Prague Metro D: Rising Costs and Delays Dampen Progress
Residents of Prague will have to be patient for at least another ten years before the long-awaited Metro D line finally becomes a reality, as the city’s updated schedule now indicates a launch date set for 2034.
This line, which will run from Pankrác to the new depot in Písnice, is designed to be inaugurated all at once—almost fifty years after the completion of Line B.
Initially, the city had high hopes that the state would finance no less than a quarter of the total costs—approximately CZK 12 billion. The remaining funds were expected to come from European financial support.
However, that financial strategy has since proven unrealistic. In 2019, the estimated costs for the stretch from Náměstí Míru to Písnice were calculated at CZK 73 billion. Just two years later, that figure escalated to CZK 98 billion. As of today, it has risen to CZK 120 billion—and it could increase even more.
“Regrettably, earlier political administrations did almost nothing concerning Metro D, making it impossible to stick to the original goal of completing it by 2023,” stated Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates), who serves as Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Transport. “In the meantime, we redirected EU funds to lengthen tram lines.”
Airport Connection Canceled
When Line A was extended to Motol, many residents hoped it would eventually reach Václav Havel Airport. An evaluation in 2018 projected that the airport extension would cost CZK 27 billion and require eleven years to construct, with proposed stops including Bílá Hora, Dědina, Dlouhá Míle, and Staré Letiště.
Instead, the focus has shifted to constructing a high-speed rail line that connects Kladno to Masaryk Station, incorporating a stop at the airport. This project, which has been under consideration for more than 30 years, is finally underway and is anticipated to be completed by 2030.
In the interim, transportation to the airport has seen minor enhancements. Buses from Veleslavín have been replaced with longer trolleybuses, which offer improved capacity and enhanced comfort for passengers.
“While the three-section trolleybuses represent progress, a metro extension to the airport would have been the ultimate solution,” remarked Ondřej Matěj Hrubeš (ODS), who is the transport councilor for Prague 6.
Expansion of Tram Lines
With the Metro D project currently on hold, the city is focusing on extending the tram network to better access public transportation in the western districts. This initiative saw the tram line from Divoká Šárka extended to Dědina two years ago. Future plans aim to extend this route along the Prague Ring Road to the Dlouhá Míle terminal, linking it to the new rail line.
In February, city officials approved zoning adjustments to facilitate a new tram line from Motol to Vypich.
This 2.2-kilometer line aims to create better connectivity among the neighborhoods of Řepy, Břevnov, and districts 5 and 6 in Prague by the end of the decade.
