Bucharest Metro
From Free net encyclopedia
The Bucharest Metro (Metroul Bucureşti in Romanian) is an underground urban railway network that serves the capital of Romania, Bucharest. The network is run by Metrorex. It is one of the most accessed systems of the Bucharest public transport network.
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Network
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Rolling Stock
The system uses two kinds of trainsets:
- ASTRA Arad modular cars, in a B'B'-B'B' formation, built between 1978 and 1993
- Bombardier trainsets, built in 2002 (air-conditioned)
The trains used on the system are made up of various trainsets (rame) connected together. Each trainset is made up of two permanently-connected train-cars that can only be run together. On lines M1, M2 and M3, three trainsets (totalling six cars) are connected together, with a length of up to 120 metres, while in line M4, two trainsets run together (totalling four cars). The ASTRA Arad rolling stock was built between 1978 and 1993, and is approaching the end of its service life, currently being either refurbished or phased out. The Bombardier trains are made up of 6 permanently connected cars, forming an open corridor for the entire length of the train. Currently there are 241 ASTRA trainsets, 181 in current use, others being kept as reserve, making for about 60 trains, 30 to 50 of which are operated daily. There are also 18 Bombardier trains, all in daily service, mainly on Lines M2 and M4. More of these trainsets are expected to be received in 2006 and placed in service on most of Lines M1 and M3.
The subway livery for Bucharest is either white with two yellow or red horizontal stripes below the window for ASTRA trains, or stainless steel with black and white for the Bombardier trains. All trains run on 750 V DC, either using a third rail, or an overhead wire (the latter is only used in maintenance areas where a third rail would not be safe). Maximum speed on the system is 80 km/h (50 mph), although plans are to increase it to 100 km/h (60 mph) on M5, a new line currently in planning stage.
Signaling system
The signaling system used is similar to the light signal system used from the Caile Ferate Romane, this means:
- yellow: next signal is red
- red: stop
- green: next signal is also green
The minimum distance between two is trains is 90 seconds. On the M2, the signaling system is now replaced by the ATP-System. The signals between the stations remain completely dark, while the exit signals of the station are showing a red light and the letters ATP. In the next years, this system shall replace the classic signaling system also on the other lines.
History
The earliest plans for a Bucharest Metro were drafted in the late 1930s, alongside the general plans for urban modernization of the city. In 1938, the local authorities assigned the task of planning and constructing the subway system to S.A. Metropolitanul, with work scheduled to start in March 1941. The outbreak of World War II, followed by periods of political tensions culminating with the installation of communism, put an end to the plans.
By 1970, the public transport system (ITB) was no longer adequate due to the fast pace of urban development, although the system was the fourth-largest in Europe. A commission was set up, and its conclusion pointed to the necessity of an underground transit system that would become the Bucharest Metro. The system is regarded as maybe the only successful result of Communist policies towards the planning of Bucharest. Amidst the disastrous systematization and megalomaniac construction projects such as Casa Poporului, this was one of the few projects that improved the living standards of the residents.
The network was not built in the same style as other Eastern European systems. Firstly, the design of the stations on the initial lines was very simple, without useless additions such as complicated mosaics, awkward lighting sources or excessive decoration. The main function of the stations was speed of transit and modernity. Secondly, the trainsets themselves were all constructed in Romania and did not follow the Eastern European style of construction. Each station followed a colour theme (generally white - in Unirii 2, Universitate, Victoriei 1, Politehnica, Armata Poporului, but also light blue - in Obor and Gara de Nord, orange - in Tineretului), and an open plan. No station was made to look alike. Despite this, many stations are rather dark, due to the policies of energy economy in the late 1980s, later modernisations doing little to fix this problem. Bucharest being one of the largest cities in the region, it has a quite large network (larger than Prague, Amsterdam or Budapest).
Image:Bucharest metro in station.jpg
The first line, M1, opened on November 16, 1979, running from Timpuri Noi to Semănătoarea. It was 8.63km long with 6 stations. Following this, more lines were opened:
- December 1981: M1/M3 Timpuri Noi - Republica; 10.1 km, 6 stations
- August 1983: M3 Branch line Eroilor - Industriilor; 8.63 km, 5 stations, Gorjului station added in 1991
- December 1984: M1 Semănătoarea - Crângaşi; 0.97 km, 1 station
- January 1986: M2 Piaţa Unirii - Depoul IMGB; 9.96 km, 8 stations
- October 1987: M2 Piaţa Unirii - Pipera; 8.72 km, 6 stations
- December 1987: M1 Crângaşi - Gara de Nord 1; 2.83 km, 2 stations (Basarab added 1990)
- August 1989: M1 Gara de Nord 1 - Dristor 2; 7.8 km, 6 stations
- January 1990: M1/M3 Republica - Pantelimon; 1.43 km, 1 station (single track, operational on a special schedule)
- March 2000: M4 Gara de Nord 2 - 1 Mai; 3.6 km, 4 stations
Large stations which connect with other lines (such as Victoriei) have two terminals, and each terminal goes by a different name (Victoriei 1 and Victoriei 2). On the official network map, they are shown as two stations with a connection in between, even though, in practice (and in trip planners), they are really only one station with platforms at different levels. There is one exception: Gara de Nord 1 and Gara de Nord 2 are separate stations (although linked through a subterraneal passage, the traveller is required to exit the station proper and pay for a new fare at the other station, thus leaving the system), passengers being required to switch trains at Basarab.
Criticism
Although the Bucharest Metro is, on the whole, an efficient transportation system, there are several common criticisms of the network. One of these is the relatively poor signage and the lack of network maps on the system. Most stations do not have maps that cover the entire network, instead having only panels showing the names of stations on the current line or, in some cases, only showing a selected number of stations from the respective line. Additionally, many stations have poor signage showing correspondence passages and exits. For this reason, it is common to get lost on the system or take the train in the opposite direction. This problem is currently being addressed, with a new system of information kiosks and network maps being introduced in various stations, starting with Dristor, Piaţa Unirii, Eroilor and Piaţa Victoriei.
Another source of confusion is the audio announcements in stations and trains. In trains, the name of the station is never announced when entering the station. Rather, as the doors close, the next station is announced, as well as the location of the platform on the next station. The standard form for the in-train annoucements is "Attention! Doors are closing! Next station is ... with the platform on the right/left side" (Atenţie, se închid uşile! Urmează ... cu peronul pe partea dreaptă/stângă).
Future development
Image:Bucharest Metro ticket gates.jpg
The following extensions are in the process of being built, and will be finished by 2006-2007:
- An extension of Line M4 (opened in 2000 and currently running from Gara de Nord-1 Mai) to be opened from 1 Mai to Laromet via Pajura (3.1 km, 2 stations), in the city's north. A new station (Pajura) is to open by the end of 2006.
- An branch of Line M1/M3 from Nicolae Grigorescu to Linia de Centură (4.7 km, 3 stations). The first 2 stations (Nicolae Grigorescu 2 and 1 Decembrie) will open at the end of 2006, and the 2 remaining stations (Policolor and Linia de Centura) will also be ready by this date.
- By 2007 Metrorex plans to open 5 new metro stations on M2 and M3 (new locations include Spitalul Colentina on M3, Mărăşeşti on M2)
These extensions will raise the network size to 50 stations with 70.8 km length, making it rather extensive. Metrorex is also planning the following new lines and routes:
- A new line, which is not precisely decided yet, but will run from the Colentina quarter, via the city center at to the large district Drumul Taberei in the city's southwest. The project will start in 2006; the new line is planned to open in 2009, and it will connect in the first phase Drumul Taberei with Eroilor.
- An extension of M4 serving the two main airports of Bucharest: Henri Coandă International Airport and Băneasa Airport. Works are scheduled to be complete by 2012. Both airports are currently served only by bus and tramway (Baneasa). The extension will be very convenient because both airports are located in the north of the city and hence a single metro extension could serve both of them, making transfer between the two airports very easy.
Prices
Public transport in Bucharest is heavily subsidized, and the subsidies will increase, as the City Council wants to reduce traffic jams, pollution and parking problems and promote public transport. Like RATB, the metro can get crowded during morning and afternoon rush hours. The network uses metro cards, that are not valid for use on trams, buses or trolleys (that use stampable/punchable tickets). You must buy a ticket for every ground vehicle you use (RATB ticket - 1 trip - 1 new leu = EUR 0,3). From July 2006, the public transport in Bucharest will be coordinated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the ticketing systems will be unified.
Prices (as of March 2006):
- 2 trip card- 2.0 RON (EUR 0.6)
- 10 trip card - 6.5 RON (EUR 1.85)
- monthly pass (abonament) - 20 RON (EUR 5,7); 50% discount for students (EUR 2,9)
- 1 day card - 3.0 RON (EUR 0.85)
- Free for senior citizens over 70 years of age
Trip Planner
An online trip planner can be found at iMetro Bucharest. For a list of stations to use with the planner, refer to List of Bucharest metro stations.
If you are travelling to Bucharest and would like a trip planner for the Metro, please visit http://nanika.net/metro and download the MetrO program by Patrice Bernard & Frank Van Caenegem, along with the Bucharest city file. This excellent program will find the quickest way between two stations, and is only for Palm OS,Pocket PC, Symbian, iMode, Wap...
See also
External links
hu:Bukaresti metró nl:Metro van Boekarest pl:Metro w Bukareszcie ro:Metroul din Bucureşti