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The New V.A Underground Section to Speed up Transportation to Václav Havel Airport Prague

With the opening of four new metro stations planned for 6 April 2015 at 3 PM, changes in transportation to Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (LVHP) will take effect as of 7 April 2015. The changes, implemented by Prague Public Transit Authority (DPP) together with ROPID, will shorten travel time on bus route No. 119, now terminating at Nádraží Veleslavín station on the ‘A’ metro line.

The No. 119 bus route taken each day more than 14,000 passengers to and from Vaclav Havel Airport Prague, will now take only 15 minutes instead of the existing 21 minutes. Because of the shortening of the route to the Nádraží Veleslavín metro station, the bus route will be less negatively impacted by the traffic on Evropská St. The opening of the new Section V of the ‘A’ metro line will shorten intervals to 5-6 minutes during rush hour and 7-8 minutes at weekends during selected periods. The metro will operate under two basic schemes: summer and winter. “Semi-seasonal” operation will no longer be used. Most stops on the 119 bus line will change to “request only” which will significantly contribute to fluent traffic. Furthermore, all connections on this bus route will be provided for by low-floor buses.

“Making transportation to Václav Havel Airport Prague more rapid has been a long-term priority of the City of Prague. Passengers will now be able to get from the airport to the centre of Prague faster and because of the shorter time on the bus, more comfortably. Now at least one bus going to the airport will be available for every connection of the ‘A’ metro line (outside rush hour)” said Petr Dolínek, Transportation Councilor for the City of Prague.

“We want Václav Havel Airport Prague to be known at home and abroad as having fast, cheap connections to the city centre no longer than 30 minutes. We’re happy that the new section of the underground and the related changes to bus transportation will contribute to making the transportation used by a third of our passengers more rapid. We have also decided to take an active part in this change. As of 8 April, passengers arriving at the Nádraží Veleslavín metro station will be able to make use of porter services provided by the airport. Porters will help them with luggage and direct them to the No. 119 bus stop” said Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Czech Aeroholding. He continued, “We have also proposed a modernized version of line No. 119 and are conducting negotiations with the Prague Public Transit Authority and Rencar”.

Letiště Praha will launch new porter services at the Nádraží Veleslaví underground station. Between 5am and 10pm porters will help passengers carry their luggage on stairs and direct them to the right stop for bus No. 119, which offers a connection with the airport.

Even after the new section of metro line ‘A’ is opened, passengers will continue to be able to use bus No. 100 from the Zličín station, metro line ‘B’ (16 minutes) and also bus No. 191 from the Petřiny, metro line ‘A’ (24 minutes) and from the Anděl, metro line ‘B’ (48 minutes). The special AE (Airport Express) line will also remain in operation and connect the airport with the Central Railway Station in Prague. At night, transport to the LVHP will be provided by bus No. 510 (route: Na Beránku – Kačerov – I.P. Pavlova – Petřiny – Divoká Šárka – Letiště).

With the operation of the new section of the underground, the DPP is making changes to maps, schemata and other parts of the transportation information system at public transit stops, stations and in vehicles. In addition, passengers will be informed of changes in transportation to LVHP also by large-format boards in two language versions located at Dejvická on metro line ‘A’ and the original stop for bus No. 119. 

“The opening of four new stations on the underground line A will bring more quality transportation in the north-west of the city and more rapid and quality transport to the largest airport in the Czech Republic for both passengers and visitors to Prague. For us, this is another step in expanding the public transit system and boosting its quality. We also understand passengers must have all the information necessary available about this change to transportation. In the initial days after opening of the new section, DPP workers will be ready at the new stations to provide passengers information and advice about the new connection. The Public Transit Authority is also updating the graphics which are part of the information system. We’re also preparing a number of information materials in which the change in the transportation to the airport will be marked out. A new special bilingual promotional flyer will be also available providing details on the transportation to the airport,” said Jaroslav Ďuriš, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of the Prague Public Transit Authority.

DPP will also place a pictogram of an airplane next to the Nádraží Veleslavín station on lists of stations located at metro line ‘A’ stations. Having passed through Bořislavka, metro ‘A’ line, passengers will be notified to change to bus No. 119. DPP will inform passengers on the transport changes on its website: www.dpp.cz. Letiště Praha will also include information for passengers on its website: www.prg.aero.

Overview of Bus Connections to LVHP (starting on 7/4/2015):

• Bus route No. 119 now shortened will run only to the new Nádraží Veleslavín station on metro line ‘A’.
• Bus route No. 100 will continue to operate on its existing route starting at Zličín, on metro line ‘B’.
• The special Airport Express line will continue to operate on its existing route starting at the Central Railway Station.
• Bus route No. 191 will be introduced, travelling via Petřiny and Anděl stations on the metro ‘A’ line.
• At night, transport to LVHP will be provided by bus No. 510 (route: Na Beránku – Kačerov – I.P. Pavlova – Petřiny – Divoká Šárka – Letiště).

Bus route No. 179 will no longer continue to LVHP and its original route will be covered by bus No. 191.