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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, in 1981 the eastern extension to Republica opened. Two years later, in 1983, also the western branch to Industriilor 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, 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. Currently line M3 operates along the Eroilor - Industriilor 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 is initially operated as a shuttle between Nicolae Grigorescu 2 and Linia de Centura with two intermediate stations. In the future lines M1 and M3 will be 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

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; 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; 8.63 km, 5 stations, Gorjului station added in 1991
22-Dec-1984: M1/M3 Semanatoarea - Crângasi; 0.97 km, 1 station
24-Jan-1986: M2 Piata Unirii 2 - Depoul I.M.G.B; 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; 4.7 km, 3 stations (shuttle service)

 Projects

- Currently under construction is a northern extension for line 4 from 1 Mai to Laromet (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 23:30 (Mon-Thu, Sun), and from 05:00 to 00:30 on Friday and Saturday; every 8-16 minutes off-peak and every 4-5 min. during rush hours. The Metro is run by Metrorex RA and carries some 250 million passengers a year.

- 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

Scanned map provided by Mr. Sandman (130K)

Scanned metro ticket (10 rides)

Map including light rail line

Map as displayed in stations (thanks to Rosstek)

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

Nicolae Grigorescu - 1 Decembrie 1918

Policolor - Linia de Centura
Photos © Andrei Ivanes

I.M.G.B. Depou Station on M2: