The Sofia Underground goes on writing its history. In the second half of 20 c. the population of the capital city hit 500,000. Large residential districts were built located away from the center. Some of them have populations exceeding 100,000. In 21 c. Sofia's residents have come to 1.4 million, and traffic has become impossibly busy. At this point the Underground has been summoned to help.
In January 1998 the first section of the Sofia Underground was launched with five metro stations. Until 2012 two lines were almost completed in the city's busiest parts with a total length of 31 km and 27 metro stations. On workdays trains transport 300,000 passengers a day. At this stage the total length of the Metro is 36 km with 31 stations, and passenger flow has been rising.
On 2 April, a new section of the Underground was opened taking passengers to the Airport. It was unveiled officially by PM Boyko Borissov and Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova.
In preliminary estimates, about 45,000 passengers a day are going to use the Мetro to the airport. This is expected to cut on automobile traffic and respectively on harmful emissions in the air. It is a great convenience that from the Airport passengers can reach the Central Railway Station directly, as well as the nearby Central Bus Station. Unlike other parts of Europe, the fare to the Airport is not higher than the normal one and stands at about 50 eurocents.
On the opening day, some citizens opted for the Underground, leaving behind personal cars:
"I have just met my son at the airport. I left the car keys to him and told him I'd take the metro, a more comfortable option”, Marin Hristov said.
Petar Panayotov who has just arrived to Sofia said he distrusted cabs and did not love using them. He vowed he would use the metro to reach the airport every time when needed.
Katya Yankova travelled on the metro on the new stations' opening day that was declared free. She said metro station interiors were amazing:
"It's like entering a palace, beauty and nice colors everywhere. The sky of the airport station symbolizes flights. Each stations shows great designer taste and style. I feel proud of being Bulgarian and travelling by the Underground.”
In May the line of the Sofia Underground reaching Mladost 4 housing district is expected to complete. It ends at the Business Park Sofia, a major office facility in the capital city.
English Daniela Konstantinova
Photos: Luiza Lazarova
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