The capital of Poland, Warsaw (Warszawa), has about 1.6 million inhabitants. Whereas most cities with more than a million inhabitants in Eastern Europe built a metro under communist regimes, Warsaw (and Sofia) did not open its first line until democracy came to Poland, although plans for a 4-line network, which should eventually have more than 100 km, had been designed some time ago.

Metro Line 1

Line 1 opened in April 1995 between its southern terminus Kabaty and Politechnika (11.5 km, all underground). On 26 May 1998 Centrum station was inaugurated as the largest station on the line, situated just north of an east-west railway tunnel built in the 1930's and close to the city's main railway station. Between Politechnika and Centrum another station called Plac Konstytucji was planned and might be built later to provide transfer to the future Line 3. An extension towards the north with two stations opened on 11 May 2001 - Świętokrzyska (future transfer to Line 2) and Ratusz (1.7 km). Initially Russian-built rolling stock (60 cars of 81-series, identical to those operating in Moscow, Prague, St. Petersburg, etc.) was bought, but in spring 1998 more than 108 new cars were ordered from GEC Alsthom. The first new cars were delivered in Oct. 2000.

The current length of the line is 19 km with 18 stations (04/2008).

The first section of the first metro line, from Kabaty to Wilanowska was built by an open method, the so-called Berlin Method. The section through the city centre was built using a tunnel boring machine for two 5.5m single-track tunnels. There are the following station types:

1) Stations with a vaulted roof: Kabaty, Wierzbno, Racławicka, Pole Mokotowskie
2) Stations with a flat roof and supporting columns: Natolin, Imielin, Stokłosy, Ursynów, Służew, Świętokrzyska, Ratusz, Dworzec Gdański, Plac Wilsona
3) Stations with a flat roof and a gallery above the tracks: Wilanowska
4) Stations with a flat roof, supporting columns and a gallery above the side platforms: Centrum
5) Stations with a flat roof without supporting columns: Politechnika

WKD (Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa)

View photos of all stations

 Projects

Eventually Line 1 will reach Młociny in the north of the city in 2008, with the following stations: Stare Bielany, Wawrzyszew and Młociny. The last 4 stations are planned with 4.5 m wide side platforms. Tunnels along the northern section will be built by the cut-and-cover method. Initially another station, called Muranów, was planned between Ratusz and Dworzec Gdański.

The terminus Młociny is being built as a major interchange hub, with facilities for park and ride, existing tram and bus lines, as well as a new 'fast tram' which will cross the river along a new bridge to the Tarchomin district. Initially two other stations, Plac Konstytucji (between Politechnika and Centrum), and Muranów (between Ratusz and Dworzec Gdański) were planned but shelved for financial reasons. In 2006 plans again arose for these stations to be built (as the current distance between stations on both sections is about 1.5 km). The metro website lists the construction of these two stations as planned investments, but no details as to construction or completion dates are given.

Line 2 will start at Chrzanów in the west of the city and cross under the Wisła river to serve the neighbourhood of Praga on the eastern side of the city. The western route was modified in late 2005 to run along Gorczewska avenue. The central section between Rondo Daszyńskiego and Dworzec Wileński (6.5km) will be excavated by tunnel boring machines. Interchange with Line 1 will be provided at Marszałkowska | Świętokrzyska station (see map).

Feasibility and environmental impact studies for the central section have been completed, and construction consortia have been invited to start putting forward offers. The environmental impact study for the outer sections is scheduled for completion in mid-2008. Construction of the central section is due to start at the beginning of 2009 and finish at the end of 2011. Initially this segment was to be completed by 2013, but as Warsaw is one of the host cities for the 2012 UEFA European Championship, the project has been given high priority. One of the stations on this segment, Stadion, will be located next to the new national stadium. The current configuration of the line adds a segment of what was previously Line 3 (between Stadion and Gocław) as a branch of Line 2, thereby adding 6 stations to the project. Stadion is the last station before Line 2 splits into its northeast and southeast segments, as well as being an interchange station with suburban railways and SKM. The alignment of the entire line can be seen here.

The Warsaw Metro operates from 5:00 until 0:00, every 4-5 minutes during the day (3-4 minutes during the peaks) and every 8-9 minutes early morning and after 21:00. On Saturdays daytime frequency is 5-6 minutes, and on Sundays 6-7 minutes. Beginning February 2007, on an experimental basis, the metro also operates until about 3:00 on Friday/Saturday and Saturday/Sunday nights, departing every 30 minutes from 0:30 until 2:30.

Zarzad Transportu Miejskiego (Public Transport in Warsaw)

WKD (Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa)

Koleje Mazowieckie - Suburban Railways

SKM Szybka Kolej Miejska (Suburban Rail)

Metro Warszawskie by Piotr Pietrzak

Koło Miłośników Metra

Warsaw Metro Report - July 2003 (Personal Impressions by Robert Schwandl)

Warsaw Metro on Wikipedia and Wikipedia.pl