Massive renovation of country’s train stations to begin in summer

This summer will see the largest renovation project of its kind in the Czech Republic – the renovation of the country’s main train stations, many in marked disrepair. Construction contracts are worth an estimated three billion crowns or more.

Photo: Filip Jandourek

Last year was rated as a good one for many Czech construction companies and many are looking forward to the summer of 2016 as the largest project of its kind gets underway – an initiative to repair or renovate the country’s train stations many of which will need a lot more than a new lick of paint. This year roughly 60 of the country’s most-used railway stations will need to be renovated and in 2016 alone half-a-billion crowns will go into their repair. The next five years, an additional 2.5 billion crowns will be spent. So it us no surprise construction firms and also developers are beginning to take an interest: Pavel Surý, general director of the state-run Railway Infrastructure Administration overseeing the project, told financial daily Hospodářské noviny, confirmed that companies were seeking information and weighing the chances of winning specific tenders.

The importance of the project, writes the daily, for construction companies hit by a drop in revenue from highway construction projects is obvious. Projects threatened by delays or cancelation and requiring new environmental assessments have not brought in expected revenues. Construction firm representatives have made clear that companies are ready to shift resources and manpower to projects which have already been green-lighted. Hospodářské noviny lists as interested major players such as Metrostav, Strabag Rail and Geosan Group, the last of which is reportedly focussing more and more on rail. Smaller regional firms and developers are also sending reportedly sending out feelers to suss out different opportunities.

Preparations for the massive renovation project have now been underway for more than a year, requiring the efforts of a special team counting dozens of employees. Final approval is expected on Thursday by Czech Railways’ executive board.

Commuters and travelers will no doubt welcome newly renovation stations rather than some of the shoddy buildings in which they wait for their connection at present. The general director at the Railway Infrastructure Administration Pavel Surý points out in the daily that newly-renovated stations should see a better use of available space; the aim is to not only to provide better surroundings for commuters and railway staff but also to attract small businesses to rent outlets on site. The director told Hospodářské noviny gave one common example at a station near Prague, where the police have expressed an interest in renting space for a small headquarters.