Railway Administration Obtains Permit for Prague Airport Underground Station

The Railway Administration has secured a final permit to build a new underground railway station at Václav Havel Airport, a project regarded as a milestone in the long-discussed plan to connect Prague with the airport and Kladno by rail. The station, which will be the first of its kind in the Czech Republic, is scheduled to open in 2030.

Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and will be carried out under a public-private partnership model at a cost of approximately CZK 6.5 billion. The concessionaire, to be chosen through a competitive dialogue, will not only deliver the station but also the connecting sections of the line linking the airport with Ruzyně and Veleslavín.

The underground terminal will feature two tracks and a central double-sided platform, designed to provide convenient access to both airport terminals. The architectural concept emphasises simplicity, functionality, and long-term durability, while also meeting the requirements of a modern international airport. An agreement between the Railway Administration and Prague Airport ensures coordinated development and integration into existing operations.

The station forms part of the larger Prague–Airport–Kladno rail link, a project that has been under preparation for more than two decades. Once completed, the line is expected to reduce travel times between the city centre and the airport to around 25 minutes, providing a faster and more sustainable alternative to car traffic and bus connections. The entire project has been included in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), making it eligible for EU funding, and is also expected to receive support from EU cohesion funds.

The airport link has been delayed multiple times in the past due to funding and planning disputes, but the granting of the final permit represents significant progress. Officials now view the underground station as the decisive step that could finally deliver a modern rail connection to Prague Airport. If construction proceeds on schedule, the station should be operational by 2030, serving millions of passengers annually and reinforcing Prague’s role as a transport hub in Central Europe.