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Romania's capital Bucharest lies in the southern part of the country, about 70 km from the Bulgarian border and 225 km from the Black Sea. The city has about 2.3 million inhabitants.

The first line of the Bucharest Metro opened in 1979 between Timpuri Noi and Semanatoarea (now Petrache Poenaru), in 1981 the eastern extension to Republica opened. Two years later, in 1983, also the western branch to Industriilor (now Preciziei) began operating. As part of a future circular line this line was extended to Crângasi (1984) and finally to Gara de Nord (North Station) in 1987. In 1991, Pantelimon station opened at the nearby depot.

In the 1980s, also line M2 (north-south, 18.7 km) began operating, in 1986 along the southern section, Piata Unirii - Depoul I.M.G.B (now Berceni), and one year later also along the northern section, Piata Unirii - Pipera.

The third line was actually designed to become a circle line, but it was initially operated together with the first line. The section between Gara de Nord and Dristor was opened in 1989. Finally line M3 operated along the Eroilor - Industriilor (now Preciziei) branch whereas M1 serves the Republica branch and the northern circle. After long delays (construction had started in 1989), the eastern branch finally opened in November 2008, although it was initially operated as a shuttle between Nicolae Grigorescu 2 and Linia de Centura with two intermediate stations. Since 4 July 2009*, lines M1 and M3 have been sharing the section between Eroilor and Nicolae Grigorescu.

Line M4 from Gara de Nord via Basarab to 1 Mai (Ion Mihalache) opened on 1 March 2000 (3.7 km). Basarab is a 4-track station with M1-tracks between the M4-tracks, allowing confortable transfer between the two lines.

M1+M3 = 44.7 km, 30 stations
M2 = 18.7 km, 14 stations
M4 = 3.7 km, 4 stations

Total (2008): 67.3 km, 48 stations

* In July 2009, several stations were renamed:
M1: Semanatoarea > Petrache Poenaru; M2: Depoul IMGB > Berceni, IMGB > Dimitrie Leonida; M3: Industriilor > Preciziei, Armata Poporului > Lujerului, Policolor > Nicolae Teclu, Linia de centura > Anghel Saligny; M4: Laromet > Laminorului

Trains
1) 2-car units; maximum length 3 units coupled to form a 6-car train (129 m platforms); 750 V d.c., third rail; built in Romania by ASTRA Vagoane Arad; 251 units delivered although some have been scrapped in the meantime. The Astra trains are now used on lines M3 and M4.

2) In 2000, 108 new metro cars (Movia) were ordered from Bombardier with delivery starting in 2001 for Line M2 (18 six-car trains; 3.1 m wide; with gangways between cars; in the meantime, 24 six-car Movia trains run on line M2, and 20 on line M1.

16-Nov-1979: M1/M3 Timpuri Noi - Semanatoarea (now Petrache Poenaru); 8.63 km, 6 stations
28-Dec-1981: M1/M3 Timpuri Noi - Republica; 10.1 km, 6 stations
19-Aug-1983: M1/M3 Branch line Eroilor - Industriilor (now Preciziei); 8.63 km, 5 stations, Gorjului station added in 1991
22-Dec-1984: M1/M3 Semanatoarea (now Petrache Poenaru) - Crângasi; 0.97 km, 1 station
24-Jan-1986: M2 Piata Unirii 2 - Depoul I.M.G.B (now Berceni); 9.96 km, 8 stations
25-Oct-1987: M2 Piata Unirii 2 - Pipera; 8.72 km, 6 stations
25-Dec-1987: M1/M3 Crângasi - Gara de Nord 1; 2.83 km, 2 stations
17-Aug-1989: M1/M3 Gara de Nord 1 - Dristor 2; 7.8 km, 6 stations
15-Jan-1990: M1/M3 Republica - Pantelimon; 1.43 km, 1 station
01-Mar-2000: M4 Gara de Nord 2 - 1 Mai; 3.6 km, 4 stations
20-Nov-2008: Nicolae Grigorescu - Linia de Centura (now Anghel Saligny); 4.7 km, 3 stations (shuttle service)
04-July-2009: M3 through service from Preciziei to Anghel Saligny

 Projects

- Currently under construction is a northern extension for line 4 from 1 Mai to Laminorului (3.1 km, 3 stations). Eventually this line might run through the city centre (Izvor - M1, Eroii Revoltiei - M2) to Gara Progresul.

- There are also long-term plans for line 5 from the south-west (Drumul Taberei) to the north-east (Colentina) through Eroilor, Universitate and Obor, plus an eastern branch from Universitate towards Pantelimon via Iancului.

- According to the new project approved by the General Council of Bucharest on 9 June 2006, the Airport line would be a branch of the current M4. It would diverge from M4 at station 1 Mai, head east with stations Pajura, Expozitiei, Gara Baneasa (Baneasa railway station), then north on the previously proposed alignment with stations cartier Baneasa, Aeroport "Aurel Vlaicu" (Aurel Vlaicu Airport - former Baneasa airport), Baneasa Institut, Baneasa Meteo, Privighetorilor, Padina, Centura Otopeni, Otopeni Sud, Otopeni centru, Otopeni Nord, Aeroportul "Henry Coanda" and depoul Otopeni (Otopeni depot).

Map with planned extensions

- OPERATION

The Bucharest Metro operates from 05:00 to 23:00 (Mon-Thu, Sun), and from 05:00 to 00:30 on Friday and Saturday; every 8-12 minutes off-peak and every 4-7 min. during rush hours. The Metro is run by Metrorex RA.

- FARES (2009)

2-trip-ticket (2 calatorii) - 2.50 lei (RON)
10-trip-ticket ( 10 calatorii) - 8.00 lei (RON)
1-day-ticket (1 zi) - 5.00 lei (RON)

View 1999 10-trip ticket

Metrorex (Official Site)

Metroul (Official Site) Metro constructor

Metro Bucharest by George Alexandru Onofrievici

Scanned metro ticket (10 rides)

Map including light rail line

Map as displayed in stations (thanks to Rosstek)

Scanned official map 2009

Bucharest Tram at UrbanRail.Net

Official 2009 Metro Map
(thanks to Andrei Ivanes)

Geographical Network Map incl. Metro & Tram Lines
(thanks to Andrei Ivanes)

M3 extension to Linia de Centura (now Anghel Saligny) (opened 20 Nov 2008):

Nicolae Grigorescu - 1 Decembrie 1918

Nicolae Teclu (Policolor) - Anghel Saligny (Linia de Centura)
Photos © Andrei Ivanes

Berceni (I.M.G.B. Depou) Station on M2: