Milan Metro
Encyclopedia
The Milan Metro is the rapid transit
system serving Milan
, Italy
, operated by Azienda Trasporti Milanesi
. Milan metro is the longest metro system in Italy, and is the core of the Milan Transportation System
. The network consists of 3 lines, identified by different numbers and colors, with a total length of 83.3 km (51.8 mi) and a total of 94 stations, mostly underground. It has a daily ridership of 899,000.
The first line, the red one, opened in 1964. The green line opened 5 years later and the yellow line in 1990.
was built in Milan for the World's Fair
Exhibition in 1906. The line linked the two main areas of the Fair between the Piazza d'Armi and the Arena Stadium close to the city centre. The line was dismantled 8 years later. It can be considered the first Italian
electric public transport line totally independent of other railway lines.
The first projects for a subway line in Milan were drawn up in 1914 and 1925, following the examples of underground transport networks in other European countries like London
and Paris
. Planning proceeded in 1938 for the construction of a system of 7 lines, but this too halted after the start of World War II
and due to lack of funds.
On 6 April 1952 the city administration asked for a project of a metro system and on 6 October 1955 a new company, Metropolitana Milanese, was created to manage the construction of the new infrastructure. The project was funded with ₤
500 million from the municipality and the rest from a loan. The construction site of the first line was opened in viale Monte Rosa on 4 May 1957. Stations on the new line were designed by Albini-Helg architecture studio. Bob Noorda
designed the famous signaling.
The first line from Lotto to Sesto Marelli (21 stations) was opened on 1 November 1964, after 7 years of construction works. The track was 12.5 km (7.8 mi) long, and the mean distance between the stations was 590 m. In the same year, in April, works on the second line started.
Passengers on the network grew constantly through the first years of service, passing from 37,092,315 in 1965 to 61,937,192 in 1969.
The green line from Caiazzo to Cascina Gobba (7 stations) opened five years later. During the 1960s and 1970s the network of 2 lines was completed, and both lines had 2 different spurs. In 1978, the lines were already 17.6 km (10.9 mi) and 23 km (14.3 mi) long respectively, with 28 and 22 stations.
The third line (yellow) was opened in 1990, with 5 stations. The other 9 stations on Line 3 opened to the southeast in 1991, and northwest to Maciachini Station in 2004.
In March 2005 the Line 2 station at Abbiategrasso (south branch from Famagosta) and the Line 1 station of Rho-Fiera opened. The intermediate station of Pero opened on December 2005. A north extension of Line 3 to Comasina (4 stations) and a new south branch on the Line 2 to Assago (2 stations) opened in early 2011.
All the lines run underground except for the northern part of Line 2, which is mostly on viaducts, and the Line 2 Assago branch.
There are 4 interchange stations, each with 2 lines: Centrale (Line 2 and 3), also Milan's main train station; Duomo (Line 1 and 3), considered the center of the city; Loreto (Line 1 and 2); Cadorna (Line 1 and 2), one of the biggest train stations in the city.
(urban fare limit). Other tickets are available, including 24h and 48h tickets and night ticket. The cost of interurban tickets (for journeys outside the urban fare limits) depends on the journey and is between €1.90 and €4.10.
Between 2004 and 2007 ATM introduced Itinero smartcard, a proximity card
which can be charged with season ticket
s, replacing paper for this type of tickets. At the beginning of 2010, a new smartcard, RicaricaMi, was introduced. The new card can be charged up with credit and can be used for travel in place of magnetic paper tickets, on the model of London's Oyster card
. Different fare plans exist.
Headways at peak hours vary from 2 minutes on the Line 1 (central part) to 3 minutes on Line 3. On branch lines (of lines 1 and 2) the headway is usually half.
to supply the electric current to the train. Line 1 uses a fourth rail system, although the same line also supports overhead lines in some stretches and depots; this allows Line 2 and 3 trains to use Line 1 tracks to reach a depot placed on the line.
The track gauge for all lines is the .
Lines 2 and 3 are electrified at 1500 V
, line 1 at 750 V.
. The track will be 2 km (1.2 mi) long with intermediate station at Sesto Restellone. The completion was originally scheduled for 2009, but it is still under construction.
, the city received special funds for the construction of 2 new lines, M4 (light blue) and M5 (lilac
), which are going to be completed between 2012 and 2015.
The new Line M4 will run from the western suburb of Lorenteggio to the eastern side of the city to Linate Airport
. The line has been approved by Italian Government in March 2006, and funded in November 2009. On the western end, the line was planned to be extended from San Cristoforo railway station, to the suburban comuni of Corsico
, Cesano Boscone
and Trezzano sul Naviglio
. Preliminary prospections begun in mid-2010. Construction has been put on hold again in April 2011 until the next autumn; financial and legal troubles are likely to force the City of Milan to complete only the Linate - San Babila section before the Expo 2015.
Line M5 is divided in two sections. The first section will run from the northern city limits (via Bignami) to Porta Garibaldi
railway station, connecting with line M3 below viale Zara, and to both M2 and suburban railways at Porta Garibaldi. The second section will stretch from Porta Garibaldi to San Siro Stadium running north west of the city. The first section is nearing completion and is supposed to be opened in late 2012, whilst the second section is predicted to be completed by 2015.
Both M4 and M5 will be completely automatic and driverless, similar to Copenhagen's new subway lines
, and fed through a third rail
system, thus marking the third different feeding on Milan Metro (after the fourth rail of M1, and the catenary on M2 and M3).
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system serving Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, operated by Azienda Trasporti Milanesi
Azienda Trasporti Milanesi
Azienda Trasporti Milanesi is a public company, responsible for public transportation in Milan city and some surrounding municipalities, in Italy...
. Milan metro is the longest metro system in Italy, and is the core of the Milan Transportation System
Milan Transportation System
The Milan transportation system is the transport network of Milan, Italy. Milan has an extensive internal transport network and is also an important transportation node in Italy, being one of the country's biggest hub for air, rail and road networks....
. The network consists of 3 lines, identified by different numbers and colors, with a total length of 83.3 km (51.8 mi) and a total of 94 stations, mostly underground. It has a daily ridership of 899,000.
The first line, the red one, opened in 1964. The green line opened 5 years later and the yellow line in 1990.
History
An Elevated Light RailElevated railway
An elevated railway is a form of rapid transit railway with the tracks built above street level on some form of viaduct or other steel or concrete structure. The railway concerned may be constructed according to the standard gauge, narrow gauge, light rail, monorail or suspension railway system...
was built in Milan for the World's Fair
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
Exhibition in 1906. The line linked the two main areas of the Fair between the Piazza d'Armi and the Arena Stadium close to the city centre. The line was dismantled 8 years later. It can be considered the first Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
electric public transport line totally independent of other railway lines.
The first projects for a subway line in Milan were drawn up in 1914 and 1925, following the examples of underground transport networks in other European countries like London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Planning proceeded in 1938 for the construction of a system of 7 lines, but this too halted after the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and due to lack of funds.
On 6 April 1952 the city administration asked for a project of a metro system and on 6 October 1955 a new company, Metropolitana Milanese, was created to manage the construction of the new infrastructure. The project was funded with ₤
Italian lira
The lira was the currency of Italy between 1861 and 2002. Between 1999 and 2002, the Italian lira was officially a “national subunit” of the euro...
500 million from the municipality and the rest from a loan. The construction site of the first line was opened in viale Monte Rosa on 4 May 1957. Stations on the new line were designed by Albini-Helg architecture studio. Bob Noorda
Bob Noorda
Bob Noorda was a Dutch-born graphic designer who lived and worked primarily in Milan from 1954 to his death in 2010...
designed the famous signaling.
The first line from Lotto to Sesto Marelli (21 stations) was opened on 1 November 1964, after 7 years of construction works. The track was 12.5 km (7.8 mi) long, and the mean distance between the stations was 590 m. In the same year, in April, works on the second line started.
Passengers on the network grew constantly through the first years of service, passing from 37,092,315 in 1965 to 61,937,192 in 1969.
The green line from Caiazzo to Cascina Gobba (7 stations) opened five years later. During the 1960s and 1970s the network of 2 lines was completed, and both lines had 2 different spurs. In 1978, the lines were already 17.6 km (10.9 mi) and 23 km (14.3 mi) long respectively, with 28 and 22 stations.
The third line (yellow) was opened in 1990, with 5 stations. The other 9 stations on Line 3 opened to the southeast in 1991, and northwest to Maciachini Station in 2004.
In March 2005 the Line 2 station at Abbiategrasso (south branch from Famagosta) and the Line 1 station of Rho-Fiera opened. The intermediate station of Pero opened on December 2005. A north extension of Line 3 to Comasina (4 stations) and a new south branch on the Line 2 to Assago (2 stations) opened in early 2011.
Network
| Line | |Terminals | Opened | Newest extension | Length | Stations | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | Rho Fiera Rho Fiera (Milan Metro) Rho Fiera is a station on Line 1 of Milan Metro in Rho, Lombardy, Italy. The station opened in 2005, to provide service to the FieraMilano exhibitition centre, at the current western terminus of the line. The station is outside the urban area of Milan and is therefore subject to the an extra fare... / Bisceglie Bisceglie (Milan Metro) Bisceglie is a station on Line 1 of Milan Metro in Milan, Italy. The station opened in 1992 as the western end of the line. The station is located in Via Bisceglie, within the municipality of Milan.... |
Sesto 1° Maggio Sesto 1º Maggio (Milan Metro) Sesto Primo Maggio is a station on Line 1 of the Milan Metro. The station was inaugurated in 1986 as the new final station of the Red Line.... |
1964 | 2005 | 26.9 km | 38 |
| M2 | Assago Milanofiori Forum Assago Milanofiori Forum (Milan Metro) Milanofiori Forum is a station on the Line 2 of Milan Metro. The station is outside the urban fare zone, in the southern suburb of Assago. The line here runs beside Autostrada A7.The station serves the nearby Assago Forum, an indoor arena.... / Abbiategrasso Abbiategrasso (Milan Metro) Abbiategrasso is a station on Line 2 of Milan Metro.... |
Cologno Nord Cologno Monzese Cologno Monzese is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 5 km north-east of Milan... / Gessate Gessate Gessate is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 25 km northeast of Milan. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 6,496 and an area of 7.8 km².... |
1969 | 2011 | 39.4 km | 35 |
| M3 | Comasina Comasina (Milan Metro) Comasina is a station Line 3 of Milan Metro, whose inauguration took place on March 26, 2011, twenty-one years after the opening of the original trunk of the line... |
San Donato San Donato (Milan Metro) San Donato is a station on Line 3 of the Milan Metro in Milan, Italy. The station was inaugurated in 1991 and it is the final station of the Yellow Line.... |
1990 | 2011 | 16.7 km | 21 |
All the lines run underground except for the northern part of Line 2, which is mostly on viaducts, and the Line 2 Assago branch.
There are 4 interchange stations, each with 2 lines: Centrale (Line 2 and 3), also Milan's main train station; Duomo (Line 1 and 3), considered the center of the city; Loreto (Line 1 and 2); Cadorna (Line 1 and 2), one of the biggest train stations in the city.
Tickets
A urban single journey ticket costs €1.50, and is valid for buses, trams and suburban and metro lines inside the Milan municipalityComune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(urban fare limit). Other tickets are available, including 24h and 48h tickets and night ticket. The cost of interurban tickets (for journeys outside the urban fare limits) depends on the journey and is between €1.90 and €4.10.
Between 2004 and 2007 ATM introduced Itinero smartcard, a proximity card
Proximity card
Proximity card is a generic name for contactless integrated circuit devices used for security access or payment systems. The standard can refer to the older 125 kHz devices or the newer 13.56 MHz contactless RFID cards, most commonly known as contactless smartcards.Modern proximity cards...
which can be charged with season ticket
Season ticket
A season ticket is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time.-Sport:In sport, a season ticket grants the holder access to all regular-season home games for one season without additional charges. The ticket usually offers a discounted price over purchasing a ticket for each of...
s, replacing paper for this type of tickets. At the beginning of 2010, a new smartcard, RicaricaMi, was introduced. The new card can be charged up with credit and can be used for travel in place of magnetic paper tickets, on the model of London's Oyster card
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
. Different fare plans exist.
Opening hours
The service starts at about 6 am and ends at about 0:30. During sundays and holidays service usually starts later and ends later, depending on the occasion.Headways at peak hours vary from 2 minutes on the Line 1 (central part) to 3 minutes on Line 3. On branch lines (of lines 1 and 2) the headway is usually half.
Technical summary
Lines 2 and 3 use overhead linesOverhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
to supply the electric current to the train. Line 1 uses a fourth rail system, although the same line also supports overhead lines in some stretches and depots; this allows Line 2 and 3 trains to use Line 1 tracks to reach a depot placed on the line.
The track gauge for all lines is the .
Lines 2 and 3 are electrified at 1500 V
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
, line 1 at 750 V.
Expansions
There is only one short-term expansion project on the Line 1 from Sesto 1° Maggio to Monza Bettola, towards the city of MonzaMonza
Monza is a city and comune on the river Lambro, a tributary of the Po, in the Lombardy region of Italy some 15 km north-northeast of Milan. It is the capital of the Province of Monza and Brianza. It is best known for its Grand Prix motor racing circuit, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.On June...
. The track will be 2 km (1.2 mi) long with intermediate station at Sesto Restellone. The completion was originally scheduled for 2009, but it is still under construction.
Long-term Expansions
- Line 1 will be extended from Bisceglie to Baggio neighborhood: 3 km (1.9 mi) with intermediate station at Valsesia.
- Line 2 will be extended from ColognoCologno MonzeseCologno Monzese is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 5 km north-east of Milan...
Nord to VimercateVimercateVimercate is a city and comune in the province of Monza and Brianza, Lombardy, northern Italy. It is 25 kilometres from Milan and 10 from Monza.The city was originally founded by the Romans on the banks of the river Molgora.-Main sights:...
. The section will be 10.8 km (6.7 mi) long with 6 stations (Brugherio, Carugate, Agrate Colleoni, Concorezzo, Vimercate Torri Bianche, Vimercate). The track will be mostly underground (83%). - Line 3 will be extended on the south-east from San Donato MilaneseSan Donato MilaneseSan Donato Milanese is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 10 km southeast of Milan.-History:...
to PaulloPaulloPaullo is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 16 km southeast of Milan. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 10,359 and an area of 8.9 km²....
: 6 km (3.7 mi) with intermediate stations in the city of San Donato, Peschiera BorromeoPeschiera BorromeoPeschiera Borromeo is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 12 km southeast of Milan. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 21,146 and an area of 23.5 km²...
and MedigliaMedigliaMediglia is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 15 km southeast of Milan.-External links:*...
. The project is currently on hold.
Planned New Lines
Since Milan won the bid for the World Exposition in 2015Expo 2015
Expo 2015 is the next scheduled Universal Exposition after Expo 2010, and will be hosted by Milan, Italy. On November 23, 2010, the event was officially announced by the Bureau of International Expositions, after that the BIE assembly in Paris had decided in favour of the Milanese candidature on...
, the city received special funds for the construction of 2 new lines, M4 (light blue) and M5 (lilac
Lilac (color)
Lilac is a color that is a pale tone of violet that is a representation of the average color of most lilac flowers. It might also be described as light purple. The colors of some lilac flowers may be equivalent to the colors shown below as pale lilac, rich lilac, or deep lilac...
), which are going to be completed between 2012 and 2015.
| Line | |Terminals | Planned 1st phase | Planned complete | Length | Stations | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M4 Milan Metro Line 4 The Line 4 is a new underground rapid transit line under construction in Milan, Italy, part of the Milan Metro system. The line was planned to be completed in 2015, as part of the works for the upcoming Milan Expo... |
Lorenteggio | Linate Airport Linate Airport Linate Airport is one of the three major airports of Milan, Italy, along with Malpensa Airport and Orio al Serio Airport. Due to its closer proximity to Milan—it is east southeast of the city, compared with Malpensa, which is northwest of the city—it is mainly used for domestic and short-haul... |
2015 | ? | 15.2 km | 21 |
| M5 Milan Metro Line 5 Line 5 is an under construction line of the Milan Metro, Italy, that will connect the downtown Porta Garibaldi railway station with the north-eastern suburb, at the via Bignami-viale Testi intersection. The line will be built in several steps, with the first planned to open in 2012 and the fourth... |
Bignami | San Siro Stadium | 2012 | 2015 | 12.6 km | 19 |
The new Line M4 will run from the western suburb of Lorenteggio to the eastern side of the city to Linate Airport
Linate Airport
Linate Airport is one of the three major airports of Milan, Italy, along with Malpensa Airport and Orio al Serio Airport. Due to its closer proximity to Milan—it is east southeast of the city, compared with Malpensa, which is northwest of the city—it is mainly used for domestic and short-haul...
. The line has been approved by Italian Government in March 2006, and funded in November 2009. On the western end, the line was planned to be extended from San Cristoforo railway station, to the suburban comuni of Corsico
Corsico
Corsico is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, bordering on Milan to the South-West.Corsico received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on July 22, 1987.-Twin towns - Sister cities:...
, Cesano Boscone
Cesano Boscone
Cesano Boscone is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 6 km southwest of Milan.Cesano Boscone borders the following municipalities: Milan, Corsico, Trezzano sul Naviglio.-Main sights:...
and Trezzano sul Naviglio
Trezzano sul Naviglio
Trezzano sul Naviglio is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 9 km southwest of Milan...
. Preliminary prospections begun in mid-2010. Construction has been put on hold again in April 2011 until the next autumn; financial and legal troubles are likely to force the City of Milan to complete only the Linate - San Babila section before the Expo 2015.
Line M5 is divided in two sections. The first section will run from the northern city limits (via Bignami) to Porta Garibaldi
Milano Porta Garibaldi railway station
Milano Porta Garibaldi is a major station in the Italian city of Milan, located just to the north of the neighbourhood known as Porta Garibaldi...
railway station, connecting with line M3 below viale Zara, and to both M2 and suburban railways at Porta Garibaldi. The second section will stretch from Porta Garibaldi to San Siro Stadium running north west of the city. The first section is nearing completion and is supposed to be opened in late 2012, whilst the second section is predicted to be completed by 2015.
Both M4 and M5 will be completely automatic and driverless, similar to Copenhagen's new subway lines
Copenhagen Metro
Copenhagen Metro is a rapid transit system serving Copenhagen, Frederiksberg and Tårnby in Denmark. The system opened between 2002 and 2007, and has two lines, M1 and M2. The driverless light metro supplements the larger S-train rapid transit system, and is integrated with DSB local trains and...
, and fed through a third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
system, thus marking the third different feeding on Milan Metro (after the fourth rail of M1, and the catenary on M2 and M3).
See also
- Milan Transportation SystemMilan Transportation SystemThe Milan transportation system is the transport network of Milan, Italy. Milan has an extensive internal transport network and is also an important transportation node in Italy, being one of the country's biggest hub for air, rail and road networks....
- Azienda Trasporti MilanesiAzienda Trasporti MilanesiAzienda Trasporti Milanesi is a public company, responsible for public transportation in Milan city and some surrounding municipalities, in Italy...
- List of metro systems
- List of rapid transit systems