New railway link between Prague and Václav Havel Airport

Direct rail access is standard at major European airports, yet Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, still lags behind in this regard. Once completed, the journey from the city center to the airport (19 km) is expected to take approximately 25 minutes.

AFRY has prepared the design documentation for a combined zoning and construction permit, detailed design BIM information model and other full-scale engineering services of the new line, which will run between Praha-Ruzyně and Praha–Václav Havel Airport. This section forms a crucial part of a broader infrastructure initiative connecting Prague with Kladno, the largest city in the Central Bohemian Region.

The new railway will be a 4 km-long, double-track electrified route following the Prague Ring Motorway and the adjacent section of the D7 highway before curving toward Airport Terminals 1 and 2. The project includes two cut-and-cover double-track tunnels, 119 meters and 83 meters long.

Dlouhá Míle: A new multimodal transport hub for Prague

Alongside the new railway line, the large Dlouhá Míle transport hub will be built near the airport’s runway, the Šestka shopping mall, and the Prague Ring Motorway. It will create an important link between rail, road transport, and public transit, while parking facilities will help to ease congestion on the roads of Prague 6.

The Dlouhá Míle terminal will offer passengers, incl. cyclists, transfers to trains, city and suburban buses, trolleybuses, and trams. It will also significantly expand the infrastructure around the airport by providing a Park & Ride facility for 841 cars, with the possibility of extending it to 2,100 cars if needed.

The architectural design by Pavlíček Hulín Architects fully leverages the terminal’s potential—not only as a transport hub but also as a key point for future development in the area. The terminal’s dominant feature will be its roof, which height varies according to the functions of each section. The roof is lowest above the bus platforms and rises in a curve toward the main entrance to the underground rail level.

The roof also acts as a natural navigation system. Simplicity of orientation and the shortest possible transfer time between bus and train were the key parameters of the station’s design, as this connection will account for up to 75% of transfers.

The central part of the roof is glazed to allow daylight penetration to lower levels, while its southern section is covered with photovoltaic panels to meet the terminal’s energy needs and potentially charge electric vehicles in the parking area. The design also includes essential amenities such as ticket counters, waiting areas, small shops, technical facilities, and driver facilities—all heated and covered.

Greenery will complement walkways wherever possible and practical. Some vertical surfaces and roofs will also be greened to retain rainwater and reduce the city’s heat island effect. The chosen materials guarantee durability and easy maintenance.