Construction Work on New Petřín Cable Car to Begin in March 2025

Prague Public Transport (DPP) has taken a major step towards the future of one of Prague’s most famous landmarks by selecting a contractor for the reconstruction of the Petřín cable car. Construction work is set to begin in March 2025, with the new cable car expected to be back in operation in 2026.

DPP has awarded the contract for the project to Metrostav DIZ, the winner of the public tender. A contract has already been signed, and the construction site officially handed over. Following the necessary preparatory work, the actual reconstruction will commence in the second half of March with the removal of the two existing carriages.

The construction phase will last approximately one year, followed by a further five to six months for the installation of the transport system, testing, and approval of the new carriages. DPP expects the fully renovated Petřín cable car, including its new carriages, to enter trial operation with passengers in the third quarter of 2026.

Video: CCEA MOBA | YouTube

With the complete modernisation of the funicular, the current unsatisfactory technical condition of the line will be addressed. The infrastructure is not only ageing but was also damaged by extreme rainfall in mid-September 2024 and has been out of service since then.

Following the necessary preparatory work, the main reconstruction will begin in the second half of March with the removal of the two original funicular cars. Car No. 1 will be transported to the DPP central workshops in Hostivař, where it will be stored temporarily until its final relocation to the DPP Museum in Střešovice. Car No. 2 will be transferred by DPP to the depot of the National Technical Museum in Chomutov.

Planned Works on the New Line

The unstable Petřín slope will be stabilised using five reinforced concrete micropile walls, based on geotechnical surveys and structural calculations. Four walls will be constructed in the lower section and one in the upper part. They will extend 10 to 15 metres deep and run across the entire width of the line.

The contractor will then build the new funicular track structure on top. A solid reinforced concrete construction with expansion joints, a drainage system and sewerage will be installed. New rails, guide pulleys and the haul rope will be anchored to the concrete slab. On the Nebozízek bridge, the rails will be integrated directly into the bridge structure.

Foto: September 2024 | Dopravní podnik hlavního města Prahy

The Nebozízek Bridge, whose load-bearing structure was renewed in 2016, will also undergo necessary repairs. Additionally, two stone arch bridges between Nebozízek and Újezd will be cleaned, repointed, and sealed, while retaining walls renewed in 2006 will receive further maintenance.

The track renovation will also include upgraded lighting, with new light poles, luminaires, and power cables installed.

‘The reconstruction will not result in any major urban or architectural changes. The layout and height of the track will remain the same. The engine room will continue to be used, while the control rooms will be modernised. The new carriages will be ordered by the end of March so that they can be authorised as soon as the line reconstruction is completed. After around a year of construction and six months of vehicle testing, operations are expected to begin in summer 2026 at the earliest,’ explains Jan Šurovský, Deputy Chairman of the DPP Board of Directors.

The renovation of the Petřín cable car will be closely coordinated with a parallel construction project led by Prague’s nature conservation department.