THE 6·4 km eastern extension of Praha metro Line B from Ceskomoravska to Cerny Most was formally opened by the city’s Mayor Jan Koukal on November 8. There are four intermediate stations at Vysocanska, CKD, Hloubetin, and Rajska Zahrada, although the middle two will not be opened until mid-1999 pending the completion of fitting out work at a cost of KC1·5bn to KC2bn.
Three of the stations are underground, and the last two at surface level. Contractor Metrostav used the New Austrian Tunnelling Method for the first time in Praha, and the extension also includes a 480m elevated steel and concrete tube on the final section.
Construction has been under way since 1989 at a total cost of over KC7bn. The peak hour design capacity is 23000 passengers/h with the trains running at up to 80 km/h. Completion of the extension brings the network to 51·5 km with 49 stations operational.
This year should see the start of work on a 3·9 km extension of Line C north from Nadrazi Holesovice to Kobylisy, with intermediate stations at Troja, Stirka and Ladvi. This is currently costed at KC6·5bn, and is expected to open in 2002. A feeder tramway would link the extension to the northern suburb of Bohnice. Praha Metro is also planning a fourth route linking the city centre and the southern suburbs. Line D would link Namesti Miru and Nové Dvory,
