Prague has commenced the tender process for new metro trains intended for lines C and D, with a focus on implementing fully automated trains that operate without drivers and feature platform walls. Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib revealed that the city aims to procure 69 metro sets, with 53 allocated for line C and 16 for line D.

The ambitious project comes with an estimated cost of 86 billion crowns, a figure that Deputy Mayor Hřib likened to the expense of purchasing F-35 fighter jets. The proposal secured approval from Prague councilors on Monday, and further endorsements are anticipated from the city’s representatives and the transport company’s supervisory board later in the week.

The adoption of automated metro technology on line C is expected to reduce the shortest interval between trains from 115 seconds to just 90 seconds, resulting in a significant enhancement of the line’s transport capacity.

Line D, from the outset, has been designated for automation and will be connected to line C at Pankrác. The initial use of the existing Kačerov depot is planned for line D, with a separate depot at Písnice slated for the project’s later stages.

The proposed timeline for the project envisions the introduction of a new prototype of trains for Prague. “We would like to know the winner by the end of 2025,” stated Deputy Mayor Hřib. Subsequent phases involve development, homologation, and the commencement of manufacturing and test-runs in Prague by 2029. Serial production is anticipated to follow thereafter, underscoring the urgency to initiate the process promptly.

Article by Prague Forum