The Czech infrastructure manager, Správa železnic, has signed a contract for the modernization of the Hradec Králové railway station, one of the country’s most important rail transport hubs.
The work will be carried out by OHLA ŽS, Subterra, and Elektrizace železnic Praha, and the contract is worth EUR 405 million. The European Union will contribute up to approximately EUR 354.5 million, with the remainder of the funding provided by the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure.
The project “Modernization of the Hradec Králové – Pardubice – Chrudim Line, Phase II; Doubling of the Opatovice nad Labem – Hradec Králové Line, Phase I – Hradec Králové Station” is co-financed by the European Union through the Cohesion Fund under the Transport Program 2021–2027.
“The European Union is making a long-term investment in the Czech railways. This not only improves quality and passenger comfort but also enhances the rail network’s connectivity to major transport hubs, which directly contributes to the competitiveness of regions and cities. The modernization of the main station in Hradec Králové is an excellent example of an investment with a positive impact on the entire region,” said Václav Lebeda, spokesperson for the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic.
Completion of the works is estimated for 2031.
The work will include the modernization of tracks and switches, as well as the existing platforms, to which a new one will be added. All will be fully accessible to people with reduced mobility and will be equipped with modern furnishings and clear information and wayfinding systems. Elevators and escalators leading to the platforms will be installed in the renovated underground passages.
Public transportation stops and a bus terminal are located in the immediate vicinity of the station, and intermodal connectivity will be improved through the construction of a park-and-ride facility and two bicycle towers.
As part of the reconstruction, at-grade crossings will be removed, with pedestrians and cyclists using a new underground passage. Traffic safety will also be enhanced by the installation of the ETCS system, which will allow trains to travel at speeds of up to 80 km/h in the station area.
“The modernization will bring not only faster but also quieter rail traffic. Currently, this important hub is served only by single-track lines, but we are preparing to double-track four of them. Consequently, we will adapt the station’s infrastructure and modernize the remaining level crossings,” said Tomáš Tóth, head of the railway administration.
Hradec Králové, a key hub on the Czech network
“The Czech railways are entering a period of intensive modernization. In East Bohemia alone, we are modernizing the railway hub in Česká Třebová, and an equally important project is now beginning in Hradec Králové. “This is where multiple modes of transport converge, with lines coming together from five directions, and thanks to investments in the region, we expect the station’s importance to grow significantly in the future,” said Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik.
As a result of the project, passengers at the Hradec Králové station will benefit from barrier-free access to trains, and a completely new platform will also be built at the station. Trains will be able to travel at higher speeds through the station, and the installation of the ETCS system and the elimination of several level crossings will contribute to increased rail traffic safety.
The Hradec Králové station is among the busiest in the Czech Republic, with approximately 20,000 passengers passing through daily and served by over 200 trains.
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