Prague Railway Bridge at Výtoň to Be Temporarily Reinforced

Selected sections of the railway bridge at Výtoň are to be temporarily stabilised using carbon-fibre laminates. The work is expected to take six weeks and will have no impact on train services.

The Czech Railway Administration will begin temporarily reinforcing individual sections of the railway bridge at Výtoň next week. The aim is to maintain restricted train services across the Vltava until at least 2028.

At selected points on the bridge, parts of the steel structure will first be cleaned and then reinforced with carbon-fibre laminates bonded directly to the structure. According to the Railway Administration, this stabilisation is the most efficient way to maintain operations at their current level.

Scaffolding attached to the bridge will be erected for the work. Installation will begin this week. The reinforcement work itself is expected to take around six weeks and will not result in any additional restrictions on rail services. There may only be minor temporary obstructions on the pedestrian walkways.

The work will be carried out under the supervision of experts from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT). According to the Railway Administration, the project was coordinated in advance with all relevant authorities, including heritage conservation officials.

Photo: The original railway bridge, built in 1872, based on a drawing by František Chalupa.

Due to the bridge’s poor structural condition, only one train is currently permitted to cross it at a time. A maximum speed of 20 kilometres per hour also applies. The Railway Administration intends to decide on a permanent solution for the Vltava crossing later this year.

The railway bridge at Výtoň has been used for train services since the beginning of the last century. It lies on a busy route used by both suburban trains between Prague and Beroun and long-distance trains to Pilsen and Bavaria.

The Výtoň railway bridge was originally opened on 15 August 1872. At the turn of the 20th century, it was replaced by a new bridge that continues to span the Vltava today. The current bridge consists of three truss sections, each with a span of 69.9 metres, and is 8.1 metres wide and 298.4 metres long.