The Prague metro was originally meant to be an underground tramway!
In this episode, we stop off at the Prague Main Railway Station, on line C, where Martin Karlík, our guide from Prague City Tourism, explains the curious underground tramway project that preceded plans for a metro.
Hlavní nádraží (Prague Main Railway Station) was among the first metro stations built in Prague. Those familiar with the Czech capital's metro system may notice that the layout of the station is markedly different from its neighbour stations built around the same time - Florenc and Muzeum. At Hlavní nádraží, there is no central platform with tracks on either side. Instead, there are two platforms separated by the railway tracks. One might argue this is not very practical, given that most metro stations operate differently. What is the reason for the different layout of this station?
"The reason is very simple. The Hlavní nádraží metro station was originally built as an underground tram stop, which ultimately never saw the light of day. When construction work began, there were still discussions about running trams through the station. Once construction had begun, the project was changed to accommodate the metro. By then, however, it was too late to change the layout of Hlavní nádraží to match other metro stations. The station was somewhat of curiosity, but not anymore since in the 1990s, new stations were built in the Hlavní nádraží two-platform style. Interestingly, the oldest stations on the Prague metro network, Hlavní nádraží and Vyšehrad (then-Gottwaldova), are distinguished by their two-platform layout, where passengers exit on their right-hand side."
What would have been the advantages of an underground tramway over an ordinary tramway?
"With an underground tram, there was no risk of cars parking on the tracks nor of accidents at intersections, which sometimes happen in Prague. Underground trams had a distinct advantage. However, an underground tram has a lower passenger capacity than a metro. The underground tramway was a hybrid solution, halfway between a tramway and a metro: it was preferable to an above-ground tramway but slightly worse than a metro. So why did they consider building the underground tramway? Because it would have been cheaper. But after careful consideration, it was thought that any future transformation of the underground tram network into a metro system would prove difficult and costly, and that it would therefore be better to build a metro."
The question of building a metro system in Prague remained a long-standing issue. First conceptualised in the 19th century, the idea of a metro was repeatedly rejected and postponed. What motivated the Communist government to finally begin building the metro?
"Prague was growing and traffic became rather heavy. So, the imperative for an underground railway system became clear. But, when the Communists first came to power, their priorities were different. The government invested heavily in chemical, metallurgical and mining industries in Kladno, Ostrava, Most and Litvínov, and Prague lost many of its residents. Eventually, that trend reversed and Prague began to grow again. Flats were renovated, large new apartment blocks sprang up and industry came to Prague, too. Amid the city's population explosion, the need for a metro became apparent. Streets were just as congested then as they are today -there were certainly fewer cars, but there was no ring road. So, all the lorries that use motorways to bypass the centre today were once clogging up the city. Traffic congestion was a hindrance to tram and bus traffic, so building a metro became the obvious plan of action."
As a result, the original plan for underground trams was never realised. Is that correct?
"Underground trams never ran in Prague, but the initial plan for such a system in Prague resulted in the design of a legendary new tram. Until then, trams had many wooden elements posing a fire hazard, deeming them unfit for underground tunnels. So, a new tram made up of non-flammable materials was born - the T3 . These trams never ran in the underground tunnels they were built for, but you can still spot a few of these beautiful trams running in Prague today."
Can you also tell us a little about the history of the magnificent Prague Main Railway Station building above the Hlavní nádraží metro station?
"This station was built in the 1870s and was nicknamed the ‘castle station’ (in Czech, zámecké nádraží) because it resembled a castle. However, thirty years after its inauguration, the station reached its maximum capacity due to rapid development of the railway network. The tender for a new train station building was won by the architect Josef Fanta, who drew inspiration from the Gare du Nord in Paris, a European benchmark, and replicated its large hall and train track structure.
"‘The ‘castle station’ was gradually dismantled and replaced by a new Art Nouveau building, a splendid structure that took almost eight years to build. The huge hall provided shelter for passengers in bad weather and the beautiful building became a magnificent gateway to the city of Prague. Then, in the the 1970s, it was thought that a the station should be brighter, more modern and better connected to other modes of transport, but unfortunately its construction came at the expense of much of Fanta's original building."
In the station’s 150+ year history, the station has had other names than just ‘Hlavní nádraží’. What else was it called?
"It was originally named Emperor Franz Josef Station (nádraží císaře Františka Josefa). Under the First Republic it was named Wilson Station (Wilsonovo nádraží) after the U.S. president Woodrow Wilson. After the Second World War, the name was changed from ‘Main Railway Station’ (Hlavní nádraží) back to ‘Wilson Station’. However, in 1953, it was again renamed to ‘Hlavní nádraží’ (Main Railway Station). The name was kept even after the Velvet Revolution, since it is the largest and most important station in Prague.’"
Did you know?
The Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) developed a geolocation game called ‘Metro 50’ to celebrate the metro’s 50th anniversary.
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50 Years of Prague Metro
The Prague metro turned 50 years old in 2024! To mark the occasion, we trace its history and explore some of the most iconic stations on the Czech capital's metro network.
