Sofia Metro
Encyclopedia
The Sofia Metropolitan is the underground urban railway network servicing the Bulgaria
n capital Sofia
. It is the first and only network of this kind in Bulgaria. As of September 7, 2009 it has been extended to 14 stations and a total length of 18.0 km.
, Sofia contains many historical layers right underneath its very core. Evidence of antiquity
can be clearly seen at the Serdika Station, a mixture of unearthed Thracian
and Roman
ruins and modern architecture.
During the construction of the National Palace of Culture
in 1981, two metro stations part of the future Line 2 and the tunnels connecting them were built.
The construction of the system began from the areas that experience the most of the traffic in the capital city, where the largest streams of passengers form, reaching up to 40,000 at rush hour
.
to K. Velichkov Boulevard. Opalchenska station was opened on 17 September 1999 and Serdika station on St Nedelya
Square followed on 31 October 2000, making the total length 8.1 km. In April 2003, the functioning section was lengthened with 1.8 km and so reaching Obelya housing estate.
The Line 1 lengthening continued in 2005 (as planned in 2004), from St Nedelya Square through the centre of the city to Interped World Trade Center in Izgrev (station Frédéric Joliot-Curie), 4.8 km in length, 3 stations. Meanwhile the construction of a new section of the same line started in 2006 from Interpred to Mladost 1 housing estate, 3.2 km, 3 stations. The completion term of the first three new stations was autumn 2007, but eventually there was a big delay. As a result the second section from the first line (Vasil Levski stadium - Mladost 1) became operational on May 8, 2009, briefly running separately from the initial line. The missing linking part between Serdika and Vasil Levski stadium opened on September 7, 2009.
Two additional branch of line 1 are planned — from Mladost 1 to Sofia Airport
(7.2 km, 6 stations) and from Mladost I to Business Park Sofia
(4 stations). The construction of the first two stations of the extension to the airport began on 15 February 2009, and is scheduled for completion for late 2012. The branch to Mladost 4 and the Ring road still has no funding and won't be started until at least 2011.
Main Line
Northern branch
Southern branch - projected
junction and Lozenets district, via the Central Railway Station
and the National Palace of Culture started on 14 December 2008, length 11 km, 11 stations. Both stations that were built in 1980s will be completed. With works underway, the construction of the line between Obelya residential District and Nadezhda
junction started in February 2010. The whole line should be operational by May 2012. Sofiyski metropoliten has placed an order for 18 new trains, expecting to put them in operation in 2012.
There is also a planned branching of the line towards Iliyantsy in the vicinity of Nadezhda
junction.
Main Line
Iliyantsi branch - projected
Main line - projected
.
The older train sets are model 81-717/714
made by Metrovagonmash.
The newer train sets are model 81-740/741
"Rusich" again made by Metrovagonmash.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n capital Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
. It is the first and only network of this kind in Bulgaria. As of September 7, 2009 it has been extended to 14 stations and a total length of 18.0 km.
History
Planned since the 1960s, the building of Sofia Metro was not officially launched until the late 1990s mainly because the city did not experience an urgent need for an underground system and lacked funding. Another factor was the construction works depth — being one of the oldest cities in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Sofia contains many historical layers right underneath its very core. Evidence of antiquity
Ancient history
Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history to the Early Middle Ages. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, with Cuneiform script, the oldest discovered form of coherent writing, from the protoliterate period around the 30th century BC...
can be clearly seen at the Serdika Station, a mixture of unearthed Thracian
Thracians
The ancient Thracians were a group of Indo-European tribes inhabiting areas including Thrace in Southeastern Europe. They spoke the Thracian language – a scarcely attested branch of the Indo-European language family...
and Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
ruins and modern architecture.
During the construction of the National Palace of Culture
National Palace of Culture
The National Palace of Culture , located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the largest multifunctional congress, conference, convention and exhibition centre in Southeastern Europe...
in 1981, two metro stations part of the future Line 2 and the tunnels connecting them were built.
The construction of the system began from the areas that experience the most of the traffic in the capital city, where the largest streams of passengers form, reaching up to 40,000 at rush hour
Rush hour
A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...
.
System
Line 1
The first section of line 1 was finished on 28 January 1998, with 5 stations and a length of 6.5 km from Slivnitsa Boulevard through LyulinLyulin (municipality)
Lyulin is the largest residential complex in the capital of Bulgaria -- Sofia. It is located in the western outskirts of city and is divided into 10 micro-regions. The complex has a population of 240,000 and is at the disposal of all kinds of public transport.Lyulin is a relatively new district...
to K. Velichkov Boulevard. Opalchenska station was opened on 17 September 1999 and Serdika station on St Nedelya
St Nedelya Church
Holy Sunday Church is an Eastern Orthodox church in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, a cathedral of the Sofia bishopric of the Bulgarian Patriarchate. Sveta Nedelya is a medieval church that has suffered destruction through the ages and has been reconstructed many times.-History:The history of the...
Square followed on 31 October 2000, making the total length 8.1 km. In April 2003, the functioning section was lengthened with 1.8 km and so reaching Obelya housing estate.
The Line 1 lengthening continued in 2005 (as planned in 2004), from St Nedelya Square through the centre of the city to Interped World Trade Center in Izgrev (station Frédéric Joliot-Curie), 4.8 km in length, 3 stations. Meanwhile the construction of a new section of the same line started in 2006 from Interpred to Mladost 1 housing estate, 3.2 km, 3 stations. The completion term of the first three new stations was autumn 2007, but eventually there was a big delay. As a result the second section from the first line (Vasil Levski stadium - Mladost 1) became operational on May 8, 2009, briefly running separately from the initial line. The missing linking part between Serdika and Vasil Levski stadium opened on September 7, 2009.
Two additional branch of line 1 are planned — from Mladost 1 to Sofia Airport
Sofia Airport
Sofia Airport , sometimes also called Letishte Sofia-Vrazhdebna , is the main airport in Sofia, Bulgaria. Located east of central Sofia. In 2010 the number of passengers was 3.3 million...
(7.2 km, 6 stations) and from Mladost I to Business Park Sofia
Business Park Sofia
Business Park Sofia is a business park in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Part of the larger Sofia Park complex which is also to feature a residential and a commercial area, it will include 35 buildings and will spread over a plot of 220,000 m² and a total built-up area of 300,000 m² which...
(4 stations). The construction of the first two stations of the extension to the airport began on 15 February 2009, and is scheduled for completion for late 2012. The branch to Mladost 4 and the Ring road still has no funding and won't be started until at least 2011.
Main Line
- ObelyaObelya Metro StationObelya Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It started operation on April 20, 2003.-Location:The station is located at the western end of the First metrodiametar between the two micro-region of the bc Obelya....
(Обеля) - operational since 20.04.2003 - SlivnitsaSlivnitsa Metro StationSlivnitza Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It started operation on January 28, 1998.-Location:The station is located directly across from "Slivnitsa at the end of bc "Lyulin". After her towards Obelia landfill is located. Bezkolonen metro station is a type of island...
(Сливница) - operational since 28.01.1998 - LyulinLyulin Metro StationLyulin Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It started operation on January 28, 1998.-Location:The station is located beneath Blvd Queen Yoanna ", center of the bc "Lyulin". Metro is a column type, the island platform, shallow zalozhenie. Length of platform: 120 mArchitects:...
(Люлин) - operational since 28.01.1998 - Zapaden parkZapaden park Metro StationZapaden Park Metro station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It started operation on January 28, 1998.-Location:The station is located beneath Blvd Queen Yoanna ", at the intersection of Blvd Dr. P. Dertliev Boulevard and Louis Pasteur, in eastern bc "Lyulin, near Zapaden park...
(Западен парк) - operational since 28.01.1998 - VardarVardar Metro StationVardar Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It started operation on January 28, 1998.-Location:The station is located in the district "Zapaden Park" under Blvd Queen Yoanna, the intersection with Blvd Vardar....
(Вардар) - operational since 28.01.1998 - Konstantin VelichkovKonstantin Velichkov Metro StationKonstantin Velichkov Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It started operation on January 28, 1998.-Location:The station is located under "Todor Aleksandrov" blvd between Konstantin Velichkov and Dimitar Petkov. The station is bezkolonen type, shallow set, the island...
(Константин Величков) - operational since 28.01.1998 - OpalchenskaOpalchenska Metro StationOpalchenska Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It started operation on September 17, 1999.-Location:The station is located under "Todor Aleksandrov" in the section between Opalchenska and Otets Paisiy...
(Опълченска) - operational since 17.09.1999 - SerdikaSerdika Metro StationSerdika Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It was put into operation on October 31, 2000.After commissioning of the second metrodiametar, it will be a node and its passengers will be transferred to the Station Square St. Sunday....
(Сердика) - operational since 31.10.2000 - St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia UniversitySU St. Kliment Ohridski Metro StationSU St. Kliment Ohridski Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It was introduced into service on September 7, 2009.-Location and architectural design:...
(СУ „Св. Климент Охридски“) - operational since 07.09.2009 - Vasil Levski stadiumVasil Levski stadium Metro StationVasil Levski stadium Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It was introduced into service on May 8, 2009.-Location and architectural design:...
(Стадион „Васил Левски“) - operational since 08.05.2009 - Joliot-CurieJoliot-Curie Metro StationJoliot-Curie Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It was put into operation on May 8, 2009.-Location and layout:The station is under the Dragan Tsankov Blvd at the junction with Frederic Joliot-Curie Str...
(Жолио Кюри) - operational since 08.05.2009 - G.M.DimitrovG.M.Dimitrov Metro StationG.M.Dimitrov Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It was put into operation on May 8, 2009.-Location:After Joliot-Curie Metro Station route of the subway onto a surface, then goes overground by elevator. Just before it crosses the station Blvd D. GM Dimitrov "underground,...
(Г. М. Димитров) - operational since 08.05.2009 - MusagenitsaMusagenitsa Metro StationMusagenitsa Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It was put into operation on May 8, 2009-Location and architectural design:...
(Мусагеница) - operational since 08.05.2009 - Mladost 1Mladost 1 Metro StationMladost 1 Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It started operation on May 8, 2009.-Location and architectural design:...
(Младост 1) - operational since 08.05.2009
Northern branch
- Mladost 3 (Младост 3) - in construction; to be opened 2012
- Tsarigradsko Chaussee (Цариградско шосе) - in construction; to be opened 2012
- Druzhba 2 - construction begins 2011; to be opened 2014
- Druzhba 1 - construction begins 2011; to be opened 2014
- Christopher Columbus Blvd. - construction begins 2011; to be opened 2014
- Sofia AirportSofia AirportSofia Airport , sometimes also called Letishte Sofia-Vrazhdebna , is the main airport in Sofia, Bulgaria. Located east of central Sofia. In 2010 the number of passengers was 3.3 million...
- construction begins 2012; to be opened 2014
Southern branch - projected
- Alexander Malinov Blvd. at Billa and McDonald'sMcDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
- construction begins 2011; to be opened 2014 - Alexander Malinov Blvd. at Hit supermarket - construction begins 2011; to be opened 2014
- Mladost 4 - construction begins 2011; to be opened 2014
- Okolovrasten Pat (Ring Road)- construction begins 2011; to be opened 2014
Line 2
Construction of Line 2 between NadezhdaNadezhda, Sofia
Nadezhda is a district located it the north-western parts of Sofia with an area of 19,300 decares. As of 2006 it has 77,000 inhabitants. It includes nine neighbourhoods: "Nadezhda" I, II, III and IV; "Tolstoi"; "Svoboda"; "Triagalnika"; "Iliyantsi" and "Trebich".In 1906 there were only a few...
junction and Lozenets district, via the Central Railway Station
Central Railway Station, Sofia
The Central Railway Station Sofia is the main passenger railway station of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, as well as the largest railway station of the country...
and the National Palace of Culture started on 14 December 2008, length 11 km, 11 stations. Both stations that were built in 1980s will be completed. With works underway, the construction of the line between Obelya residential District and Nadezhda
Nadezhda, Sofia
Nadezhda is a district located it the north-western parts of Sofia with an area of 19,300 decares. As of 2006 it has 77,000 inhabitants. It includes nine neighbourhoods: "Nadezhda" I, II, III and IV; "Tolstoi"; "Svoboda"; "Triagalnika"; "Iliyantsi" and "Trebich".In 1906 there were only a few...
junction started in February 2010. The whole line should be operational by May 2012. Sofiyski metropoliten has placed an order for 18 new trains, expecting to put them in operation in 2012.
There is also a planned branching of the line towards Iliyantsy in the vicinity of Nadezhda
Nadezhda, Sofia
Nadezhda is a district located it the north-western parts of Sofia with an area of 19,300 decares. As of 2006 it has 77,000 inhabitants. It includes nine neighbourhoods: "Nadezhda" I, II, III and IV; "Tolstoi"; "Svoboda"; "Triagalnika"; "Iliyantsi" and "Trebich".In 1906 there were only a few...
junction.
Main Line
- ObelyaObelya Metro StationObelya Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It started operation on April 20, 2003.-Location:The station is located at the western end of the First metrodiametar between the two micro-region of the bc Obelya....
(Обеля) - will be used for link between the depot and the second line. - Lomsko Chaussee (Ломско шосе) in Vrabnitsa housing estate - to be opened 2012
- Beli Dunav (Бели Дунав) On the border between Nadezhda 3 and Nadezhda 4 housing estates - to be opened 2012
- NadezhdaNadezhda, SofiaNadezhda is a district located it the north-western parts of Sofia with an area of 19,300 decares. As of 2006 it has 77,000 inhabitants. It includes nine neighbourhoods: "Nadezhda" I, II, III and IV; "Tolstoi"; "Svoboda"; "Triagalnika"; "Iliyantsi" and "Trebich".In 1906 there were only a few...
(Надежда) On Lomsko shose boulevard - to be opened 2012 - Han Kubrat (Хан Кубрат) On the border between Nadezhda 1 and Nadezhda 2 housing estates - to be opened 2012
- Knyaginya Maria-Louise (Княгиня Мария-Луиза) near Klementinska hospital - to be opened 2012
- Central Railway Station (Централна гара) - to be opened 2012
- Lavov MostLavov mostLions' Bridge is a bridge over the Vladaya River in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, built 1889-1891 by Czech architect Václav Prošek, his brother Jozef and his cousins Bohdan and Jiří...
(Лъвов мост) - opening 2012 - St.Nedelya square (Света Неделя) - transfer station between the two lines, to be opened 2012
- NDK (НДК ) - to be opened 2012
- St.Naum (Св.Наум) - to be opened 2012
- James Bourchier (Джеймс Баучер) - to be opened 2012
- Nikola Vaptsarov (Никола Вапцаров)- projected
- Hladilnika (Хладилника)- projected
Iliyantsi branch - projected
- Lev Tolstoy (Лев Толстой)
- Svoboda (Свобода)
- Iliyantsi (Илиянци)
Line 3
The line is included in the city plan, but there is still conceptual dispute over this line. Station names, locations and rolling stock are subject to change. There are no scheduled construction works in near future.Main line - projected
- Knyazhevo (Княжево)
- Nikola Petkov (Никола Петков)
- Ovcha Kupel (Овча Купел)
- Krasno Selo (Красно Село)
- Lagera (Лагера)
- Pirogov (Пирогов)
- Ruski Pametnik (Руски Паметник)
- Vitosha (Витоша)
- Patriarh Evtimiy Sq. (пл. Патриарх Евтимий)
- Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski (Софийски университет)
- Theatre Sofia (Театър София)
- Poduyane (Подуяне)
- Vitinya (Витиня)
- Avtostantsiya Iztok (Автостанция Изток)
Rolling stock
The Sofia Metro uses two types of rolling stock, both produced in RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
The older train sets are model 81-717/714
81-717/714
81-717/714 is a metro car designed for rapid transit systems of the Soviet Union in the middle 1970s....
made by Metrovagonmash.
The newer train sets are model 81-740/741
Metro wagon 81-740/741 Rusich
81-740/741 , is a type of rolling stock specially designed for running under the harsh winter climate of outdoor Moscow. Rusich also features a corridor connection, allowing passenger access between two contigiuous cars...
"Rusich" again made by Metrovagonmash.
See also
- List of rapid transit systems
- Sofia Public TransportSofia Public TransportSofia Public Transport is served by the Sofia Urban Mobility Center . The company has a large fleet of buses, trolleybuses and trams which pass throughout the city.-Tram routes:...
- Sofia Tramway
- Trolleybuses in SofiaTrolleybuses in SofiaThe Sofia trolleybus system forms part of the public transport network of Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria.In operation since 1941, the system presently comprises nine routes.-History:...