Railway bridge “Under Vyšehrad” in Prague, preparation of reconstruction

Abstract The railway bridge in Prague under Vyšehrad is a steel riveted structure with a lower deck from 1901 connecting the right and left banks of the Vltava River. The bridge is double‐track and is located on a national track included in the TEN‐T system. This is the transit corridor Nuremberg – Pilsen – Prague – Brno – (Vienna, Bratislava, Poland). It is therefore one of the busiest railway bridges in the Czech Republic. The bridge is a cultural monument. At the moment, it is also the best‐known and most discussed railway bridge in the Czech Republic. The bridge has been in service for more than 120 years and its expected lifespan has long been exceeded. The railway needs to increase the track capacity. At the same time, it is being discussed what to do with the heritage‐protected bridge. Repair? Replace? Shift? These are the questions and challenges facing the Railway Administration.