Prague opens new train station at Rajská zahrada with fast city-center access

As of Sunday, December 10, suburban trains heading towards Kolín, Mělník, and Milovice will make stops at the newly-inaugurated Rajská zahrada train station in Prague 14. During peak hours on weekdays, the trains will run every ten to 15 minutes, providing a quick and efficient mode of transportation.

Even during off-peak hours and weekends, the trains will maintain a regular schedule, departing every 15 to 30 minutes. This new addition is poised to enhance the connectivity and accessibility of public transport in the region, and even provides access into the city center that makes a faster alternative than the nearby metro station.

"With a journey time of 13 minutes [into the center], the trains boldly compete with the metro, whose journey time between Rajská zahrada and Náměstí Republiky is three minutes longer," Prague Integrated Transport spokesperson Filip Drápal states in a press release.

This efficiency and speed of the suburban trains offers commuters a viable alternative to the metro in addition to providing access to areas beyond Prague.

In the future, the new train station will be seamlessly connected to the Rajská zahrada metro station on the B line via a footbridge over busy Chlumecká Street. Although the footbridge is expected to be completed next spring, the train station is operational as of today.

At the moment, train lines S2, S3, S9, S22, and S34 will include Rajská zahrada in their stops, contributing to a more integrated and convenient transportation network through Prague and beyond.

The future footbridge connecting the metro station and the train stop is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of the coming year. Currently, passengers can use the existing underpass under Chlumecká to access the metro station and the Černý Most residential area.

The upcoming footbridge will be a notable structure, featuring two steel footbridges culminating in towers that house elevators and stairs. With a planned width of 3.75 meters for the footbridges and 1.75 meters for the stairs, the structure will provide both accessibility and safety. Prague's new legible navigation systems will be integrated into the footbridge, guiding passengers to platforms, elevators, and exits.

Additionally, a large illuminated cube featuring the suburban train symbol (letter S) currently marks the new train station, enhancing visibility and wayfinding for passengers using the Rajská zahrada stop.