Italy's second largest city and capital of the north has 1.5 million inhabitants (3 million in metropolitan area of almost 1000 km2).

In Sept. 2005, the Milan metro system is 74.1 km long (51.5 km underground) and has 87 stations (74 underground). M2 reaches far out of the city to Gessate.

Although the first part of the metro opened in 1964 the first project dates back to 1848; at that time engineer Mira proposed to deviate the water of the Naviglio Channel around Crescenzago (M2 Crescenzago) in order to operate a horse-drawn tramway in the canal bed (within the city boundaries the Navigli Channels system was almost completely covered in the 1930's!). At the eve of World War I, a metro network seemed to the city council the only way to solve the "increasing traffic problems"(!). An ambitious project from 1925 planned 7 lines, four of which crossing at Duomo, two at Castello Square (M1 Cairoli) and one would be circular. The project was never carried out because the expenses of construction were not justified by the relatively small amount of passengers. The 1938 project was more or less identical to that presented in 1955, on which today's network is based. Work begun at Buonarrotti (M1 Buonarrotti) in 1957, and the first section of the "red line" was finally opened in 1964.

The "green line" opened in 1969 between Caiazzo and Gobba; in 1972 the former interurban and recently modernised tramway from Milano P.zza Sire Raul (close to depot Teodosio) to Gorgonzola was incorporated into the metro network; This interurban tramway network once extended to Vaprio d'Adda and Cassano d'Adda. At that time, this suburban section was the only one of the Milano metro system running above ground. The heavy interurban yellow trams were not withdrawn but kept serving between the new metro terminus Gorgonzola M2 and the former interurban terminus in Vaprio and Cassano. The Cassano branch closed soon in 1972 while the Vaprio route ceased in 1978. In 1985 the metro reached Gessate, following partially the former tram track. The other above ground branch opened in 1981 from Gobba M2 to Cologno Nord also replacing the "yellow tram" from P.zza Sire Raul to Vimercate. When the interurban tram networks were closed, ATM planned to extend the metro in order to serve all areas originally served by the tram. Metro stopped at Cologno and Gessate. After spending some years in the Gorgonzola depot, the yellow trams were repainted in ordinary orange livery and shifted to the Brianza interurban tramways. Contrary to ATM intentions, the Brianza interurban tram network was never integrated with the metro system due to budget shortage and is about to close.

Only M1 has third rail power supply, M2 and M3 have catenary supply. Trains run from 6.00 till midnight and every 5 minutes (2.5 min during rush hours). The network is a closed system, tickets have to be stamped in a validating machine when entering the pay zone.

27 Sept 1969: Caiazzo - Cascina Gobba
27 Apr 1970: Caiazzo - Centrale FS
21 July 1971: Centrale FS - Garibaldi FS
04 Dec 1972: Cascina Gobba - Gorgonzola
03 Mar 1978: Garibaldi FS - Cadorna
07 June 1981: Cascina Gobba - Cologno Nord
30 Oct 1983: Cadorna - Porta Genova
13 Apr 1985: Porta Genova - Romolo
13 Apr 1985: Gorgonzola - Gessate
01 Nov 1994: Romolo - Famagosta
17 Mar 2005: Famagosta - Abbiategrasso (1.3 km)

In December 1999, an automatic shuttle line (POMA-OTIS) opened between Cascina Gobba station and the San Raffaele medical centre (682 metres). Sometimes referred to as Metro San Raffaele, it is shown on maps in green like M2, but with a thinner line.

01 May 1990: Centrale FS - Duomo (shuttle service)
16 Dec 1990: Duomo - Porta Romana
12 May 1991: Centrale FS - Sondrio and Porta Romana - San Donato
16 Dec 1995: Sondrio - Zara
08 Dec 2003: Zara - Maciachini

M3 is fully accessible for handicapped people.

Milan Metro Gallery

For a better integration of suburban trains and metro a cross city rail tunnel (passante) was built to connect northern and southern suburban lines and allow better transfer to the metro (Garibaldi - M2, Repubblica - M3, Porta Venezia - M1). The first part from Milano Nord Bovisa to Porta Venezia was opened in Dec 1997.

A northbound branch from Lancetti to Certosa FS opened in 1999 allowing the Passante to operate three S-Bahn type lines to Saronno, Gallarate and Varese (plus an urban service between Bovisa and Porta Venezia); the extension form Porta Venezia to Dateo was added on 30 June 2002. Eventually on 12 Dec 2004 the Porta Vittoria station opened completing the central Passante project and allowing through service from east to west at least on the line to Pioltello. That same day the new S-lines network was launched offering a train every few minutes along the shared underground route (Lancetti - Porta Vittoria). From 15 June 2008, S-trains have also been running on the southeastern leg to Rogoredo (3.5 km), with through service on the southern lines expected to start a few months later.

Milan boasts one of Europe's largest conventional tramway network, which is served by three generations of tram vehicles, the oldest dating from the 1920s.

On 15 Sept 2003, an underground station, Bicocca Nord, opened on Metrotramvia 7 (which started service in Dec 2002) under the Teatro degli Arcimboldi.

 Projects

CURRENT PROJECTS

Line M5 will run north from Garibaldi F.S (M2; Passante) to Isola, Zara (M3), Marche, Istria, Ca' Granda, Bicocca, Ponale and Bignami. Financing for the 9.8km line was approved in Oct. 2004, and construction started in 2007. It is designed as a driverless small profile metro line. (Project website)

Other extensions currently under construction:

Sesto F.S. - Monza Bettola 3.3 km, 4 stations - 2007 (financing approved in Oct. 2004 - 176 mill. €);
Line M2: Famagosta - Milanofiori Forum (Assago) 4,7 km, 2 stations, surface - 2006;
Line M3: Maciachini - Comasina 4,5 km, 4 stations - 2007 (with intermediate stations at Dergano, Affori Centro, Affori FN).

MID-TERM PLANS (view map)

- Line M1: The Bisceglie branch may be extended to Baggio (1 station 1.3 kms).

- Line M2: in 2003, a plan to extend this line beyond Cologno Nord to Vimercate was approved (2012).
On the existing line, another station will be added between Cascina Burrona and Cernusco S/N, called Melghera.

- Line M3: southern extension from San Donato to Paullo via Peschiera Borromeo

- Line M4 from LORENTEGGIO (southwest) to LINATE AIRPORT (east) via the PORTA GENOVA rail station and the city centre. Stations planned are: Lorenteggio, Gelsomini, Frattini, Tolstoi, Washington/Bolivar, Foppa, Parco Solari, S. Ambrogio “M2”, De Amicis, Vetra, S. Sofia,Crocetta “M3”, Sforza/Policlinico, Sforza/Sormani, Visconti di Modrone, S.Babila “M1”, Tricolore, Dateo “R”, Susa, Argonne, Forlanini, Aeroporto Linate.

For more details view this document by Christian Busato (pdf).

- OPERATION

Trains run from 6:00 until midnight every 5 minutes (2.5 min during rush hours). The network is a closed system, tickets have to be stamped in validating machines when entering the pay zone.

- FARES

All tickets allow transfer, within 75 minutes, between all different means of transport, metropolitana, buses, trams, trolleybus, and suburban trains run by FERROVIE NORD and TRENITALIA (FERROVIE DELLO STATO) (FS) within the city. Prices are shown in Euro and valid in 2005:

Single ticket - 1.00
4-Trips - 4.00
10-Rides - 9.20
1-Day-Pass - 3.00
2-Days-Pass - 5.50

Weekly 2x6 (2 rides a day) - 6.70
Weekly Pass* - 9.00
Monthly Pass* - 30.00
Year's Pass* - 300.00

People mover (Cascina Gobba - Ospedale San Raffaele) - 2 rides - 0.80

* These tickets must have an ID card valid for 5 years

Passante Ferroviario (Gruppo Fermodellistico Milanese "Italo Briano")

Metro di Milano by Ivan Furlanis

Metro Projects in Milan by Christian Busato

Milan Subway by Marco Donida Maglio