Prague: Smichov - Vyshrad Rail Bridge

[Belperpete]

According to the PID traffic notices, local rail services over the river bridge were reduced last December, due to problems with the bridge. Does anybody have any further information, in particular when services might be restored.

A lot of money was spent on resignalling and other upgrades to the S65 "Semmering" line, in anticipation of improving the service. However, cutting the service back to Smichov seems to have hit ridership for six, compared to what I experienced last year when the trains were full and standing when they ran into Hlavni Nadrazi.

 

[The exile]

According to the PID traffic notices, local rail services over the river bridge were reduced last December, due to problems with the bridge. Does anybody have any further information, in particular when services might be restored.

A lot of money was spent on resignalling and other upgrades to the S65 "Semmering" line, in anticipation of improving the service. However, cutting the service back to Smichov seems to have hit ridership for six, compared to what I experienced last year when the trains were full and standing when they ran into Hlavni Nadrazi.

I believe it’s going to be a long haul as the bridge essentially needs a full rebuild. The little used bridge at Branik is being / has been fettled up to take some of the pressure off. Canpagners are fighting to save the current bridge (with UNESCO support it seems) which the authorities want to replace and widen so wheels are grinding very slowly (not just across the bridge).

 

[Belperpete]

I did find that the existing bridge has been restricted to just one train at a time, with a maximum speed of 20kph, which will severely restrict its capacity. Which is why services across it have been cut. Doesn't look like there is an end date, if there isn't even a start date for rebuilding it!

I also found a press release for the rebuilding of Smichov station, which says that it will include a new platform for S65 and S7 services. Rather worryingly, the artists impression shows a bay platform, suggesting that it may be the long term intention to terminate these services at Smichov rather than run them through to Hlavni Nadrazi.

I had a look to see if the old station (if you could call a few paving slabs laid between a couple of sidings, a station) was still there, but everything has been bulldozed flat. The long footbridge used to access it has also gone, although oddly the staircase on the river side is still there.