since 1968. "At that time, funding likely ran out, resulting in a very austere design. We aimed to return to the spirit of Danda's architecture," said architect Tomáš Holub. The main entrance features a cladding made of ceramic blocks that were used during the construction of the railway station building.

The most challenging aspect of the renovation was reconciling the repair of the old structure with the integration of modern technologies. "Additionally, it turned out that the ceiling looks completely different from what the construction and technical survey and original plans had anticipated," noted designer Václav Ráček. Therefore, experts had to adjust the plans during the work.

The mayor of the city, Václav Krejčí (PRO Lovosice), is satisfied with the results from the contractor, ŽS OHLA, and the approach of the Railway Administration. "We are receiving only positive feedback. The original character of the station building has been preserved, within which a café, bistro, and self-service information center will still open. Lovosice is a starting point for trips to the Czech Central Highlands, so we accepted the offer to utilize space for a self-service box that will be monitored by a camera," Krejčí said. The station also features a water filtration station where travelers can refill their bottles, and the building is heated by underfloor heating. There is also a bike storage facility on-site, and electric bikes can be charged there.

The building renovation was preceded by the reconstruction of the platforms and the underpass under the tracks, which connected parts of the town on both sides of the station. The total investment amounted to 680 million crowns. The project was co-financed by the European Union. Lovosice is an important transfer hub on the left bank railway line running along the Elbe River. "We are now preparing a competition for new modern security for the left bank line and will be focusing on the old traction line from Kralupy nad Vltavou towards Děčín," Tóth stated, adding that the administrator is reviewing further railway projects. It cannot be said when, for example, the renovation of the station in Most will take place.