Log in Sign up
Back to Discover
💻

Prague Metro

technology Maturity 11-13

Trains run under the ground.

Metro Praha, 2004.JPG
Metro Praha, 2004.JPG
They carry many people. The trains have bright colors. You can ride them in the city. It is a fast way to go.
Metro M1 in Prague.jpg
Metro M1 in Prague.jpg
Do you like trains?

39 words

The Prague Metro is a fast train system.

Prague metro plan 2015.svg
Prague metro plan 2015.svg
It runs under the ground in a big city.

There are three main lines. The green line has 17 stations. The yellow line has 24 stations. The red line has 20 stations.

Metro Praha, 2004.JPG
Metro Praha, 2004.JPG

These lines form a big triangle. This helps people change trains. You can move between the lines at three special spots.

Some stations are very deep. One station has very long stairs.

Praha - Metro - Náměstí Míru (7173410155).jpg
Praha - Metro - Náměstí Míru (7173410155).jpg
Many walls have bright colors to look nice.

Millions of people ride these trains every year. It is a great way to travel.

106 words

The Prague Metro is a fast train network.

Prague metro plan 2015.svg
Prague metro plan 2015.svg
It runs under the city of Prague. The system began in 1974. It has three main lines. Each line has its own color. The green Line A has 17 stations. The yellow Line B has 24 stations. The red Line C has 20 stations.
Metro Praha, 2004.JPG
Metro Praha, 2004.JPG
These lines form a triangle in the city center. Three special stations let people switch lines. These are Můstek, Muzeum, and Florenc.

Some stations are very deep underground. The deepest one is Náměstí Míru.

Praha - Metro - Náměstí Míru (7173410155).jpg
Praha - Metro - Náměstí Míru (7173410155).jpg
Many stations have colorful walls. Each station uses its own color on aluminum panels. People use two types of trains. One type is the Metro M1. These trains were made just for Prague. They can hold 1,464 people at once.
Metro M1 in Prague.jpg
Metro M1 in Prague.jpg
In 2021, 568 million people used the metro. That is about 1.55 million people every day. A new blue Line D is being built. It should open in 2031.

170 words

The Prague Metro is a fast train network in the Czech Republic.

Metro Prague logo.svg
Metro Prague logo.svg
It helps many people travel through the city every day. In 2021, about 568 million people used the system. That is roughly 1.55 million passengers every single day. The metro is part of a larger group called Prague Integrated Transport.
Prague integrated transport logo.svg
Prague integrated transport logo.svg
This group also runs buses, trams, and even ferries. The metro is a vital part of how the city moves. It stays entirely within the central zone of the city.

The system works using three main lines.

Prague metro plan 2015.svg
Prague metro plan 2015.svg
Line A is green and has 17 stations. Line B is yellow and has 24 stations. Line C is red and has 20 stations. These three lines form a triangle in the city center. Three special stations let people switch between lines.
Praha, Muzeum, pohled zhora.JPG
Praha, Muzeum, pohled zhora.JPG
These stations are called Můstek, Muzeum, and Florenc. Most stations use an island platform. This is a single platform in the middle of the tunnel. It allows people to board trains going in both directions.

Building the metro was a long and changing project.

Ladislav Rott podzemni draha 1898.jpg
Ladislav Rott podzemni draha 1898.jpg
Ladislav Rott first suggested an underground railway in 1898. Later, in 1926, people used the word "Metro" for the first time. Construction for the first station began in 1967. At first, the plan was for an underground tramway. Then, the government decided to build a true metro instead. The first part of Line C opened on May 9, 1974. This was the start of the modern system we see today.

There are many interesting facts about the stations and trains.

Metro Praha, 2004.JPG
Metro Praha, 2004.JPG
The deepest station is Náměstí Míru.
Praha - Metro - Náměstí Míru (7173410155).jpg
Praha - Metro - Náměstí Míru (7173410155).jpg
Some stations have walls decorated with colorful aluminum panels. The Metro M1 trains were made just for Prague.
Metro M1 in Prague.jpg
Metro M1 in Prague.jpg
One M1 train can hold 1,464 people. There are also 81-71M trains on Lines A and B. These are modernized versions of older Soviet trains. The system has 58 stations if you count the transfer points once.

You can see how the metro connects to the rest of the world.

Prague metro extension.gif
Prague metro extension.gif
The metro lines reach out from the center to the outskirts. Since 1993, it has connected to buses and commuter trains. People can even use "park-and-ride" lots to reach the trains. A new blue Line D is being built right now. Experts hope this new line will open in 2031. It will add 10 more stations to the network.

428 words

The Prague Metro is a high-capacity rapid transit network located in Prague, Czech Republic.

Metro Prague logo.svg
Metro Prague logo.svg
It serves as a vital artery for the city's movement. The system is a core component of the Prague Integrated Transport (PID) system.
Prague integrated transport logo.svg
Prague integrated transport logo.svg
This integrated network also manages trams, buses, five ferries, a funicular, and a zoo chairlift. Since 1993, the metro has been connected to commuter trains and "park-and-ride" lots. This connectivity allows the transport network to reach far beyond the city limits. While the PID system uses zonal pricing, the metro operates entirely within the central zone.

The network is organized into a radial layout.

Prague metro plan 2015.svg
Prague metro plan 2015.svg
Each line runs from the city outskirts through the center. The lines do not meet at a single central hub. Instead, they form a triangle in the city center. The vertices of this triangle are the interchange stations: Florenc, Můstek, and Muzeum. These stations allow passengers to transfer between different lines. Most stations utilize an island platform. This is a single platform located in the center of the station hall. It serves trains traveling in both directions.

The current system consists of three active lines and one line under construction.

Prague metro extension.gif
Prague metro extension.gif
Line A is green and contains 17 stations. Line B is yellow and contains 24 stations. Line C is red and contains 20 stations. Together, these lines connect 58 unique stations via nearly 66 kilometers of railway. Line D is a new blue line currently under construction. It is scheduled to open in 2031. Once complete, Line D will add 10 stations between Náměstí Míru and Depo Písnice.

Construction methods for the stations vary based on their depth. Many city center tracks were created using a tunnelling shield. Other outer sections were built using the cut-and-cover method. These cut-and-cover stations sit only a few meters below the surface. The depth of the system changes significantly across the city. Náměstí Míru is the deepest station in the network. Some stations feature large tunnels with track tunnels on either side. Others have straight ceilings supported by columns. Many stations are also decorated with colorful aluminum panels.

The history of the metro began with early proposals.

Ladislav Rott podzemni draha 1898.jpg
Ladislav Rott podzemni draha 1898.jpg
In 1898, Ladislav Rott proposed a sub-surface railway. He suggested digging tunnels while the city dug sewers. This plan was denied by authorities. In 1926, Bohumil Belada and Vladimír List used the term "Metro" for the first time. After World War II, the project was conceptually transformed. The government decided to build a true metro rather than an underground tramway. The first section of Line C opened on May 9, 1974. This marked the start of regular service.

Two distinct types of rolling stock operate on the tracks.

Metro M1 in Prague.jpg
Metro M1 in Prague.jpg
The Metro M1 trains were developed specifically for Prague. They have operated on Line C since 2000. These trains were manufactured by a consortium including ČKD Praha, ADtranz, and Siemens. A single M1 train has a total capacity of 1,464 people. This includes 224 sitting passengers and 1,240 standing passengers. The second type is the 81-71M.
Metro Praha.jpg
Metro Praha.jpg
These are modernized versions of the original Soviet 81-717 trains. They use new motors and interiors. These trains have served Lines A and B since 1996.

The system is a massive operation with significant passenger volume. In 2021, the metro served 568 million passengers. This averages to about 1.55 million passengers every day. The service is highly frequent during busy periods. During rush hours, trains arrive every two to three minutes. At other times, intervals range from four to ten minutes. The entire system is controlled automatically from a central dispatching center. This center is located near the I.P. Pavlova station. This automation helps maintain the complex schedule of the city's transit.

639 words
🖼️ Images & Media (23)
File:Metro Prague logo.svg
Metro Prague logo.svg
File:Prague integrated transport logo.svg
Prague integrated transport logo.svg
File:Prague_metro_plan_2015.svg
Prague_metro_plan_2015.svg
File:Praha, Muzeum, pohled zhora.JPG
Praha, Muzeum, pohled zhora.JPG
File:Nemocnice Motol metro 2.JPG
Nemocnice Motol metro 2.JPG
File:Metro Praha, 2004.JPG
Metro Praha, 2004.JPG
File:Metro Praha.jpg
Metro Praha.jpg
File:Metro M1 in Prague.jpg
Metro M1 in Prague.jpg
File:13-12-31-metro-praha-by-RalfR-039.jpg
13-12-31-metro-praha-by-RalfR-039.jpg
File:Ladislav Rott podzemni draha 1898.jpg
Ladislav Rott podzemni draha 1898.jpg
File:13-12-31-metro-praha-by-RalfR-122.jpg
13-12-31-metro-praha-by-RalfR-122.jpg
File:Praha - Metro - Vyšehrad (7504036786).jpg
Praha - Metro - Vyšehrad (7504036786).jpg

+ 11 more

Up Next
💻
Rome Metro
Technology
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.