en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Czech Railway Infrastructure Administration (Správa železnic), together with the city of Jihlava, has inaugurated a new transport hub at the Jihlava město train station. The project took two years to complete, with a total investment of nearly €60 million.
This central interchange hub, located in the city of Jihlava in the Czech Republic, is designed to integrate trains, buses, trolleybuses, and private cars. The project not only involved the modernization of the Jihlava město city railway station but also included the construction of a new passenger terminal, barrier-free platforms, an underpass, bus and trolleybus stops, a 68-space Park & Ride (P+R) parking lot, and a new access road. The station building has two floors: the ground floor features a shared concourse for passenger arrivals and departures, equipped with waiting areas, while the upper floor is designated for commercial spaces and office areas for transport operators.
Czech Minister of Transport Ivan Bednárik stated that with this combined hub, Jihlava has the potential to become a model of modern public transport solutions, enabling passengers to transfer seamlessly between trains, urban public transport, and private cars. Tomáš Tóth, President of the Czech Railway Infrastructure Administration, noted that the new platforms have improved passenger comfort when boarding and alighting trains. Passengers can access the platforms via a new, barrier-free underpass equipped with elevators. This underpass runs beneath the entire track area and is planned to be extended in the future to Mostecká Street on the other side of the station. Additionally, the city of Jihlava has built suburban and city bus stops, as well as the new Evropská Street, which connects to the station forecourt via a roundabout. The work also included the installation of trolleybus power infrastructure.
The station modernization was carried out by the construction company Skanska, which is active in several European markets. The cost of the work currently undertaken by Správa železnic amounts to CZK 1.485 billion, approximately €60 million. The project is part of the 2021–2027 Transport Programme and is co-financed by the European Union through the Cohesion Fund, with a maximum EU contribution of CZK 1.266 billion (approximately €51 million). National funding is provided by the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure.
Petr Ryška, Mayor of Jihlava, stated that the station forecourt area has long been one of the parts of the city in urgent need of major renovation. The first phase of the hub provides better conditions for passengers, improving connections between trains, public transport, pedestrian routes, and cycle paths, while also adding more green spaces. The municipal project also includes new street lighting, sidewalks, and urban landscaping around the station. The area of green spaces will be expanded, with local authorities planning to plant nearly 100 trees, along with numerous shrubs and ornamental plants. According to Skanska, the Jihlava město project involves not only the modernization of the railway station but also the transformation of the entire transport area near the city center. As part of the work, the tracks were rebuilt, new platforms with an underpass and barrier-free access were constructed, and the new station building was completed. Part of the station was put into operation last December, and the remaining work was completed without causing additional restrictions for passengers.
The European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic emphasized that this investment has both local and European significance. Václav Lebeda, a spokesperson for the body, stated that such projects improve the mobility and comfort of residents while helping to connect regions with other cities across the European continent.
