Feature story

Prague rail station returns to glory days

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The architectural beauty of Prague's main rail station will re-emerge through the development programme

Travellers have waited a long time for improvements to the station

Railway stations are the cathedrals of the industrial age. They evoke an indefinite fascination which the English novelist EM Forster once captured in the words: “Railway stations are our gates to the glorious and the unknown. Through them we pass out into adventure and sunshine, to them, alas! we return.”

One of the most beautiful railway stations in continental Europe is located in Prague. Designed by the Czech architect Josef Fanta and built between 1901 and 1909 Praha hlavní nádraží, the Prague main railway station, is considered to be an outstanding examples of Art Nouveau architecture. Nevertheless, over the years the railway station has become something of a ‘problem child’ for the local authorities, attracting homeless people and drug dealers.

Now this masterpiece, together with its New Hall, is undergoing refurbishment and development by Grandi Stazioni Ceska Republika, as are the railway stations in the famous spa towns Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně in western Bohemia. The EBRD holds a minority stake in the development company whose biggest shareholder is Grandi Stazioni, an Italian company entrusted with refurbishing and managing 13 major Italian railway stations.

Private developer wins

The concept for the three Czech ventures goes far beyond refurbishing. The Czech government, owner of the national railways which in turn own the stations, published an open tender for the refurbishment and operation of the three railway stations in 2002. Grandi Stazioni Ceska Republika won the contract which includes a 30-year licence to operate the stations. All rail operations remain in the hands of Czech railways.

“This is an excellent example of the private sector investing in public services, thereby easing the burden on public finances,” says Alessia Di Domenico, a banker in the EBRD’s transport team who has been working on the project from the outset. “What is also interesting is the innovative approach through which the company plans to transform the railway stations.”

Buy before you board

Railway stations are not only used for arrival and departure. About 80,000 people pass through Prague’s main station each day. They buy tickets, they might be hungry, they may want to buy a newspaper and if they’re taking a longer trip, they might need to some last-minute purchases. A railway station offers huge retail opportunities. Airports have been organised around this shopping centre idea for many years, and now railway stations are adopting it.

With the successful redevelopment of Rome’s main railway station to recommend it, Grandi Stazioni is now applying this approach to the Czech railway stations. According to Andrea Odoardi, head of Grandi Stazioni Ceska Republika, it is a task requiring meticulous planning. Nothing is left to chance. In-depth analysis of traffic flows and commuters’ behaviour provides the basis for the whole project, which goes much further than civil works.

Take, for instance, the location of the ticket offices. “We will remove them from where they are at present and locate them at the western wall of the hall,” says Massimo Paglialunga, head of international development for Grandi Stazioni. “We know from experience that ticket offices are magnets for the flow of travellers around which you have to group other elements. Railway stations are service centres, and from this everything else follows.”

A black hole no more

The company has ambitious plans for Prague. “The main railway station has been something of a black spot in the city centre for a long time. This we intend to change,” Mr Paglialunga adds. Research shows that today only two per cent of the local population come to the railway station, whereas in Rome the corresponding figure is 20 per cent.

The development of public transport will further boost the railway station’s commercial potential. The new underground ‘C’ line will reach the railway station next year and changes in the train schedule will increase railway traffic. According to studies the number of passengers using Praha hlavní nádraží will double over the next 7-10 years.

With this empirical data in hand, Grandi Stazioni sees the chance to attract big retail companies to the Prague main railway station. “We are thinking of a bank, a pharmacy, food and beverage outlets, book shops, and we know the brands which are specialised in this market,” Mr Paglialunga says. In contrast, the concept for the much smaller railway stations in Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně will be limited to basic supplies.

Contracts for locals

The project has attracted a great deal of interest in Prague. “We are very much in the spotlight, and the expectations are very high,” Mr Odoardi says. This seems only natural considering the importance of the project for the city and the local economy. “We expect construction work to begin in the second half of 2006,” he explains. Many tenders will be awarded to local contractors, who have already been closely involved in the planning stage.

EBRD’s Ms Di Domenico hopes the concept of engaging private developers to improve publicly-owned infrastructure will be replicated in other countries. “It is a compelling concept which is beneficial for everybody,” she says.

And while railway companies work on improving their punctuality, passengers will come to enjoy more than ever the time spent waiting for trains, thanks to beautifully- refurbished stations that combine fascinating architecture with modern facilities. But in times like these don’t expect there to be a smoking area any longer.

Written by Axel Reiserer, EBRD press officer.

Photos: Simon Crofts

Contact:

EBRD Transport team

2 May 2006