Public transport in Bulgaria's capital, Sofia, is getting a big boost with the construction of the city's third metro line. The first two phases of its development, which are being co-financed by the EU Operational Programme Transport and Transport Infrastructure for the period 2014-2020, are already underway. In the period 2014-2020, the completion of Phase 1 and 2 of Line 3 is expected to add 12 km of lines and 12 metro stations as well as new 20 new metro trains. Upon completion the Sofia metro network should reach 52 km of lines and 47 stations by 2021. The total EU co-financing for Line 3, Phase 1 and 2 amounts to 454.8 million Euros.
- 23 November 2016
Sofia metro line 3 runs in a north-east to south-west direction. In its initial stage, it goes from the new station situated at the crossroads of Vladimir Vazov Boulevard and Panayot Hitov Street, via the city centre, to a station located under Zhitnitsa Street, close to the crossroads with Boulevard Tsar Boris III.
The project thus oversees completion of a significant part of line 3. The new line provides a convenient direct link between large residential districts such as Suhata reka, Hadzhi Dimitar, Krasno selo, Slaviya, Belite brezi, Lagera and Hipodruma and the centre of Sofia.
Connections with existing metro lines
Through its connections with the existing metro lines 1 and 2, line 3 also makes it easier to reach other important residential areas, including Lyulin, Mladost, Obelya, Nadezhda, Lozentets and Druzhba. Furthermore, the project improves connections between different types of public transport and increases the sustainability of urban transport in the Bulgarian capital. Modernisation of the metro network makes transport safer and cuts journey times, thereby improving the quality of life of local residents.
The new metro line is being built in accordance with EU standards. Its construction is also in line with the objectives for the development of metro lines in Sofia, in that it connects large residential areas with the city centre.
A rise in passenger numbers
With the commissioning of the first phase of line 3, daily passenger figures on the Sofia metro are set to rise by somewhere in the region of 96 000, of which approximately 80 000 are likely to use line 3. The reductions in travel times are expected to generate savings for the economy of over EUR 19 million by 2020.
By diverting passengers away from other modes of public transport and cars, the new metro line is also helping to reduce traffic accidents, fuel consumption, emissions of CO2 and other harmful substances, as well as transport maintenance costs. This has the potential to lead to further savings of over EUR 8 million by 2020.
The Sofia metro opened in 1998. Prior to construction of line 3, it consisted of two interconnected lines, serving 35 stations and with a total length of 40 km. In time, line 3 is expected to reach 16 km in length.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Extension of the Sofia metro, Line 3, phase I Boulevard Vladimir Vazov – Centre – Zhitnitsa Street” is EUR 520 096 000, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 368 118 000 through the “Transport and transport infrastructure” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period.