Prague Breaks Ground on New Section of Fully Automated Metro D

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Prague has entered a new phase of its largest metro investment in decades, launching construction on the next section of the future Metro Line D that will extend the network further into the capital’s southern neighborhoods.

New Phase Links Pankrác Works to Southern Extension

According to publicly available information from the city’s transport operator and recent local coverage, the new construction phase focuses on the section between Olbrachtova and Nové Dvory. This stretch connects directly to the first part of Line D between Pankrác and Olbrachtova, which has been under construction since 2022 and includes complex tunneling beneath one of Prague’s busiest business districts.

Reports indicate that the latest works are centered around the ND1 construction site near the intersection of Libušská and Kunratická streets in Prague 4, an area that will become a key node for the line’s approach toward its planned depot at Písnice. The new section is designed to run largely beneath Novodvorská and Libušská streets, forming almost three kilometers of additional tunnels.

Together, the Pankrác to Olbrachtova and Olbrachtova to Nové Dvory segments will eventually create the first independently operable part of Metro D. This operational core is planned to comprise five new underground stations and several kilometers of twin-track tunnels, enabling initial passenger service before the line is driven further north and south.

Background documents on the project describe Metro D as a fully automated, driverless line that will ultimately run from Náměstí Míru in the inner city to Depo Písnice on the southern edge of Prague. The new construction phase is viewed as a critical step toward that long-term alignment.

Major Contract and Long-Term Timeline

Specialist transport and construction media report that a consortium of international and Czech contractors has been awarded a contract worth in the order of 1.2 billion euros for the next stage of Metro D. The group is tasked with building several new stations and nearly six kilometers of tunnels extending south from the initial Pankrác to Olbrachtova section.

Project materials indicate that the first, roughly one kilometer segment between Pankrác and Olbrachtova is expected to be structurally complete before the end of this decade, with the broader operational section toward Nové Dvory following on a similar time frame. Exact opening dates for passenger service have not yet been firmly stated, but published schedules point to a staged commissioning process running into the early 2030s.

Metro D has been discussed in Prague for many years, with initial concepts circulating in the late twentieth century and more detailed design preparation under way for much of the past decade. The current wave of contracts and construction work marks the point at which the long-planned line is turning into physical infrastructure beneath the city’s streets.

Financially, the project is counted among the Czech capital’s largest transport investments in recent history. Funding is being assembled from a combination of city resources, national support and international financial institutions, reflecting the scale and anticipated long-term benefits of the new line.

Relief for Overloaded Southern Corridors

Prague’s existing metro system currently operates three lines, designated A, B and C, serving 61 stations in total. Publicly available planning documents state that the new Line D will become the fourth route, using blue on network maps and focusing on dense residential districts that have outgrown existing surface transport capacity.

The southern districts around Pankrác, Krč, Lhotka, Libuš and Písnice have seen sustained development in recent years, with large housing estates and expanding office clusters generating heavy demand on buses and trams feeding into Line C. Studies cited in earlier project documentation anticipate that Metro D will significantly reduce pressure on the north south Line C corridor, particularly between Pankrác and the city center.

Local coverage has highlighted that the Pankrác area is already undergoing extensive reconstruction linked to the future Line D interchange. The Line C station was temporarily closed for renovation in 2025 so that new underground connections to the Line D platforms could be built, turning Pankrác into a major transfer hub once the new line opens.

Residents along the future route have also been informed of traffic restrictions and changes to some tram and bus routes as construction zones expand. The city has framed these temporary disruptions as a necessary step toward more reliable, higher capacity public transport for the south of Prague.

Automation and Design Features of Line D

Metro D is planned as Prague’s first fully automated metro line, following a trend seen in newer systems across Europe and Asia. Publicly available technical descriptions point to driverless train operation, platform edge protection and a high degree of digital monitoring and control intended to improve reliability and shorten intervals between trains.

The line is being built largely with mined tunnels at depth, especially in the densely built areas around Pankrác and Olbrachtova, where construction takes place beneath existing roads, utilities and high-rise buildings. Further south, the alignment is designed to follow broad corridors such as Novodvorská and Libušská streets, allowing construction sites to be organized in stages along the route.

Architectural renderings published in previous planning materials show stations with generous concourses, barrier free access and modern safety systems. Although specific design details may evolve as individual contracts progress, the overall ambition is to create a contemporary metro environment that matches recent upgrades elsewhere in the Prague network.

Line D will also be integrated with other modes of transport, including buses, trams and park-and-ride facilities at its southern terminus. The aim is to provide a more attractive alternative to private car use for commuters traveling from outer neighborhoods and nearby satellite communities into the city.

Urban Development Opportunities Around New Stations

Urban planning documents linked to Metro D highlight the potential for significant redevelopment around new and upgraded stations. In areas such as Pankrác and Nové Dvory, city planners see the arrival of the new line as an opportunity to reorganize public spaces, add housing and offices, and improve pedestrian and cycling connections.

Recent decisions by Prague City Council have authorized changes in the vicinity of the future Pankrác D station, including adjustments to road layouts, public transport loops and public squares. These measures are intended to prepare the district for increased passenger flows and to create a more coherent interchange between the existing Line C, the upcoming Line D and surface transport.

Further south, new stations along the Olbrachtova to Nové Dvory section are expected to act as local centers for surrounding residential districts that were originally planned around surface buses rather than high capacity rail. With Metro D, these neighborhoods are set to gain faster journeys to central Prague, which in turn is likely to influence property development and local services.

As construction advances on the newly launched section, attention is already turning to future contracts that will eventually take Line D north toward Náměstí Míru and south to Depo Písnice. For now, however, the start of work on the latest segment marks a tangible milestone for a project that has been shaping Prague’s transport debate for a generation.