Prague Metro Launches EUR 1.2B 6 km Line D Construction

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – The City of Prague broke ground on a new 6 km segment of Metro Line D between Olbrachtova and the future Nové Dvory station, awarding a construction contract valued at over EUR 1.2 billion to a consortium of Subterra, Hochtief CZ, Hochtief Infrastructure, and BeMo Tunneling. Works will last 72 months, and the first underground excavations are scheduled for the second half of August, marking the project’s entry into a visible technical phase.

What Is the Full Scope of This Project?

The contract covers a 6 km twin-tunnel metro segment with three new stations — Nové Dvory, Nemocnice Krč, and Nádraží Krč — and forms part of the initial Pankrác–Nové Dvory corridor. Station depths range from 33 metres below ground at Nové Dvory (the line’s deepest) to at-grade at Nádraží Krč. Tunnel construction will combine 9.6 km of TBM-driven excavation using two custom Herrenknecht boring machines, 2.6 km by the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), and over 100 metres of cut‑and‑cover. Thirteen construction sites will be established, seven long-term, with the largest spanning almost four hectares at Nové Dvory as the main logistical hub. The two TBMs are due for delivery in 2026, with assembly taking around three months each before the start of boring from the Písnice area.

Key Project Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Projects?

At over EUR 1.2 billion, the contract significantly exceeds other current major infrastructure awards in the region. For context, the joint venture of Boskalis and Van Oord secured a contract exceeding EUR 500 million for the expansion of the Port of Luleå in Sweden, a marine infrastructure project roughly 60% smaller by value (Source: MarineLink, 2025). The Prague metro investment aligns with a broader acceleration in Czech rail expenditure, including the production of new Intercity EMUs for GYSEV that will serve routes in the Czech Republic, underscoring a national push to modernise both urban and long‑distance rail (Source: Railvolution, 2025). A detailed breakdown of costs among consortium members or the specific geological design parameters for the Herrenknecht TBMs was not disclosed by the operator.

Editor’s Analysis

The choice of dual tunnelling methods — TBM for long drives and NATM for complex station zones — reflects the challenging ground conditions beneath Prague’s southern districts and the need to minimise surface disruption. The six‑year construction timeline for a 6 km segment, while generous, is not unusual for deep metro projects in dense urban settings and signals a cautious approach to geological risk. With the entire Line D corridor projected to carry 45 million passengers annually, this investment will likely act as a catalyst for transit‑oriented development in the city’s southern periphery, echoing patterns seen in cities like Vienna and Copenhagen where rail expansion preceded a wave of new residential and commercial districts.

FAQ

Q: When will passengers be able to use the new Metro Line D section?
A: The first full operational segment, from Pankrác to Nové Dvory, is scheduled to open in the second half of 2032, after the six‑year construction programme now under way.

Q: What is the total cost of the Olbrachtova–Nové Dvory contract?
A: The contract value exceeds EUR 1.2 billion. A precise allocation between the consortium partners or a cost breakdown by station and tunnel lot was not publicly disclosed.

Q: How deep are the stations on this section?
A: Nové Dvory station will be the deepest at 33 metres below ground, Nemocnice Krč around 17 metres, and Nádraží Krč is the only above-ground station on the new alignment.