Prague’s public transport company is still uncertain when the Florenc station on Metro Line C will resume normal operations. The ongoing water ingress has forced the temporary closure of this vital transport hub, according to Daniel Šabík, the company’s head of communications.
Since Sunday evening, trains have been bypassing the station due to flooding caused by a damaged water connection. The incident occurred during earthworks related to the reconstruction of the ceiling plate beneath the vestibule – a renovation project that has been ongoing since 2022.
“Water is still seeping through in several places,” Šabík told reporters on Tuesday morning. The transport company has already taken initial measures, including the removal of ceiling panels to prevent water accumulation. While the distribution networks and cables are water-resistant, prolonged exposure could pose risks.
To accommodate passengers, especially those with reduced mobility, the transport company has implemented alternative services. A replacement tram line XC now operates between Florenc, Masarykovo nádraží, and Hlavní nádraží. Passengers can also utilize tram lines 12 and 14 for connections in the affected area.
The water main break occurred Sunday evening during excavation work on the surface. Interestingly, it wasn’t worker error that caused the issue – the pipes separated spontaneously about forty meters from the excavation site due to changes in soil pressure. The station, partially unprotected by insulation layers during renovation, was particularly vulnerable to water ingress.
Originally opened in 1974 for Line C and expanded in 1985 for Line B, the station (formerly known as Sokolovská until 1990) remains a crucial transport hub in Prague’s metro network. The question of who will bear the costs of this incident will be addressed once the situation is fully resolved.