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.
The complete renewal of the cable car will address the line’s deteriorating technical condition, which has worsened over time. It was further damaged by extreme rainfall in mid-September 2024 and has been out of service since then. As part of the reconstruction, the two old carriages will be removed in March. Carriage No. 1 will be temporarily stored at DPP’s central workshops in Hostivař before being placed in the DPP Museum in Střešovice. Carriage No. 2 will be transferred to the National Technical Museum’s depot in Chomutov.
Planned Work on the New Track
The unstable Petřín slope will be stabilised using five reinforced concrete micropile walls, designed based on geotechnical surveys and static calculations. Four walls will be built in the lower section and one in the upper section, each extending 10 to 15 metres deep across the entire width of the track.
The new track structure will be built on top of these walls. It will feature a solid reinforced concrete base with expansion joints, a drainage system, and canalisation. New rails, guide pulleys, and the haul rope will be secured to this base. On the Nebozízek Bridge, the rails will be integrated directly into the bridge structure.
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.
