The Sofia Metro ( bg, Софийски метрополитен, translit=Sofijski Metropoliten, also colloquially called ) is the
rapid transit
Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be c ...
network servicing the
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...
n capital city
Sofia
Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and ha ...
. It began operation on 28 January 1998.
, the Sofia Metro consists of four interconnected lines, serving 47 stations, with a total route length of
being among the top 20 of the most extensive European metro systems, ranking 19th as of 2020. The Metro links the densely populated districts of
Lyulin –
Mladost (M1 line – Red) and
Nadezhda –
Lozenets (M2 line – Blue), and serves the
Sofia Airport
Sofia Airport ( bg, Летище София, translit=Letishte Sofiya) is the main international airport of Bulgaria, located east of the centre of the capital Sofia. In 2019 the airport surpassed 7 million passengers for the first time. The ai ...
.
History
Planned since the 1960s, construction of the metro has started in 80s with demolishing of significant number of buildings. At the beginning of 90s the construction has stopped because of lack of funds. Another factor was the depth at which the construction works had to be carried out: 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
The Thracians (; grc, Θρᾷκες ''Thrāikes''; la, Thraci) were an Indo-European speaking people who inhabited large parts of Eastern and Southeastern Europe in ancient history.. "The Thracians were an Indo-European people who occupied t ...
and
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...
ruins and modern architecture. During the construction of the enormous complex of the
National Palace of Culture
The National Palace of Culture (, ; abbreviated as , NDK), located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the largest, multifunctional conference and exhibition centre in south-eastern Europe. It was opened in 1981 in celebration of Bulgaria's 130 ...
two stations forming part of the then future M2 line and their connecting tunnels were built.
The construction of the system began from the route that sees the highest volumes of passenger traffic, that can easily reach up to 38,000 at
rush hour
A rush hour (American English, British English) or peak hour (Australian English) 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 every weekday: on ...
.
Lines
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 , 63 metro stations, and a 1.1 million daily passenger capacity at the final stage of implementation.
M1 line (Red)
The first 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 . The operational section of the line was further extended with a long section, reaching Obelya housing estate in April 2003.
The extension of M1 line continued in 2005 with the start of the construction of 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 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
Serdika or Serdica ( Bulgarian: ) is the historical Roman name of Sofia, now the capital of Bulgaria.
Currently, Serdika is the name of a district located in the city. It includes four neighbourhoods: "Fondovi zhilishta"; "Banishora", "Orlandovt ...
and
Vasil Levski stadium station finally entered into service on 7 September 2009 establishing an uninterrupted link between
Obelya and
Mladost 1 stations.
The construction of the stretch from Mladost I to
Business Park Sofia
Business Park Sofia (BPS) is the largest office park in Central and Eastern Europe and the first of its kind in Bulgaria.
The Project
Business Park Sofia (BPS) is owned by Arco Capital Corporation Ltd. and is the largest office park in Central an ...
station (, three underground stations) began on 25 April 2013, and was completed on 8 May 2015.
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. Part of the sections "Sofia Airport" - "Iskarsko Shose" and, Ovcha kupel" -, Krasno selo" are not underground.
M2 and M4 lines (Blue/Yellow)
The second and fourth lines of the Sofia Metro links the districts of Obelya, Nadezhda, the city centre and Lozenets to the south of the city.
Half of the construction cost was covered by the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
, with the remaining part funded by the state and city budgets.
Construction of the section between
Nadezhda interchange and Lozenets district via
Central railway station and the
National Palace of Culture
The National Palace of Culture (, ; abbreviated as , NDK), located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the largest, multifunctional conference and exhibition centre in south-eastern Europe. It was opened in 1981 in celebration of Bulgaria's 130 ...
started on 14 December 2008. Work on the section between Obelya residential District and
Nadezhda started in February 2010. Both sections of the line entered into service on 31 August 2012.
NDK and
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
stations and their connecting tunnels were partly completed during the construction of the
National Palace of Culture
The National Palace of Culture (, ; abbreviated as , NDK), located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the largest, multifunctional conference and exhibition centre in south-eastern Europe. It was opened in 1981 in celebration of Bulgaria's 130 ...
and the redevelopment of the surrounding area in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The construction of
Mladost 3 and
Inter Expo Center – Tsarigradsko chaussée stations began on 15 February 2009 and was completed on 25 April 2012. The further extension to
Sofia Airport
Sofia Airport ( bg, Летище София, translit=Letishte Sofiya) is the main international airport of Bulgaria, located east of the centre of the capital Sofia. In 2019 the airport surpassed 7 million passengers for the first time. The ai ...
comprising two underground and two overground stations and a length of began in 2013,
and was completed on 2 April 2015 at the cost of BGN 136,757,630 (EUR 69,923,066), VAT exclusive.
This extension was briefly operated as a branch of M1 line, but was soon transferred to M2 line, moving that line's terminus from
Obelya to Sofia Airport.
On 20 July 2016, the line was extended southward with and one station,
Vitosha
Vitosha ( bg, Витоша ), the ancient ''Scomius'' or ''Scombrus'', is a mountain massif, on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Vitosha is one of the symbols of Sofia and the closest site for hiking, alpinism and skiing. Conveni ...
, located at Hladilnika neighbourhood.
The construction took 2 years.
Provisions have been made for the construction of future branch to Iliyantsi, starting from the existing junction located between
Knyaginya Maria Luiza and
Han Kubrat stations.
Splitting the line to M2 and M4
On 26 August 2020, the second line was split into two portions: the M2 line, running from Vitosha station to Obelya station and the M4 line, running from Obelya to Sofia Airport. The trains continue to run the length of both lines but on maps and other metro signage the M4 line is gradually being introduced. The split is in preparation to the future construction of the Moderno predgradie station, which is supposed to physically separate the lines and will allow them to have independent timetables.
M2 line
M4 line
M5 Iliyantsi branch (planned)
= M5 Studentski grad branch (planned)
=
The Studentski grad branch is a recently planned branch, starting from Cherni vrah Blvd, passing through Vitosha quarter and entering Studentski grad and near Zimen dvorets complex. Exact route is not yet selected and construction horizon – not set.
M3 line (Green)
The long M3 line is planned to connect the
Ovcha Kupel
Ovcha kupel ( bg, Овча купел ) is a district (''rayon'') of the Stolichna Municipality of Sofia City Province, Bulgaria.
The name of the neighborhood is applied to the thermal water that comes out on the earth's surface: shepherds who l ...
neighbourhood (in southwest Sofia) and the Vasil Levski neighbourhood (in northeast Sofia), with 16 stations in total, including two transfer stations in the city centre, with both of the already operational lines. The first 8 stations of the line entered service on 26 August 2020, and the other 4 on 24 April 2021.
There will be 8 aboveground and 11 underground stations. The project design contract was awarded to the Czech company Metroprojekt Praha a.s.
In March 2014, a tender for construction of the central section of the line was announced. The section is long and includes 7 stations, two of them transfer to lines 1 and 2. With the announcement of the tender, it became clear that the initial plans for 19 stations had been partly amended and 2 of the stations, one at Doyran boulevard and another at Shipka street, will be not be built. The tunnel of the central section shall be excavated by a
tunnel boring machine
A tunnel boring machine (TBM), also known as a "mole", is a machine used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross section through a variety of soil and rock strata. They may also be used for microtunneling. They can be designed to bore throu ...
, while the construction of stations shall be awarded to other companies. The construction of the section shall be completed within 45 months. In January 2015, a tender for 20 trains that shall serve the central section of the line was announced.
Driverless train operation, with Grade of Automation 3 (GoA 3), and
platform screen doors
Platform screen doors (PSDs), also known as platform edge doors (PEDs), are used at some train, rapid transit and people mover stations to separate the platform from train tracks, as well as on some bus rapid transit, tram and light rail syste ...
will ensure the safety of the passengers. Unlike Lines 1 and 2, where the trains collect power through a
third rail
A third rail, also known as a live rail, electric rail or conductor rail, is a method of providing electric power to a railway locomotive or train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway t ...
, Line 3 trains will be equipped with
pantographs.
CAF and
Siemens
Siemens AG ( ) is a German multinational conglomerate corporation and the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe headquartered in Munich with branch offices abroad.
The principal divisions of the corporation are ''Industry'', '' ...
applied bids in the tender for the trains, with Siemens winning it.
In early 2016, construction began on the third metro line of the Sofia Metro using the technology for classic underground metro with high-power support. Under construction are all metro stations in the central section, plus a few in the west and east of downtown Sofia. The third line of the Sofia Metro will have a total of 23 metro stations, as follows: 16 metro stations for the Main Line and 7 metro stations for the Eastern branch.
Main Line (M3)
M6 branch to Slatina
Fares and ticketing
The price of a single ticket is 1.60
lev
Lev may refer to:
Common uses
*Bulgarian lev, the currency of Bulgaria
*an abbreviation for Leviticus, the third book of the Hebrew Bible and the Torah
People and fictional characters
*Lev (given name)
*Lev (surname)
Places
*Lev, Azerbaijan, a ...
, equivalent to ~0.82
euro
The euro ( symbol: €; code: EUR) is the official currency of 19 out of the member states of the European Union (EU). This group of states is known as the eurozone or, officially, the euro area, and includes about 340 million citizens . ...
. It can be issued either by a cashier, or by a
vending machine
A vending machine is an automated machine that provides items such as snacks, beverages, cigarettes, and lottery tickets to consumers after cash, a credit card, or other forms of payment are inserted into the machine or otherwise made. The fir ...
. When obtained, the single ticket must be validated within 30 minutes at a validator. Pre-paid RFID (MIFARE Classic) card also could be bought (at a price of 2 levs) with minimum 10 pre-paid rides (at a price of 12 levs for 10 pre-paid rides). Daily and monthly cards are also available.
Rolling stock
The system uses 4 types of rolling stock.
The older train sets, type
81-717/714
81-717/714 is a metro car designed in the Soviet Union in the mid-1970s. The cars were made from 1976 to 2010 by Metrovagonmash and the I. E. Yegorov Vagonmash factories of Mytishchi and Saint Petersburg, respectively. Production is still ongoing ...
, were manufactured by
Metrowagonmash
Metrowagonmash, also Metrovagonmash (russian: ОАО "Метровагонмаш", OAO "Metrovagonmash"), is an engineering company in Mytishchi, Russia. Metrowagonmash (MWM) is one of the leading enterprises in Russia operating in the ...
in
Mytishchi
Mytishchi ( rus, Мыти́щи, p=mɨˈtʲiɕːɪ) is a city and the administrative center of Mytishchinsky District in Moscow Oblast, Russia, which lies 19 km northeast of Russia's capital Moscow on the Yauza River and the Moscow–Yarosla ...
,
Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast ( rus, Моско́вская о́бласть, r=Moskovskaya oblast', p=mɐˈskofskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ), or Podmoskovye ( rus, Подмоско́вье, p=pədmɐˈskovʲjə, literally "under Moscow"), is a federal subject of Rus ...
, Russia and consists of 48 carriages in total. They were delivered in 1990 – some 8 years prior to the opening of the first section of the system. In 2020 the first train sets of this type were refurbished and went into service.
The second generation of rolling stock, type
81-740/741
81-740/741 (Rusich, russian: Русич), 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 the two sections ...
"Rusich", were also manufactured by Metrowagonmash and delivered between 2005 and 2013, consisting of 120 carriages in total.
The third generation of rolling stock,
Siemens Inspiro
The Siemens Inspiro is a family of electric multiple units designed and manufactured by Siemens since 2012 for metro systems. The product was launched on 19 September 2012 at the InnoTrans in Berlin. The first Inspiro entered service with Warsa ...
30 three-car sets were delivered between 2016 and 2021 and exclusively serve the M3 line.
File:Central railway station (Sofia Metro) 2012 PD 5.jpg, 81-717/714
81-717/714 is a metro car designed in the Soviet Union in the mid-1970s. The cars were made from 1976 to 2010 by Metrovagonmash and the I. E. Yegorov Vagonmash factories of Mytishchi and Saint Petersburg, respectively. Production is still ongoing ...
File:Sofia Metro Station Serdica 2012 PD 3.jpg, An 81-740/741 Rusich train at Serdika station
File:Siemens-inspiro-neck.jpg, A Siemens Inspiro
The Siemens Inspiro is a family of electric multiple units designed and manufactured by Siemens since 2012 for metro systems. The product was launched on 19 September 2012 at the InnoTrans in Berlin. The first Inspiro entered service with Warsa ...
train on line 3 at NDK-2 station
Ridership
Network Map
See also
*
Trams in Sofia
The Sofia tram network is a vital part of the public transportation system of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It began operation on January 1, 1901. As of 2006, the tram system included approximately of narrow and standard gauge one-way track. Mo ...
*
Trolleybuses in Sofia
The Sofia trolleybus system ( bg, Тролейбусен транспорт София) forms part of the public transport network of Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria.
In operation since 8 February 1941, the system presently comprises ten r ...
*
Public buses in Sofia
The Sofia public bus system ( bg, Автобусен транспорт София) forms part of the public transport network of Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria.
In operation since 1935, the system presently comprises 98 routes.
History
T ...
*
Sofia Public Transport
The public transport in Sofia consists of a comprehensive network of bus, trolleybus, tram and metro lines. It is overseen by the Sofia Urban Mobility Center, a municipal enterprise responsible for route planning, scheduling, fare collection and ti ...
*
List of metro systems
This list of metro systems includes electrified rapid transit train systems worldwide. In some parts of the world, metro systems are referred to as subways, U-Bahn or undergrounds. , 205 cities in 61 countries have a metro system.
The London ...
References
External links
Sofia Metro – Official Web SiteMetroSofia.com
Interactive Sofia Metro MapMetro @ public-transport.netUnofficial Sofia tube map inspired by London's one, designed for foreign visitorsSofia Metro – quick info and mapsSofia Metro Map
{{Underground rapid transit in the European Union
Underground rapid transit in Bulgaria
Rapid transit in Bulgaria
Railway lines opened in 1998
1998 establishments in Bulgaria