Sofia Metro
Sofia Metro | |||
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Overview | |||
Native name | Софийско метро | ||
Owner | City of Sofia | ||
Locale | Sofia, Bulgaria | ||
Transit type | Rapid transit | ||
Number of lines | 4[1] | ||
Number of stations | 47[1][2] 10 under construction | ||
Daily ridership | 450 000[3] | ||
Annual ridership | 61 million[4] (2021) | ||
Chief executive | Stoyan Bratoev | ||
Website | www | ||
Operation | |||
Began operation | 28 January 1998[1] | ||
Operator(s) | Metropoliten JSC | ||
Number of vehicles | 272 | ||
Technical | |||
System length | 52.0 km (32.3 mi)[1][2] | ||
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
Electrification | 825 V DC from third rail (M1/M2/M4 lines) 1,500 V DC from overhead catenary (M3 line) | ||
Average speed | 40 km/h (25 mph)[5] | ||
Top speed | 80 km/h (50 mph)[5] | ||
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The Sofia Metro (Bulgarian: Софийски метрополитен, romanized: Sofiyski Metropoliten, also colloquially called Bulgarian: Софийско метро, romanized: Sofiysko Metro) is the rapid transit network servicing the Bulgarian capital city Sofia. It is the only metro in Bulgaria. It began operation on 28 January 1998.[1] As of 2024[update], the Sofia Metro consists of four interconnected lines, serving 47 stations, with a total route length of 52.0 kilometres (32.3 mi)[1][6][7][2] and also being among the top 20 of the most extensive European metro systems, ranking 14th as of 2023. The Metro links the densely populated districts of Lyulin – Mladost (M1 line – Red) and Nadezhda – Lozenets (M2 line – Blue), and serves the Sofia Airport.[8][9]
History
[edit]Planned since the 1960s, construction of the metro started in the 80s with the demolition of a significant number of buildings. At the beginning of the 90s, construction stopped due to a lack of funds and the complexity of the construction work. Being one of the oldest cities in Europe, Sofia contains many historical layers underneath its central areas. Evidence of antiquity can be clearly seen at the Serdika Station, which exhibits a wealth of unearthed Thracian and Roman ruins. During the construction of the enormous complex of the National Palace of Culture, two stations forming part of the M2 line and their connecting tunnels were built.
The construction of the system began from the route that sees the highest volume of passenger traffic, reaching 38,000 at rush hour.[10]
Lines
[edit]Due to an increased population, there are a large number of passengers heading toward the city center during weekday mornings, and away from the city centre in the weekday evenings. The necessity of efficient public transport in the direction of the largest passenger flows, transport, and Sofia's environmental problems precipitated the start of the construction of the Sofia Metro. Following the ratification of a technical and economic report on the metro by the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria, and the subsequently approved General City Plan, the general scheme for the development of the lines should consist of three diameters with extensions in the periphery, with a total length of 62 kilometres (39 mi), 63 metro stations, and a 1.1 million daily passenger capacity at the final stage of implementation.[11]
Line | Icon | Opened | Current length (km [mi]) | Current stations | U/C[a] length (km [mi]) | U/C[a] stations | Planned length (km [mi]) | Planned stations |
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M1 | 1998 | 14.8 (9.2) | 16 | 0 (0.0) | 1 | 17.7 (11.0) | 19[citation needed] | |
M2 | 2012 | 11.4 (7.1) | 13 | 0 (0.0) | 0 | 18 (11.2) | 18[citation needed] | |
M3 | 2020 | 11.8 (7.3) | 12 | 9.0 (5.6) | 9 | 17.8 (11.1) | 18[citation needed] | |
M4 | 2015 | 26.1 (16.2) | 20 | 0 (0.0) | 0 | 26.1 (16.2) | 20[citation needed] | |
Total: | 52 (32.3) | 47 | 9.0 (5.6) | 10 | 79.6 (49.5) | 75[citation needed] |
M1 line (Red)
[edit]The first 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) long section of M1 line consisting of five stations linking Slivnitsa Boulevard through Lyulin and K. Velichkov Boulevard was inaugurated on 28 January 1998. Opalchenska station entered into service on 17 September 1999 and Serdika station situated on St Nedelya Square followed on 31 October 2000, extending the total system length to 8.1 kilometres (5.0 mi). The operational section of the line was further extended with a 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) long section, reaching Obelya housing estate in April 2003.
The extension of M1 line continued in 2005 with the start of the construction of 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) of tunnels and three stations linking St Nedelya Square and the Interped World Trade Center in Izgrev (station Frédéric Joliot-Curie). 2006 saw the start of the construction of another section of the same line (consisting of 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) of tunnels and three stations) linking Izgrev and Mladost I housing estate. The completion of the first three stations was projected for the autumn of 2007, however as a result of various delays it was the second section from the first line (Vasil Levski stadium – Mladost 1) that first entered into service on 8 May 2009, operating for a brief period of time separately from the north-west portion of the line. The remaining section between Serdika and Vasil Levski stadium station finally entered into service on 7 September 2009[12] establishing an uninterrupted link between Obelya and Mladost 1 stations.
The construction of the section from Mladost I to Business Park Sofia station (2.62 kilometres (1.63 mi), with three new underground stations) began on 25 April 2013, and was completed on 8 May 2015.[7][13] It cost BGN 85,767,683 (EUR 43,852,320), VAT exclusive, and serves the majority of the second most densely populated area in Sofia.[14][15] Part of the sections of "Sofia Airport" - "Iskarsko Shose" and, Ovcha kupel" -, Krasno selo" are not underground.
Station | Image | In service since | Exits | Intermodality | Location |
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Tsaritsa Yoanna (Царица Йоанна) | proposed | near Lyulin 3 housing estate, on Sofia Ring Road[16] | |||
Lyulin II (Люлин II) | proposed | near Lyulin 2 housing estate[16] | |||
Slivnitsa (Сливница) | 28 January 1998 | 4 | first station of the section, shared with M4 | On the intersection of Slivnitsa Blvd and Pancho Vladigerov Blvd | |
Lyulin (Люлин) | On Tsaritsa Yoanna Blvd in Lyulin | ||||
Zapaden Park (Западен парк) | 8 | On the intersection of Tsaritsa Yoanna Blvd and Dr. Petar Dertliev Blvd | |||
Vardar (Вардар) | 6 | On the intersection of Tsaritsa Yoanna Blvd and Vardar Blvd | |||
Konstantin Velichkov (Константин Величков) | 3 | On the intersection of Todor Aleksandrov Blvd and Konstantin Velichkov Blvd | |||
Opalchenska (Опълченска) | 17 September 1999 | 6 | On the intersection of Todor Aleksandrov Blvd and Opalchenska St | ||
Serdica (Сердика) | 31 October 2000 | 12 | On the Intersection of Todor Aleksandrov Blvd and Knyaginya Maria Luisa Blvd | ||
Sofia University Sveti Kliment Ohridski (СУ „Св. Климент Охридски“) | 7 September 2009 | 13 | On Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd in front of Sofia University | ||
Vasil Levski Stadium (Стадион „Васил Левски“) | 8 May 2009 | 2 | In the north-eastern tip of Borisova gradina park, near the Vasil Levski National Stadium | ||
Frédéric Joliot-Curie (Фр. Жолио Кюри) | Yug Bus Station | On Dragan Tsankov Blvd in Iztok | |||
G.M.Dimitrov (Г.М.Димитров) | 4 | On the intersection of doctor Georgi Mihov Dimitrov Blvd and Dragan Tsankov Blvd | |||
Musagenitsa (Мусагеница) | 1 | On the western end of the Prof. Marko Semov Blvd bridge | |||
Mladost I (Младост I) | 5 | last station of the section, shared with M4 | On the intersection of Jerusalem St and Andrey Sakharov Blvd | ||
Aleksandar Malinov (Александър Малинов) | 8 May 2015 | 6 | On the intersection of Aleksandrov Malinov Blvd and Andrey Lyapchev Blvd in Mladost II and Mladost III | ||
Akad. Aleksandar Teodorov-Balan (Акад. Александър Теодоров-Балан) | On the intersection of Aleksandrov Malinov Blvd and Dr. Atanas Moskov str. in Mladost II and Mladost III | ||||
Business Park (Бизнес Парк) | 4 | Park and ride facility | On Aleksandar Malinov Blvd, adjacent to Business Park Sofia in Mladost IV |
M2 and M4 lines (Blue/Yellow)
[edit]M2 and M4 lines | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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