Training tunnel introduces mine environment to the people from around the world

Signatures of foreigners literally from all over the world, politicians, including Czech President, children, schoolchildren and students are accumulating in the guestbook of the Training tunnel in Paskov. The training mine was originally created for "novocians" (the freshmen), to be familiar with the environment in the mine, even without going down; later became accessible to the general public. New mine apprentices began to come for excursion.

The idea to build a training tunnel originated in the second half of the seventies of last century. Annual production has been increasing and for that reason it was necessary to hire around a thousand of new coalminers. They came lured by organized or free recruitment, but without any knowledge of conditions in the mine and qualifications for working underground.

They went through basic training where they got first practical experiences, but experienced miners realized that new, still not adapted colleagues were not been able to apprehend and pick up a new habits. Why? They didn´t make up for the noise, dust, lack of light. Many people also have suppressed perceptions and difficulty with integration into the team because of the feeling of threat. They built the training mine, which is now unique in Europe, as a trainer. The place where they simulated conditions of the most important operated facilities in the mine. The idea to equip it with functional technology and devices, where it is possible to practice control, operation and maintenance, is appreciated, even in the 21^st century.

Even so, it passed several years from the idea to open the training mine. Original intention to build it by ourselves failed and therefore the training mine was concluded to “object assembly” for 3^rd floor opening. Training mine was opened in the mid 80´s. Technological devices and equipment was provided by the shaft, but contractors carried out construction work. After the decline of mining in the early 90´s, not many miners used it, and a decision to open it to the public was taken. It was also good to enhance tourism in Frýdek-Místek region. But it´s not a museum, as guides don´t forget to emphasize! It´s real mine where nobody is going underground and coal and dust is also missing.

Marek Síbrt