Sofia Metro

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Sofia Metro

The platform of Krasno Selo Metro Station at the day of the opening of line M3 (26 August 2020)
Overview
Native name	Bulgarian: Софийско метро
Owner	City of Sofia
Locale	Sofia, Bulgaria
Transit type	Rapid transit
Number of lines	4[1]
Number of stations	47[1][2]
Daily ridership	350,000[3]
Chief executive	Stoyan Bratoev
Website	www.metropolitan.bg
Operation
Began operation	28 January 1998 (1998-01-28)[1]
Operator(s)	Metropolitean JSC
Number of vehicles	72
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 (third rail, M1/M2/M4) 1500 V DC (overhead lines, M3/M5)
Average speed	40 km/h (25 mph)[4]
Top speed	80 km/h (50 mph)[4]
hideSystem map

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 began operation on 28 January 1998.^[1] As of August 2020, the Sofia Metro consists of four interconnected lines, serving 47 stations, with a total route length of 52.0 kilometres (32.3 mi)^[1][5][6][2] 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.^[7][8]

History[]

Planned since the 1960s, construction of the metro was not officially launched until the late 1990s mainly because the city did not experience an urgent need for an underground system in addition to the stalled construction due to lack of sufficient funding. 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 and Roman ruins and modern architecture. During the construction of the enormous complex of the National Palace of Culture 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.^[9]

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 62 kilometres (39 mi), 63 metro stations, and a 1.1 million daily passenger capacity at the final stage of implementation.^[10]

Line	Icon	Opened	Current length (km [mi])	Current stations	U/C length (km [mi])	U/C stations	Planned length (km [mi])	Planned stations
M1		1998	14.8 (9.2)	16	0 (0.0)	0	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	7.8 (4.8)	12	0 (0.0)	0	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	0 (0.0)	0	79.6 (49.5)	75[citation needed]

M1 line (Red)[]

hide v t M1 line
All stations are wheelchair accessible
Legend
M4 Obelya Depot Slivnitsa Lyulin Zapaden Park Suhodolska River Vardar Konstantin Velichkov Vladayska River Opalchenska M2 Serdika M2 SU St. Kliment Ohridski Perlovska River Vasil Levski Stadium Joliot-Curie Novachitsa River G.M.Dimitrov Musagenitsa Darvenishka River Mladost 1 M4 Aleksandar Malinov Akademik Aleksandar Teodorov - Balan Banishka River Business Park Sofia Banishka River Station names in italics are not confirmed.
show Detailed track map M1 – M4 (proposed) National Rail to Dragoman/Radomir/Bankya   ↑Opened 2003↑ to Depot   ↓Opened 1998↓ 0' Slivnitsa 2' Lyulin 4' Zapaden Park Suhodolska National Rail to Pernik-Kulata/Kyustendil 7' Vardar 9' Konstantin Velichkov   ↓Opened 1999↓ Vladayska 11' Opalchenska   ↓Opened 2000↓ 13' Serdika Serdika II M2 to Obelya/Vitosha     ↓Opened 2009↓ 15' Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Perlovska 17' Vasil Levski Stadium 21' Joliot-Curie WTC Novachitsa 23' G.M.Dimitrov 24' Musagenitsa Darvenishka 26' Mladost 1 00' M4 to Sofia Airport   show 00'   ↓Opened 2012↓   29' Mladost 3 31' Inter Expo Center – Tsarigradsko shose   ↓Opened 2015↓ 33' Druzhba 36' Iskarsko shose National Rail to Ihtiman/Karlovo 38' Sofiyska Sveta gora 40' Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Airport branch end 00'   ↓Opened 2015↓   28' Aleksandar Malinov 30' Akademik Aleksandar Teodorov - Balan Banishka 32' Business Park Sofia Mladost branch end

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^[11] establishing an uninterrupted link between Obelya and Mladost 1 stations.

The construction of the stretch from Mladost I to Business Park Sofia station (2.62 kilometres (1.63 mi), three underground stations) began on 25 April 2013, and was completed on 8 May 2015.^[6][12] 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.^[13][14]

Station	Image	In service since	Exits	Intermodality	Location
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 G.M.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 akad. Al. Teodorov-Balan Blvd 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
Sofia Park (София парк)		proposed			near Sofia Park (ж.к. "София парк") and Sofia Ring Road[15]
Malinova Dolina (Малинова долина)		proposed			near Sofia Ring Mall and Sofia Ring Road[16]

M2 and M4 lines (Blue/Yellow)[]

hide v t M2 and M4 lines
All stations are wheelchair accessible
Legend
Moderno predgradie (proposed) Obelya Lomsko shose cont. as M2 cont. as M4 Slivnitsa Beli Dunav Lyulin Nadezhda Zapaden Park Han Kubrat Vardar Knyaginya Maria Luiza Konstantin Velichkov Central Railway Opalchenska Lavov most ↖Serdika↘ ↙Serdika II↗ NDK SU St. Kliment Ohridski European Union Vasil Levski Stadium James Bourchier Joliot-Curie Vitosha G.M.Dimitrov Musagenitsa Mladost 1 M1 Aleksandar Malinov Mladost 3 Akademik Aleksandar Teodorov - Balan Inter Expo Center – Tsarigradsko shose Business Park Sofia Druzhba Iskarsko shose Sofiyska Sveta gora Sofia Airport
show Detailed track map line end -8' Vitosha   ↑Opened 2016↑ -6' James Bourchier -4' European Union built 1981 opened 2012 Perlovska -2' NDK built 1981 opened 2012 Serdika M1 to Slivnitsa/Business Park Sofia   0' Serdika II Vladayska 2' Lavov most 3' Central Railway Station 5' Knyaginya Maria Luiza BDŽ National Rail to Pernik-Kulata/Kyustendil BDŽ National Rail to Dragoman/Radomir/Bankya 00' Future extension   show 00' Ilyantsi branch Ilyanysi branch end 7' Han Kubrat Suhodolska 9' Nadezhda 11' Beli Dunav 13' Lomsko shose ↑Opened 2012↑   15' Obelya Kakach (proposed) National Rail to Dragoman/Radomir/Bankya   ↑Opened 2003↑ RED line to Depot   ↓Opened 1998↓ -13' Slivnitsa -11' Lyulin -8' Zapaden Park Suhodolska National Rail to Pernik-Kulata/Kyustendil -6' Vardar -4' Konstantin Velichkov   ↓Opened 1999↓ Vladayska -2' Opalchenska   ↓Opened 2000↓ 0' Serdika Serdika II M2 to Obelya/Vitosha     ↓Opened 2009↓ 3' Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Perlovska 5' Vasil Levski Stadium 8' Joliot-Curie WTC Novachitsa 10' G.M.Dimitrov 12' Musagenitsa Darvenishka 14' Mladost 1 00' M1 to Business Park   show 00'   ↓Opened 2015↓   16' Aleksandar Malinov 18' Akademik Aleksandar Teodorov - Balan Banishka 20' Business Park Sofia Mladost branch end 00'   ↓Opened 2012↓   16' Mladost 3 18' Inter Expo Center – Tsarigradsko shose   ↓Opened 2015↓ 20' Druzhba 23' Iskarsko shose National Rail to Ihtiman/Karlovo 25' Sofiyska Sveta gora 27' Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Airport branch end

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.^[17] Half of the construction cost was covered by the European Union, with the remaining part funded by the state and city budgets.^[17] Construction of the 6.4 km (4.0 mi) section between Nadezhda interchange and Lozenets district via Central railway station and the National Palace of Culture 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.^[17]

NDK and European Union stations and their connecting tunnels were partly completed during the construction of the National Palace of Culture 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 comprising two underground and two overground stations and a length of 4.968 kilometres (3.087 mi) began in 2013,^{[12][18][19][20]} and was completed on 2 April 2015 at the cost of BGN 136,757,630 (EUR 69,923,066), VAT exclusive.^[7][8] This extension was briefly operated as a branch of M1 line, but was soon^[when?] transferred to M2 line, moving that line's terminus from Obelya to Sofia Airport.

On 20 July 2016, the line was extended southward with 1.3 km (0.81 mi) and one station, Vitosha, located at Hladilnika neighbourhood.^[2] 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, that is supposed to permanently separate the lines and will allow them to have independent timetables.

M2 line[]

Station	Image	In service since	Exits	Intermodality	Location
Obelya (Обеля)		20 April 2003	2	trains arriving from Vitosha station continue as M4 trains to Sofia Airport. Trains, arriving as M4 trains from Sofia Airport continue as M2 trains to Vitosha	In Obelya over the Kakach river
Lomsko shose (Ломско шосе)		31 August 2012	4		On Lomsko shose Blvd in Vrabnitsa
Beli Dunav (Бели Дунав)				Park and ride facility	On Lomsko shose Blvd and Beli Dunav St, between Nadezhda and Vrabnitsa
Nadezhda (Надежда)			2		On Lomsko shose Blvd, between Nadezhda I and Nadezhda II
Han Kubrat (Хан Кубрат)			4		On Lomsko shose, north of Nadezhda Overpass in Triagalnika
Knyaginya Maria Luiza (Княгиня Мария Луиза)					On Knyaginya Maria Luisa Blvd, south of Nadezhda Overpass in Banishora
Central Railway Station (Централна ж.п. гара)			15	BDZ trains, Intercity and international buses	On Knyaginya Maria Luisa Blvd, in front of Sofia Central Station and Central Bus Station Sofia
Lavov Most (Лъвов мост)			4		On Knyaginya Maria Luisa Blvd, north of Lavov Most
Serdica II (Сердика II)			12		On Knyaginya Maria Luisa Blvd, in front of Central Hali
National Palace of Culture (Национален дворец на културата)			11		In the northern end of the park of the National Palace of Culture
European Union (Европейски съюз)[21]			6		On Cherni vrah Blvd, near Earth and Man National Museum and City Center Sofia
James Bourchier (Джеймс Баучер)			4		On James Bourchier Blvd in Lozenets
Vitosha (Витоша)		20 July 2016	6		On Cherni vrah Blvd, near Paradise Center in Hladilnika
Cherni vrah (Черни връх)		planned			On Cherni vrah Blvd in Krastova vada
Dragalevtsi (Драгалевци)					On Sofia Ring Road's interchange with Cherni vrah Blvd

M4 line[]

Station	Image	In service since	Exits	Intermodality	Location
Obelya (Обеля)		20 April 2003	2	trains arriving from Vitosha station continue as M4 trains to Sofia Airport. Trains, arriving as M4 trains from Sofia Airport continue as M2 trains to Vitosha
Obelya – Mladost I section shared with M1				See M1 line
Mladost III (Младост III)		25 April 2012	4		In Mladost III
Inter Expo Center – Tsarigradsko shose (Интер Експо Център – Цариградско шосе)					On Tsarigradsko shose near Inter Expo Center with a tunnel exit in Druzhba II
Druzhba (Дружба)		2 April 2015	7		Between Prof. Tsvetan Lazarov Blvd and Kapitan Dimitar Spisarevski St
Iskarsko shose (Искърско шосе)			6	BDZ trains on Iskarso shose Railway station	On the intersection of Iskarsko shose Blvd and Krastyo Pastuhov Blvd
Sofiyska Sveta Gora (Софийска Света гора)			2		In Iskar Industrial zone
Sofia Airport (Летище София)			1	Sofia Airport, Terminal 2	The Departures gate of Sofia Airport, Terminal 2

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)[]

hide v t Line 3
Legend
Gorna Banya Ovcha Kupel II Moesia Ovcha kupel Vladayska River Krasno Selo Boyanska River Bulgaria Medical University NDK II St. Patriarch Evtimiy Orlov Most Perlovska River Teatralna Hadzhi Dimitar

The 16 km (9.9 mi) long M3 line is planned to connect the Ovcha Kupel 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.^[22]

There will be 8 aboveground and 11 underground stations. The project design contract was awarded to the Czech company Metroprojekt Praha a.s.^[23][24][25]

In March 2014, a tender for construction of the central section of the line was announced. The section is 7 km (4.3 mi) 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, while the construction of stations shall be awarded to other companies. The construction of the section shall be completed within 45 months.^[26] 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 will ensure the safety of the passengers. Unlike Lines 1 and 2, where the trains collect power through a third rail, Line 3 trains will be equipped with pantographs.^[27][28] CAF and Siemens applied bids in the tender for the trains,^[29] with Siemens winning it.^[30]

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.^[31][32][33]

Main Line (M3)[]

Station	Image	In service since	Exits	Intermodality	Location
Vladimir Vazov (Владимир Вазов)		planned			Will be servicing Vasil Levski housing estate
Thrace (Тракия)					Will be servicing Suhata Reka housing estate
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium (Стадион „Георги Аспарухов”)					Will be servicing Stefan Karadzha housing estate near Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
Hadzhi Dimitar (Хаджи Димитър)		26 August 2020[34]	2	Poduyane Bus Station	On the intersection of Gen. Vladimir Vazov Blvd and Todorini kukli St in Hadzhi Dimitar
Teatralna (Театрална)				near Poduyane Railway Station	On the intersection of Evlogi i Hristo Georgievi Blvd and Madrid Blvd, near Zaimov park
Orlov Most (Орлов мост)			13		In Knyazheska gradina park. The station is connected with Sofia University Sveti Kliement Ohridski station
Sveti Patriarh Evtimiy (Св. Патриарх Евтимий)			3		On Patriarh Evtimiy Sq
National Palace of Culture II (Национален дворец на културата II)			11		On the intersection of Patriarh Evtimiy Blvd and Vitosha Blvd
Medical University (Медицински университет)			5		On the intersection of Praha Blvd and Georgi Sofiyski St
Bulgaria (България)			7		On the intersection of Bulgaria Blvd and Akad. I. E. Geshov Blvd
Krasno Selo (Красно Село)			4		On the intersection of Tsar Boris III Blvd and Zhitnitsa St
Ovcha Kupel (Овча купел)		24 April 2021[35]	5		Servicing Ovcha Kupel 1 housing estate
Moesia (Мизия)			6		Servicing Ovcha Kupel housing estate
Ovcha Kupel II (Овча купел II)			2		Servicing Ovcha Kupel 2 housing estate
Gorna Banya (Горна баня)			4	Park and ride facility BDZ trains on Gorna banya Railway station	Servicing Gorna Banya housing estate

M6 branch to Slatina[]

Fares and ticketing[]

The price of a single ticket is 1.60 lev, equivalent to ~0.82 euro. It can be issued either by a cashier, or by a vending machine. 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.^[36]

Rolling stock[]

The system uses two types of rolling stock, both made in Russia.

The older train sets, type 81-717/714, have been manufactured by Metrovagonmash in Mytishchi near Moscow and consisted 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.^[37]

The second generation of rolling stock, type 81-740/741 "Rusich", have also been manufactured by Metrovagonmash. The delivery of this type commenced in 2005. With line M2 now in service, 40 more trains of this type were delivered by the end of 2013.^[17]

The third generation of rolling stock, Siemens Inspiro 20 three-car sets were delivered in 2018 and are serving the M3 line.^[38]

• 

  81-717/714

• 

  A refurbished 81-717/714

• 

  An 81-740/741 Rusich train at Serdika station

• 

  A Siemens Inspiro train on line 3 at NDK-2 station

Ridership[]

Sofia Metro ridership

Year	Passengers per day	Change	Metro Stations
1998	10,000[39]		Initial 5
1999	40,000[citation needed]		6
2000	70,000[39]	70.0	7
2001	80,000[citation needed]
2002	90,000[40]	28.6
2003	80,000[9]	11.1	8
2004	75,000[citation needed]
2005	70,000[41]	12.5
2006	80,000[citation needed]
2007	90,000[42]	28.6
2008	76,000[43]	15.6
2009	201,000[44]	264.5	14
2010	187,000[45]	7.0
2011	190,000[46]	1.6	14
2012	350,000[47]	84.2	27
2013	280,000[48]	20.0
2014	320,000[48]	14.3
2015	335,000[49]	4.7	34
2016	350,000[49](estimated)	4.5	35
2017	350,000[3]
2018
2019
2020			43

Network Map[]

See also[]

• Trams in Sofia
• Trolleybuses in Sofia
• Public buses in Sofia
• Sofia Public Transport
• List of metro systems

References[]