Praha Masarykovo nádraží is the oldest railway station in Prague and the only terminal passenger station in the city; it lies in the centre near Náměstí Republiky.
Praha Masarykovo nádraží is the oldest railway station in Prague, with trains running here since 1845. It is the only terminal, that is, non-through, passenger station in the city. At the time of its founding it was among the largest in Europe, and today it serves suburban, regional and interregional transport.[1] It lies in the centre of Prague near Náměstí Republiky.[1]
Origins and architecture
The location of the station and the track layout were designed in 1842 by Jan Perner, a railway designer and builder. The buildings were given their architectural form within a few months by Jan Nevole, and the later connecting extension was directed by the architect Antonín Jüngling. Operation was solemnly opened on 20 August 1845.[1] The line was originally designed as a link to Olomouc, but after several years it became clear that it would expand. From the 1850s passengers could travel by train as far as Dresden.[1]
The station stood right next to the city walls, in which six openings had to be breached for the tracks. The gates were locked at night and were demolished only in 1874.[1] The two-storey arrivals building by Antonín Jüngling faces Havlíčkova Street. During the extension the original arcade wing was demolished, the restaurant pavilion received two more floors and was joined to the departures building by a corridor. A tall glazed hall carried by slender cast-iron columns was added between the buildings.[1] Nevole placed the departures building, with two four-sided turrets and a striking clock, on Hybernská Street.[1]
Of the original furnishings the Masaryk Salon, formerly the Imperial Salon, has survived, with a neo-Renaissance beamed ceiling and a carved fireplace on which stands a bust of Jan Perner. Opposite is a statue of T. G. Masaryk by Jan Štursa. The salon has a separate entrance to the first platform, from which the president of the newly founded republic set off in a saloon car.[1]
Names of the station
From 1845 to 1862 the station was called Praha, from 1862 to 1919 Praha státní nádraží, from 1919 to 1940 Praha Masarykovo nádraží and from 1940 to 1945 Praha Hybernské nádraží. From 1945 to 1952 it again bore the name Masarykovo nádraží, from 1953 to 1990 Praha střed, and since March 1990 it has been called Praha Masarykovo nádraží again.[1]
Modernisation
According to Správa železnic, the modernisation and extension of the station includes a complete reconstruction of the railway superstructure and substructure, new barrier-free platforms at all nine tracks, new platform roofing, a roofed concourse from which the platforms are entered at a different level from Hybernská Street and Na Florenci Street, and a new orientation system including audio beacons and tactile labels. A reconstruction of the overhead line, the transfer of bicycles across the tracks and new traffic-light signalling at the Hybernská–Opletalova crossroads are also planned.[2] Správa železnic gives the total investment cost as CZK 3.5 billion, the documentation is kept in BIM mode and the contractor is SUDOP Praha. The works contract was signed in November 2020, and construction is expected to run from January 2024 to December 2026.[2]
Practical information
According to the Prague City Tourism website, the station areas for passengers are open daily from 3:25 to 23:40. The station has barrier-free toilets, the Masaryčka restaurant, a snack bar, a cash machine and left-luggage facilities for baggage and bicycles. The Masaryk Salon is accessible only on announced dates.[1] According to the same page, trams of lines 3, 6, 14, 15, 24 and 26 stop in front of the building, and the Náměstí Republiky metro station on line B is about three minutes' walk away. The information should be verified on the page cited.[1]