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Prague (Czech Praha), the capital of the Czech Republic, has 1.2 million inhabitants and is situated on both sides of the Moldau (Vltava) river.

The relatively new metro system follows the common Eastern European model with three basic lines forming a triangle in the city centre and tunnels very deep below street level.

The first section of line C (north-south, 22.4 km) was opened between Sokolovská (now Florenc) and Kacerov in 1974. This line continued to Háje in the south in 1980 and crossed the Vltava river to Holešovice in 1984. Most stations have a central platform, but not Hlavní nádrazi (Central Rail Station) and Vyšehrad (situated inside the motorway bridge crossing the Nusle valley). Construction of a 3.9 km line C extension from Nadrazí Holesovice to Ládví began in Sept. 2000 and was completed in June 2004. The line crosses under the Vltava river and there is one intermediate station at Kobylisy. Construction of another 4.6 km line C extension from Ládví to Letnany began in spring 2004 and was completed in May 2008. Letnany is the new location of the Prague Fairgrounds.

The western branch of line A (east-west, 11.0 km) (Nám. Míru-Dejvická) opened in 1978 and until 1990 it reached its Skalka. Hradcanská and Staromestská were restored in 1997/98. In May 2006, line A was extended by one station (1 km) from Skalka to Depo Hostivar, taking advantage of the tracks leading to the Hostivar depot in that location. The new terminus is served by every other train.

The newest is line B (25.7 km). The city section between Florenc and Smíchovské nádrazí opened in 1985, a first extension to the south-western suburbs in Nové Butovice opened in 1988. The line grew to the north-east (Ceskomoravská) in 1990, and finally in 1994 to the south-western terminus at Zlicín. This section is not very deep and some station use daylight. Between Hurka and Luziny there is an artificial science-fiction-like bridge tunnel (see picture below). The easternmost section to Cerny Most opened with 3 stations on 9 Nov 1998 (Vysocanská, Rajská zahrada, Cerný Most). On 15 Oct. 1999 an intermediate station was opened to the public, Hloubetín. One more station, Kolbenova (planned as CKD) was built between Vysocanská and Hloubetín, it finally opened on 8 June 2001.

Photos © R. Schwandl (UrbanRail.Net) (More photos)

The Prague Metro system is 59.1 km long with 57 stations and operates from 5:00 to 24:00 with trains every 4-10 minutes (2.5 min. peak hours).

Due to heavy flooding in mid-August 2002, the Prague Metro was closed for several months along the central section (deep stations). Service was maintained on all outer branches.

Trains
On Line B you can see the same trains running as in Budapest, Moscow and all other ex-Soviet metro cities (5-car trains of 81-71 series). Prague can be proud of having the best acoustic station announcement in Europe. New trains (M1 series) operate on Line C, whereas modernised trains (81-71M) are in service on Line A.
In Oct. 2001, the former local rolling stock manufacturer CKD was taken over by Siemens and under the new name SKV it will produce the remaining units.

Stations
Most stations on Line A and Line B are very deep and of the three tunnel type with long escalators leading to a central distribution tunnel. Line C doesn't run very deep though. Network maps can be bought in one of 6 transport offices. Stations are clean and well ventilated.

Transport Museum
The Prague Transport Museum (Patockova 4, April-Oct. Saturday, Sunday and holiday 9-17h) exhibits mainly old trams and buses, but now it also offers a good survey of the history of the Prague Metro.

09 May 1974: C Florenc - Kacerov
12 Aug 1978: A Nám. Míru - Dejvická
07 Nov 1980: C Kacerov - Háje
19 Dec 1980: A Nám. Míru - Zelivského
03 Nov 1984: C Florenc - Nadrazí Holešovice
02 Nov 1985: B Florenc - Smíchovské nádrazí
11 July 1987: A Zelivského - Strašnická
26 Oct 1988: B Smíchovské nádrazí - Nové Butovice
04 July 1990: A Strašnická - Skalka
22 Nov 1990: B Florenc - Ceskomoravská
11 Nov 1994: B Nové Butovice - Zlicín
08 Nov 1998: B Ceskomoravská - Cerný Most
15 Oct. 1999: B Hloubetín added
08 June 2001: B Kolbenova added
26 June 2004: C Nadrazí Holesovice - Ládví
27 May 2006: A Skalka - Depo Hostivar (1 km)
08 May 2008: C Ládví - Letnany

[For correct Czech spelling refer to map above!]

 Projects

Construction of Line D is about to start once the northern Line C extension has been completed. The first section with 10 stations runs from Hlavní Nadrazí via Nám. Míru (A) and Pankrác (C) towards the south to terminate at Pisnice (~2015).

Construction of a western extension to Line A is planned to start in 2009. The first stage includes four stations (Cerveny Vrch, Veleslavín, Petriny, Motol) and the second another four (Bilá Hora, Dedina, Dlouhá Míle, Letiste/Airport).

Line A may later be extended with a 4-station branch from Strašnická to Nadrazí Hostivar.

For a detailed map including all projects click here!

- OPERATION

Trains run from 05:00 to 00:20 every 4-10 minutes (2.5 min. peak hours; Line C ca. 90 sec. in morning peak hours). On weekdays from 06:00 until 19:00 only every second train continues from Skalka to Depo Hostivar on Line A.

- FARES (2009)

The fare zone system covers the whole region where Prague City is zone P and 0. All tickets are valid on buses, trams, metro and CD Esko (suburban) trains (except single tickets). For the Prague city area prices are as follows (in Czech crowns):

Single Ticket 26 CZK, (18 CZK without transfer)
24-Hour-Ticket 100 CZK
3-Day-Ticket (72 hours) 330 CZK
5-Day-Ticket (120 hours) 500 CZK

Dopravní podnik hl.m. Prahy (Official page)

Metroprojekt (Construction company)     

Metrostav (Metro construction)

ROPID (Regionální organizátor pražské integrované dopravy - Tariff union)

Praha Metro and other city transport by Tomáš Rejdal

Prazské Metro by Karel K.

Prague Metro by Matej Cadil (in English)

Metro v Praze at Wikipedia.cz

City Transport in Prague

Signalling on the Prague Metro

UrbanRail.Net > Praha Metro Photo Gallery