Sofia Metro

The Sofia Metro (Bulgarian: Софийски метрополитен, translit. Sofiyski metropoliten, also colloquially called Софийско метро, translit. Sofiyskо metro) is the rapid transit network servicing the Bulgarian capital city Sofia. It began operation on 28 January 1998.[1] As of July 2016, the Sofia Metro consists of two interconnected lines, serving 35 stations, with a total route length of 40.0 kilometres (24.9 mi)[1][5][6][2] being among the top 30 of the most extensive European metro systems. The Metro links the densely populated districts of Lyulin – Mladost (Line 1 – Red) and Nadezhda – Lozenets (Line 2 – Blue), and serves the Sofia Airport.[7][8]

Sofia Metro
Train 81-740/741 at Musagenitsa station
Overview
Native name	Софийско метро (Sofiysko metro)
Type	Rapid transit
Locale	Sofia, Bulgaria
Stations	35[1][2]
Services	2[1]
Daily ridership	350,000[3]
Website	www.metropolitan.bg
Operation
Opened	28 January 1998 (1998-01-28)[1]
Owner	City of Sofia
Operator(s)	Metropoliten JSC
Depot(s)	1 (Obelya)
Rolling stock	52
Technical
Track length	40.0 km (24.9 mi)[1][2]
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	825V DC (third rail, lines 1, 2), 1500V DC (overhead lines, line 3)
Operating speed	Top: 80 km/h (50 mph) Average: 40 km/h (25 mph)[4]
Map of the Sofia Metro

History

Planned since the 1960s, construction of the Metro was not officially launched until the late 1990s mainly because the city did not experience an urgent need for an underground system in addition to the stalled construction due to lack of sufficient funding. Another factor was the depth at which the construction works had to be carried out: being one of the oldest cities in Europe, Sofia contains many historical layers underneath its central areas. Evidence of antiquity can be clearly seen at the Serdika Station which exhibits a wealth of unearthed Thracian and Roman ruins and modern architecture. During the construction of the enormous complex of the National Palace of Culture two stations forming part of the then future Line 2 and their connecting tunnels were built.

The construction of the system began from the route that sees the highest volumes of passenger traffic, that can easily reach up to 38,000 at rush hour.[9]

Lines

Due to an increased population, there are a large number of passengers heading toward the city center during weekday mornings, and away from the city centre in the weekday evenings. The necessity of efficient public transport in the direction of the largest passenger flows, transport, and Sofia's environmental problems precipitated the start of the construction of the Sofia Metro. Following the ratification of a technical and economic report on the metro by the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria, and the subsequently approved General City Plan, the general scheme for the development of the lines should consist of three diameters with extensions in the periphery, with a total length of 62 kilometres (39 mi), 63 metro stations, and a 1.1 million daily passenger capacity at the final stage of implementation.[10]

Line	Opened	Current length (km [mi])	Current stations	U/C length (km [mi])	U/C stations	Planned length (km [mi])	Planned stations
1	1998	28 (17.4)	23	–	–	30.9 (19.2)	25
2	2012	12 (7.5)	12	–	–	18 (11.2)	18
3	U/C	–	–	12 (7.5)	12	18 (11.2)	18
Total:		40 (24.9)	35	12 (7.5)	12	66.9 (41.6)	61

Map

First Line M1 – Red line

Line 1
All stations are wheelchair accessible
Line 2 Obelya Depot Slivnitsa Lyulin Zapaden Park Suhodolska River Vardar Konstantin Velichkov Vladayska River Opalchenska Line 2 Serdika Line 2 SU St. Kliment Ohridski Perlovska River Vasil Levski Stadium Joliot-Curie Novachitsa River G.M.Dimitrov Musagenitsa Darvenishka River Mladost 1 Line 2 Aleksandar Malinov Akademik Aleksandar Teodorov - Balan Banishka River Business Park Sofia Sofia Park Banishka River Malinova Dolina Station names in italics are not confirmed.
Detailed track map RED line – BLUE line Moderno predgradie (proposed) National Rail to Dragoman/Radomir/Bankya   ↑Opened 2003↑ to Depot   ↓Opened 1998↓ 0' Slivnitsa 2' Lyulin 4' Zapaden Park Suhodolska National Rail to Pernik-Kulata/Kyustendil 7' Vardar 9' Konstantin Velichkov   ↓Opened 1999↓ Vladayska 11' Opalchenska   ↓Opened 2000↓ 13' Serdika Serdika II BLUE line M2 to Obelya/Vitosha   ↓Opened 2009↓ 15' Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Perlovska 17' Vasil Levski Stadium 21' Joliot-Curie WTC Novachitsa 23' G.M.Dimitrov 24' Musagenitsa Darvenishka 26' Mladost 1 00' to AIRPORT   00'   ↓Opened 2012↓   29' Mladost 3 31' Inter Expo Center – Tsarigradsko shose   ↓Opened 2015↓ 33' Druzhba 36' Iskarsko shose National Rail to Ihtiman/Karlovo 38' Sofiyska Sveta gora 40' Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Airport branch end 00'   ↓Opened 2015↓   28' Aleksandar Malinov 30' Akademik Aleksandar Teodorov - Balan Banishka 32' Business Park Sofia Mladost branch end

The first 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) long section of line 1 consisting of five stations linking Slivnitsa Boulevard through Lyulin and K. Velichkov Boulevard was inaugurated on 28 January 1998. Opalchenska station entered into service on 17 September 1999 and Serdika station situated on St Nedelya Square followed on 31 October 2000, extending the total system length to 8.1 kilometres (5.0 mi). The operational section of the line was further extended with a 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) long section, reaching Obelya housing estate in April 2003.

The extension of Line 1 continued in 2005 with the start of the construction of 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) of tunnels and three stations linking St Nedelya Square and the Interped World Trade Center in Izgrev (station Frédéric Joliot-Curie). 2006 saw the start of the construction of another section of the same line (consisting of 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) of tunnels and three stations) linking Izgrev and Mladost I housing estate. The completion of the first three stations was projected for the autumn of 2007, however as a result of various delays it was the second section from the first line (Vasil Levski stadium – Mladost 1) that first entered into service on 8 May 2009, operating for a brief period of time separately from the north-west portion of the line. The remaining section between Serdika and Vasil Levski stadium station finally entered into service on 7 September 2009[11] establishing an uninterrupted link between Obelya and Mladost 1 stations.

The construction of the stretch from Mladost I to Business Park Sofia station (2.62 kilometres (1.63 mi), three underground stations) began on 25 April 2013, and was completed on 8 May 2015.[6][12] It cost BGN 85,767,683 (EUR 43,852,320), VAT exclusive, and serves the majority of the second most densely populated area in Sofia.[13][14]

Main Line

Station	Image	In service since	Notes
Slivnitsa (Сливница)		28 January 1998	servicing Lyulin housing estate
Lyulin (Люлин)		28 January 1998	servicing Lyulin housing estate
Zapaden Park (Западен парк)		28 January 1998	situated near Mega Mall Sofia and servicing Lyulin housing estate
Vardar (Вардар)		28 January 1998	servicing Zapaden Park housing estate
Konstantin Velichkov (Константин Величков)		28 January 1998	situated on Konstantin Velichkov boulevard
Opalchenska (Опълченска)		17 September 1999	situated near Mall of Sofia
Serdika (Сердика)		31 October 2000	Situated near the city's ideal centre; transfer station between the Red (M1) and Blue (M2) lines
St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University (СУ „Св. Климент Охридски“)		7 September 2009	situated near Sofia University
Vasil Levski Stadium (Стадион „Васил Левски“)		8 May 2009	situated near Vasil Levski National Stadium
Joliot-Curie (Жолио Кюри)		8 May 2009	servicing Iztok and Izgrev housing estates
G.M.Dimitrov (Г. М. Димитров)		8 May 2009	servicing Musagenitsa, Dianabad, Studentski grad and Darvenitsa housing estates
Musagenitsa (Мусагеница)		8 May 2009	servicing Musagenitsa housing estate
Mladost 1 (Младост 1)		8 May 2009	transfer station between the northern (Sofia Airport) and the southern (Business Park) branch. Servicing Mladost 1 housing estate
Aleksandar Malinov (Александър Малинов)		8 May 2015	servicing Mladost 2 and Mladost 3 housing estate
Akad. Aleksandar Teodorov-Balan (Акад. Александър Теодоров-Балан)		8 May 2015	servicing Mladost 2 and Mladost 3 housing estate
Business Park Sofia (Бизнес Парк София)		8 May 2015	situated near Business Park Sofia and servicing Mladost 4 housing estate
Sofia Park (София парк)		planned	will be situated near residential district Sofia Park (ж.к. "София парк") and Sofia Ring Road[15]
Malinova Dolina - Sofia Ring Mall (Малинова долина - София Ринг Мол)		planned	will be situated near Sofia Ring Mall and Sofia Ring Road[16]

Second Line M2 – Blue Line

Line 2
All stations are wheelchair accessible
Moderno predgradie (proposed) Obelya Lomsko shose Slivnitsa Beli Dunav Lyulin Nadezhda Zapaden Park Han Kubrat Vardar Knyaginya Maria Luiza Konstantin Velichkov Central Railway Opalchenska Lavov most ↖Serdika↘ ↙Serdika II↗ NDK SU St. Kliment Ohridski European Union Vasil Levski Stadium James Bourchier Joliot-Curie Vitosha G.M.Dimitrov Musagenitsa Mladost 1 Line 1 Aleksandar Malinov Mladost 3 Akademik Aleksandar Teodorov - Balan Inter Expo Center – Tsarigradsko shose Business Park Sofia Druzhba Iskarsko shose Sofiyska Sveta gora Sofia Airport
Detailed track map line end -8' Vitosha   ↑Opened 2016↑ -6' James Bourchier -4' European Union built 1981 opened 2012 Perlovska -2' NDK built 1981 opened 2012 Serdika RED line M1 to Slivnitsa/Business Park Sofia 0' Serdika II Vladayska 2' Lavov most 3' Central Railway Station 5' Knyaginya Maria Luiza BDŽ National Rail to Pernik-Kulata/Kyustendil BDŽ National Rail to Dragoman/Radomir/Bankya 00' Future extension   00' Ilyantsi branch Lev Tolstoy Svoboda Iliyansko shose Ilyantsi Ilyanysi branch end 7' Han Kubrat Suhodolska 9' Nadezhda 11' Beli Dunav 13' Lomsko shose ↑Opened 2012↑   15' Obelya Kakach Moderno predgradie (proposed) National Rail to Dragoman/Radomir/Bankya   ↑Opened 2003↑ RED line to Depot   ↓Opened 1998↓ -13' Slivnitsa -11' Lyulin -8' Zapaden Park Suhodolska National Rail to Pernik-Kulata/Kyustendil -6' Vardar -4' Konstantin Velichkov   ↓Opened 1999↓ Vladayska -2' Opalchenska   ↓Opened 2000↓ 0' Serdika Serdika II BLUE line M2 to Obelya/Vitosha   ↓Opened 2009↓ 3' Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Perlovska 5' Vasil Levski Stadium 8' Joliot-Curie WTC Novachitsa 10' G.M.Dimitrov 12' Musagenitsa Darvenishka 14' Mladost 1 00' to Business Park   00'   ↓Opened 2015↓   16' Aleksandar Malinov 18' Akademik Aleksandar Teodorov - Balan Banishka 20' Business Park Sofia Mladost branch end 00'   ↓Opened 2012↓   16' Mladost 3 18' Inter Expo Center – Tsarigradsko shose   ↓Opened 2015↓ 20' Druzhba 23' Iskarsko shose National Rail to Ihtiman/Karlovo 25' Sofiyska Sveta gora 27' Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Airport branch end

The second line of the Sofia Metro links the districts of Obelya, Nadezhda, the city centre and Lozenets to the south of the city.[17] Half of the construction cost was covered by the European Union, with the remaining part funded by the state and city budgets.[17] Construction of the 6.4 km (4.0 mi) section between Nadezhda interchange and Lozenets district via Central railway station and the National Palace of Culture started on 14 December 2008. Work on the section between Obelya residential District and Nadezhda started in February 2010. Both sections of the line entered into service on 31 August 2012.[17]

NDK and European Union stations and their connecting tunnels were partly completed during the construction of the National Palace of Culture and the redevelopment of the surrounding area in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The construction of Mladost 3 and Inter Expo Center - Tsarigradsko chaussée stations began on 15 February 2009 and was completed on 25 April 2012. The further extension to Sofia Airport comprising two underground and two overground stations and a length of 4.968 kilometres (3.087 mi) began in 2013,[12][18][19][20] and was completed on 2 April 2015 at the cost of BGN 136,757,630 (EUR 69,923,066), VAT exclusive.[7][8] This extension was briefly operated as a branch of Line 1, but was soon transferred to Line 2, moving that line's terminus from Obelya to Sofia Airport.

On 20 July 2016, the line was extended southward with 1.3 km (0.81 mi) and one station, Vitosha, located at Hladilnika neighbourhood.[2] The construction took 2 years.

Provisions have been made for the construction of future branch to Iliyantsi, starting from the existing junction located between Knyaginya Maria Luiza and Han Kubrat stations.

Main Line

Station	Image	In service since	Notes
Obelya (Обеля)		20 April 2003	Set to be used as a link between the depot and line M2.Servicing Obelya, Vrabnitsa and Moderno Predgradie housing estates
Lomsko shose (Ломско шосе)		31 August 2012	servicing Vrabnitsa housing estate
Beli Dunav (Бели Дунав)		31 August 2012	situated on the border between Nadezhda 3 and Nadezhda 4 housing estates
Nadezhda (Надежда)		31 August 2012	servicing Nadezhda housing estate and situated on Lomsko shose
Han Kubrat (Хан Кубрат)		31 August 2012	situated on the border between Nadezhda 1 and Nadezhda 2 housing estates
Knyaginya Maria Luiza (Княгиня Мария Луиза)		31 August 2012	situated near Klementinska hospital
Central Railway Station (Централна ж.п. гара)		31 August 2012	situated near Sofia Central Station and Central Bus Station Sofia
Lavov Most (Лъвов мост)		31 August 2012	situated near Lavov Most
Serdika II (Сердика II)		31 August 2012	transfer station between the Red (M1) and Blue (M2) lines
National Palace of Culture (Национален дворец на културата )		31 August 2012	situated to the north of the National Palace of Culture
European Union (Европейски съюз)[21]		31 August 2012	situated near the Earth and Man National Museum and City Center Sofia
James Bourchier (Джеймс Баучер)		31 August 2012	servicing Lozenets housing estate
Vitosha (Витоша)		20 July 2016	situated next to the Paradise Center; servicing Hladilnika housing estate
Cherni vrah (Черни връх)		planned	will be situated near boul. Cherni Vrah and residential district Krastova vada (кв. „Кръстова вада“)
Dragalevtsi (Драгалевци)		planned	will be situated near boul. Cherni Vrah and Sofia Ring Road

Sofia Airport branch

Station	Image	In service since	Notes
Mladost 3 (Младост 3)		25 April 2012	servicing Mladost 3 housing estate
Inter Expo Center - Tsarigradsko shose (Интер Експо Център - Цариградско шосе)		25 April 2012	situated on Tsarigradsko shose
Druzhba (Дружба)		2 April 2015	servicing Druzhba 1, Druzhba 2, and Iskar housing estates
Iskarsko shose (Искърско шосе)		2 April 2015	situated near Iskar railway station within Iskar housing estate
Sofiyska Sveta Gora (Софийска Света гора)		2 April 2015	situated in industrial area "Iskar" within Iskar housing estate
Sofia Airport (Летище София)		2 April 2015	situated near Sofia Airport with direct connection to Terminal 2

Iliyantsi branch (planned)

Station	Image	In service since	Notes
Tolstoy (Толстой)		planned	will be servicing the Tolstoy housing estate
Svoboda (Свобода)		planned	will be servicing the Svoboda housing estate
Rozhen (Рожен)		planned	will be servicing area near Iliyantsi shopping center
Iliyantsi (Илиянци)		planned	will be servicing Iliyantsi housing estate

Third Line M3 – Green Line

Line 3
Gorna Banya Ovcha Kupel New Bulgarian University Miziya Vladayska River Tsar Boris III/Krasno Selo Boyanska River Bulgaria Medical University NDK II St. Patriarch Evtimiy Orlov Most Perlovska River Teatralna Hadzhi Dimitar Georgi Asparuhov Stadium Trakiya Vladimir Vazov

The 16 km (9.9 mi) long third line is planned to connect Ovcha Kupel neighbourhood (in southwest Sofia) and Vasil Levski neighbourhood (in northeast Sofia), with 16 stations in total, including two transfer stations in the city centre, with both of the already operational lines. The line should be put into service by the start of 2020.[22]

There will be 8 overground and 11 underground stations. The project design contract was awarded to the Czech company Metroprojekt Praha a.s.[23][24][25]

In March 2014, a tender for construction of the central section of the line was announced. The section is 7 km (4.3 mi) long and includes 7 stations, two of them transfer to lines 1 and 2. With the announcement of the tender it became clear, that the initial plans for 19 stations had been partly amended and 2 of the stations will be not be built, one at Doyran boulevard and another at Shipka street. The tunnel of the central section shall be excavated by a TBM, while the construction of stations shall be awarded to other companies. The construction of the section shall be completed within 45 months.[26] In January 2015, a tender for 20 trains, that shall serve the central section of the line, was announced. Driverless train operation, with Grade of Automation 3 (GoA 3), and platform screen doors will ensure the safety of the passengers. Unlike lines 1 and 2, where the trains collect power through a third rail, line 3 trains will be equipped with pantographs.[27][28] CAF and Siemens applied bids in the tender for the trains,[29] with Siemens winning it.[30]

In early 2016 construction began on the third metro line of the Sofia Metro using the technology for classic underground metro with high-power support. Under construction are all metro stations in the central section, plus a few in the west and east of downtown Sofia. The third line of Sofia Metro will have a total of 23 metro stations, as follows 16 metro stations for the Main Line and 7 metro stations for the Eastern branch.[31][32][33]

Main Line

Station	Image	In service since	Notes
Vladimir Vazov (Владимир Вазов)		planned	Will be servicing Vasil Levski housing estate
Trakiya (Тракия)		planned	Will be servicing Suhata Reka housing estate
"Georgi Asparuhov" Stadium (Стадион „Георги Аспарухов”)		planned	Will be servicing Stefan Karadzha housing estate near Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
Hadzhi Dimitar (Хаджи Димитър)		Summer 2020 (expected)[34]	Will be servicing Hadzhi Dimitar housing estate. U/C since 2016
Teatralna (Театрална)		Summer 2020 (expected)[34]	Will be servicing Vladimir Zaimov and Oborishte housing estates. U/C since 2016
Orlov Most (Орлов мост)		Summer 2020 (ready, but expected)[34]	Will be servicing Orlov Most and Borisova Garden area, transfer station between the Green (M3) and Red (M1) lines. U/C since 2016
St. Patriarh Evtimiy (Св. Патриарх Евтимий)		Summer 2020 (ready, but expected)[34]	Will be servicing area near Odeon cinema. U/C since 2016
NDK II (НДК II)		Summer 2020 (ready,but expected)[34]	Will be servicing the National Palace of Culture, transfer station between the Green (M3) and Blue (M2) lines. U/C since 2016
Medical University (Медицински университет)		Summer 2020 (ready, but expected)[34]	Will be servicing the Medical Academy and Kriva Reka housing estate. U/C since 2016
Bulgaria (България)		Summer 2020 (ready, but expected)[34]	Will be servicing Hipodruma and Strelbishte housing estate. U/C since 2016
Tsar Boris III/Krasno Selo (Цар Борис III/Красно Село)		Summer 2020 (ready, but expected)[34]	Will be servicing Slavia, Lagera, Krasno Selo and Belite Brezi housing estates. U/C since 2016
Miziya(Мизия)		Under Construction (2020)	Will be servicing Ovcha Kupel 1 housing estate
New Bulgarian University (Нов Български Университет)		Under Construction (2020)	Will be servicing Ovcha Kupel housing estate
Ovcha Kupel (Овча Купел)		Under Construction (2020)	Will be servicing Ovcha Kupel 2 housing estate
Gorna Banya (Горна Баня)		Under Construction (2020)	will be servicing Gorna Banya housing estate

Eastern branch (planned)

Station	Image	In service since	Notes
Sitnyakovo (Ситняково)		planned	will be servicing Poduyane and Yavorov housing estates
Geo Milev (Гео Милев)		planned	will be servicing Geo Milev and Reduta housing estates
Slatina (Слатина)		planned	will be servicing Slatina and Hristo Smirnenski housing estates
Asen Yordanov (Асен Йорданов)		planned	will be servicing the area near "CSKA Cherveno Zname" sports center
Arena Armeec (Арена Армеец)		planned	will be servicing the Arena Armeec sports hall and Sofia Tech Park
Poligona - The Mall (Полигона - Дъ Мол)		planned	will be servicing the area near The Mall (Sofia) and Poligona housing estate

Fares and ticketing

The price of a single ticket is 1.60 lev, equivalent to ~0.82 euro. It can be issued either by a cashier, or by a vending machine. When obtained, the single ticket must be validated within 30 minutes at a validator. Pre-paid RFID (MIFARE Classic) card also could be bought (at a price of 2 levs) with minimum 10 pre-paid rides (at a price of 12 levs for 10 pre-paid rides). Daily and monthly cards are also available.[35]

Rolling stock

The system uses two types of rolling stock, both made in Russia.

The older train sets, type 81-717/714, have been manufactured by Metrovagonmash in Mytishchi near Moscow and consisted of 48 carriages in total. They were delivered in 1990 – some 8 years prior to the opening of the first section of the system. In 2020 the first train sets of this type were refurbished and went into service.[36]

The second generation of rolling stock, type 81-740/741 "Rusich", have also been manufactured by Metrovagonmash. The delivery of this type commenced in 2005. With line M2 now in service, 40 more trains of this type were delivered by the end of 2013.[17]

The third generation of rolling stock, Siemens Inspiro 20 three-car sets were delivered in 2018.[37]

• 
  81-717/714
• 
  A refurbished 81-717/714
• 
  An 81-740/741 Rusich train at Serdika station
• 
  A Siemens Inspiro train during InnoTrans 2018.

Ridership

Sofia Metro ridership

Year	Passengers per day	Change	Metro Stations
1998	10,000[38]		Initial 5
1999	40,000		6
2000	70,000[38]	70.0	7
2001	80,000		7
2002	90,000[39]	28.6	7
2003	80,000[9]	11.1	8
2004	75,000		8
2005	70,000[40]	12.5	8
2006	80,000		8
2007	90,000[41]	28.6	8
2008	76,000[42]	15.6	8
2009	201,000[43]	264.5	14
2010	187,000[44]	7.0	14
2011	190,000[45]	1.6	14
2012	350,000[46]	84.2	27
2013	280,000[47]	20.0	27
2014	320,000[47]	14.3	27
2015	335,000[48]	4.7	34
2016	350,000[48](proposed)	4.5	35
2017	350,000[3]		35
2018	350,000[3]		35
2019	350,000[3]		35
2020			35

See also

• Trams in Sofia
• Trolleybuses in Sofia
• Public buses in Sofia
• Sofia Public Transport
• List of metro systems

References

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2. "Sofia subway launches 1.3 km section with one station". See News. 20 July 2016.
4. "Открит е нов участък от софийското метро – МС "Цариградско шосе" – МС "Летище София" (in Bulgarian). Метрополитен София. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
5. "Председателят на комисията Жозе Мануел Барозу ще пререже лентата на втория лъч на подземната железница" [We want the [European Commission (EC)] 800 million for the third metro line] (in Bulgarian). Строител. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
6. "Subway Extension to Business Park Sofia Opens". Novinite. 8 May 2015.
7. "Subway Trains to Sofia Airport Start Running at 1 pm on April 2". novinite.com. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
8. "Sofia airport metro link opens". Railway Gazette International. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
9. Metropolitan Sofia – General Information
10. "Metropolitan Sofia – General Scheme". Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
11. "Sofia Metro links east and west Sofia suburbs". Sofia Echo. 7 September 2009.
12. Stoyanov, Assen (2 March 2015). "Testing begins on Sofia metro extensions". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
13. Public Procurement Agency Portal - L1 S. Branch Construction
14. Public Procurement Agency Portal - L1 S. Branch Supervision
15. Спаси метрото
16. "Sofia Municipal Expert Spatial Development Council (MESDC)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
17. "Free rides celebrate opening of Sofia metro Line 2". Railway Gazette International. 31 August 2012.
18. Public Procurement Agency Portal - L1 N. Branch Construction Positions 1 & 2
19. Public Procurement Agency Portal - L1 N. Branch Construction Position 3
20. Public Procurement Agency Portal - L1 N. Branch Supervision
21. http://media.snimka.bg/s1/0817/027878246.jpg
22. https://www.novinite.com/articles/203047/When+will+the+Third+Sofia+Metro+Line+be+Launched%3F
23. O.P. Transport: Third Metro Diameter Archived 20 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine (in Bulgarian) BNT, 29 November 2011. Retrieved 30 Sep 2012.
24. Metroprojekt – History (2011–Future) Archived 30 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine Metroprojekt.cz – Retrieved 30 September 2012.
25. METRORAIL 2013 Presentation Archived 30 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine Metroprojekt.cz
26. "ОБЯВЛЕНИЕ ЗА ПОРЪЧКА" (in Bulgarian). metropoliten via AOP.
27. "Кметът на гр. София провери напредъка в изпълнението на участък "Младост 1 – бул. Цариградско шосе"" (in Bulgarian). Metropoliten. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
28. "Третият лъч на метрото зад стъкло срещу инциденти" (in Bulgarian). Trud Newspapers. 14 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
29. "CAF and Siemens compete for Sofia metro deal". think-railways.com. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
30. ""Метрополитен" избра "Сименс" за влаковете по трети метродиаметър" (in Bulgarian). infrastructure.bg. 22 August 2015.
31. Метрото за „Слатина“ ще тръгва от „Орлов мост“ и ще стига до The Mall
32. Разклонението на третия метролъч ще тръгва от "Орлов мост" и ще стига до The Mall
33. 243 млн. лв. за строителство на 12 метростанции и 12 километра трасе през 2017 г.
34. https://sofiaglobe.com/2019/08/02/sofia-metro-line-3-opening-delayed-to-february-2020/
35. "Information for citizens". Metropolitan. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
36. "Stolica.bg - Обновени и модерни метровлакове тръгват през март по линии 1 и 2".
37. Newag and Siemens present first Sofia Line 3 metro train
38. Стоян Братоев Софийски метрополитен. — София: Нота Бене, 2004. — p. 61 — ISBN 954-91420-1-9
39. Стоян Братоев Софийски метрополитен. — София: Нота Бене, 2004. — p. 14 — ISBN 954-91420-1-9
40. "Метрото ще вози милион пътници". Standart. 18 July 2005.
41. "Паркинги на три етажа в метрото". fakti.bg. 30 March 2007.
42. "Намаляват пътниците в градския транспорт". money.bg. 18 February 2009.
43. "Столичното метро постави рекорд - 201 хиляди пътници за един ден". BNT. 21 December 2009.
44. "Колата измести градския транспорт". monitor.bg. 24 April 2010. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
45. "400 хиляди пътници на ден ще пътуват с метро от 2012 година". TV7. 19 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 August 2013.
46. "Между 15 и 20% от стойността на метрото са за системите за управление". stroitelstvo.info. 3 December 2012. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
47. Столичното метро ще се движи на по-чести интервали от април
48. New Sofia Metro Station Opens, Adding 15 000 Passengers - See more at: http://www.novinite.com/articles/175553/New+Sofia+Metro+Station+to+Open%2C+Adding+15+000+Passengers#sthash.TmfyPRaE.dpuf

External links

• Sofia Metro – Official Web Site
• MetroSofia.com (in English)
• Interactive Sofia Metro Map
• Sofia metro @ urbanrail.net
• Metrovagonmash OAO – Information about the rolling stock
• Metro @ public-transport.net
• Unofficial Sofia tube map inspired by London's one, designed for foreign visitors
• Sofia Metro – quick info and maps
• Sofia Metro Map