luni, 20 aprilie 2009

Bucharest Metro

The Bucharest Metro (Metroul Bucureşti in Romanian) is an underground urban railway network that serves the capital of Romania, Bucharest. The network is run by Metrorex. It is one of the most accessed systems of the Bucharest public transport network with an average ridership of 750,000 passengers [1] during the workweek. In total, the network is 71 km long and has 52 stations.

History

The earliest plans for a Bucharest Metro were drafted in the late 1930s, alongside the general plans for urban modernization of the city.[citation needed] In 1938, the local authorities assigned the task of planning and constructing the subway system to S.A. Metropolitanul, with work scheduled to start in March 1941.[citation needed] The outbreak of World War II, followed by periods of political tensions culminating with the installation of communism, put an end to the plans.
By 1970, the public transport system (ITB) was no longer adequate due to the fast pace of urban development, although the system was the fourth-largest in Europe. A commission was set up, and its conclusion pointed to the necessity of an underground transit system that would become the Bucharest Metro.
The network was not built in the same style as other Eastern European systems. Firstly, the design of the stations on the initial lines was simple, clean cut modern designs, without excessive additions such as mosaics, awkward lighting sources or excessive decoration. The main function of the stations was speed of transit and modernity. Secondly, the trainsets themselves were all constructed in Romania and did not follow the Eastern European style of construction. Each station usually followed a colour theme (generally white - in Unirii 2, Universitate, Victoriei 1, Politehnica, Armata Poporului; but also light blue - in Obor and Gara de Nord; orange - in Tineretului), and an open plan. No station was made to look exactly like any other. Despite this, many stations are rather dark, due to the policies of energy economy in the late 1980s; later modernisations doing little to fix this problem. Bucharest being one of the largest cities in the region, it has quite a large network (larger than Prague, Amsterdam or Budapest). When the planned new line-extensions is finished, it will increase to more than 100 km (with about 80 stations).
The first line, M1, opened on November 16, 1979, running from Timpuri Noi to Semănătoarea. It was 6.2 km long with 6 stations. Following this, more lines were opened:
  • December 1981: M1/M3 Timpuri Noi - Republica; 10.1 km, 6 stations
  • August 1983: M3 Branch line Eroilor - Industriilor; 8.63 km, 5 stations, Gorjului station added in 1991
  • December 1984: M1 Semănătoarea - Crângaşi; 0.97 km, 1 station
  • January 1986: M2 Piaţa Unirii - Depoul IMGB; 9.96 km, 8 stations
  • October 1987: M2 Piaţa Unirii - Pipera; 8.72 km, 6 stations
  • December 1987: M1 Crângaşi - Gara de Nord 1; 2.83 km, 2 stations (Basarab added 1990)
  • August 1989: M1 Gara de Nord 1 - Dristor 2; 7.8 km, 6 stations
  • January 1990: M1/M3 Republica - Pantelimon; 1.43 km, 1 station (single track, operational on a special schedule)
  • March 2000: M4 Gara de Nord 2 - 1 Mai; 3.6 km, 4 stations
  • November 2008: M3 branch Nicolae Grigorescu 2 - Linia de centura, 4 stations
Large stations which connect with other lines (such as Victoriei) have two terminals, and each terminal goes by a different name (Victoriei 1 and Victoriei 2). On the official network map, they are shown as two stations with a connection in between, even though, in practice (and in trip planners), they are really only one station with platforms at different levels. There is one exception: Gara de Nord 1 and Gara de Nord 2 are separate stations (although linked through a subterranean passage, the traveller is required to exit the station proper and pay for a new fare at the other station, thus leaving the system), passengers being required to change trains at Basarab.
Generally, the underground stations feature large interiors. The largest one, Piata Unirii, is cathedral-like, with vast interior spaces, hosting retail outlets and fast-food restaurants and has an intricate network of underground corridors and passage ways.

METROREX

Metrorex is the Romanian company which runs the Bucharest Metro. It is fully owned by the Romanian Government through the Ministry of Transportation. There were plans to merge the underground and overground transportation systems into one authority subordinated to the City of Bucharest, however these plans did not come to fruition.

Infrastructure and Network


As of 2008, the entire network runs underground, except for a short stretch between IMGB and Depou IMGB on the southern end of M2 line. The network is served by four depots, 2 being located above ground (IMGB and Industriilor) and two underground (Ciurel and Pantelimon) and by additional smaller works at Gara de Nord and Eroilor stations.
There are two connections between the Metro network and the Romanian Railways network, one at IMGB (connecting to the Bucharest Belt Ring), the other at Ciurel (connecting via an underground passage to the Cotroceni-Militari industrial railway). The latter connection however is unused and mothballed. The metro network and the national rail network share the same gauge (1435 mm) and loading gauge but not the same electrification system (the metro uses 750 V DC whereas the Romanian Railways use 25000 V 50 Hz AC) making it possible for new metro cars to be transported cross country as unpowered railway cars.
The network is powered by a bottom-contact third rail system except in works, depots and some tunnels where a catenary system is employed.
There are 4 metro lines in operations, 1 more being auctioned off and 2 being planned:
In operation:
  • M1 Line: between Dristor and Pantelimon - the first line to open (in 1979), is circular with a North Eastern spur; Part of its tracks are shared with M3 (7 stations).
  • M2 Line: between Pipera and Depou IMGB opened in 1986, completed 1988; Runs in a North-South direction, crossing the center.
  • M3 Line: between Industriilor and Linia de Centura opened in 1989, completed 2008; Runs in a East-West direction, south of the center. Shares part of its tracks with M1 (7 stations). Traffic on the shared lines is suspended for M3 trains until summer 2009 for completion of structural work at the newly opened 1 Decembrie station. M3 line is to be extended to Carrefour Militari, most probably before 2013.
  • M4 Line: between 1 Mai and Gara de Nord opened in 2000; Extension to Parc Bazilescu under construction, to be opened in 2010.
Under Construction:
Planned:
Two more stations are planned and may be constructed on existing lines, both on M1. However, given the complexity of work required, and the limited benefits these stations have it is unlikely that construction will begin in the near future:
See also List of Bucharest metro stations

Rolling stock


The Bucharest Metro's 768 car-fleet uses two types of trainsets:
  • 252 ASTRA IVA modular cars (total of 504 cars), built in Arad between 1978 and 1993 and proposed to be rehabilitated
  • 44 Bombardier Movia 346 trainsets (total of 264 cars), built in 2002-2008
The ASTRA trains used on the system are made up of various trainsets (rame) connected together. Each trainset is made up of two permanently-connected train-cars (B'B'-B'B' formation) that can only be run together. On lines M1 and M3, three trainsets (totalling six cars) are connected together, with a length of up to 120 metres, while in line M4, two trainsets run together (totalling four cars). M2 only uses Bombardier Trains. The ASTRA Arad rolling stock was built between 1977 and 1993, and is approaching the end of its service life, so it is currently being either refurbished or phased out. Currently there are 252 ASTRA trainsets, 181 in current use, others being kept as reserve, making for about 60 trains, 30 to 50 of which are operated daily.
The Bombardier trains are made up of six permanently connected cars, forming an open corridor for the entire length of the train (2'2'+Bo'Bo'+Bo'Bo'+Bo'Bo'+Bo'Bo'+2'2' formation). There are a total of 44 Bombardier trains, all in daily service, out of which 26 on Line M2. The rest of these trainsets were received in 2006 and 2007 and placed in service on Lines M1 and M3.
The Movia trainsets were given a distinct name (alongside a number) for identification. The names used on M2 are flower names whereas for M1/M3 EU member states' capital city names were chosen. The numbers are four figures long and seem to follow this format:
  • First figure: 1 or 2; one half (end) of the train gets 1, the other gets 2. This has nothing to do with the direction of travel: some trains are moving in the "1" direction, while others travel in reverse.
  • Second figure: 0 or 1; 0 means "M2" (or first batch of trains from Bombardier) while 1 means "M1/M3" (or the second one).
  • Third and fourth figure: serial number of train, increases for each new trainset.
The naming (and numbering) goes as follows:
The subway livery for Bucharest is either white with two yellow or red horizontal stripes below the window for ASTRA trains, or stainless steel with black and white for the Bombardier trains. All trains run on 750 V DC a third rail, or an overhead wire in maintenance areas where a third rail would not be safe. Maximum speed on the system is 80 km/h (50 mph), although plans are to increase it to 100 km/h (60 mph) on M5, a new line currently in planning stage.

Signaling system

The signaling system used is similar to the PZB version used by the Căile Ferate Române (Romanian Railways), with the inductor placed on the inside of the rails rather than the outside. The color light signals have the following meaning[2]:
  • red: stop
  • blinking red: automated signaling disabled, proceed with reduced speed (5-10 km/h) ready to stop at obstacles
  • yellow: proceed, next signal is red
  • blinking yellow: proceed with reduced speed (30 km/h, unless noted otherwise) on diverging track
  • green: proceed, next signal is not red
  • blinking green: proceed with allowed speed on diverging track
The minimum distance between two trains is 90 seconds. On the M2, the signaling system is now replaced by the ATP-System. The signals between the stations remain completely dark, while the exit signals of the station are showing a red light and the letters ATP. In the next years, this system shall replace the classic signaling system also on the other lines.

Criticism


Although the Bucharest Metro is, on the whole, an efficient transportation system, there are several common criticisms of the network. One of these is the relatively poor signage and the lack of network maps on the system. Most stations do not have maps that cover the entire network, instead having only panels showing the names of stations on the current line or, in some cases, only showing a selected number of stations from the respective line. Additionally, many stations have poor signage showing correspondence passages and exits. For this reason, it is possible to get lost on the system or take the train in the opposite direction. This problem is currently being addressed, with a new system of information booths and network maps being introduced in various stations, starting with Dristor, Piaţa Unirii, Eroilor and Piaţa Victoriei.
Another possible source of confusion for infrequent travellers is the audio announcements in stations and trains. In trains, the name of the station is never announced when entering the station. Rather, as the doors close, the next station is announced, as well as the location of the platform on the next station. The standard form for the in-train announcements is "Attention! Doors are closing! Next station is ... with the platform on the right/left side" (Atenţie, se închid uşile! Urmează staţia ... cu peronul pe partea dreaptă/stângă). However, with the introduction of newer Bombardier trainsets, this issue has been somewhat addressed: most of these trains are fitted with red or orange dot-matrix displays, constantly announcing the next station and the name of the station upon entering.
Other issues are low coverage (sizeable areas of the city don't have any subway access at all and the distance between stations is very large) and at times large intervals between trains.

Future development


The following extensions are in the process of being built, and will be finished by 2006-2010:
  • An extension of Line M4 (opened in 2000 and currently running from Gara de Nord-1 Mai) to be opened from 1 Mai to Laromet via Pajura (3.1 km, 2 stations), in the city's north. The extension is to be completed by 2009-2010[3].
  • By 2012 Metrorex plans to open 5 new metro stations on M2 and M3 (new locations include Spitalul Colentina on M3, Mărăşeşti on M2, Giuleşti on M1)
  • Metrorex also plans to extend M1 line from Industriilor to Carrefour Militari (Also a new station named Preciziei will be opened on this line)
These extensions will raise the network size to 50 stations with 70.8 km length, making it rather extensive. Metrorex is also planning the following new lines and routes:
  • A new line, M5, which will run from Ghencea/Drumul Taberei district via Eroilor and Universitate to Pantelimon, the current terminus of M1. The line will have 19 stations, and will be around 18-19 km in length. It will intersect with all existing lines except M4. Line M5 is currently in its planning stage, with construction expected to begin by 2008 and conclude before 2020. The line is expected to cost €740 million.[4]
  • A new M4 branch serving the two main airports of Bucharest: Henri Coandă International Airport and Aurel Vlaicu International Airport. Henri Coandă, the country's largest airport, is currently served only by bus, while Aurel Vlaicu is also served by trams. The metro extension will be very convenient because both airports are located north of the city and hence a single metro extension could serve both of them, making transfer between the two airports very easy. This line would also serve the Piaţa Presei Libere, Pajura, Băneasa areas, as well as some northern Bucharest suburbs. Works are scheduled to start in 2007 and be complete in seven years. The cost of the line, which will have a length of 13.9 km and 14 stations, would be around €1 billion.[5]

Prices


Public transport in Bucharest is heavily subsidized, and the subsidies will increase, as the City Council wants to reduce traffic jams, pollution and parking problems and promote public transport. Like the RATB, the metro can get crowded during morning and afternoon rush hours. The network uses a dual system, employing both metro cards, that are not valid for use on trams, buses or trolleys and a newer system with RFID contactless cards that are also valid on the RATB ground network.
From July 2006, the public transport in Bucharest was to be coordinated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority - however, this was postponed indefinitely. The ticketing systems for ground and subway transportation are currently being unified, with a new RFID card system being deployed across the network, with the old cards slated to be discontinued.
The newer RFID card system is managed by RATB and RFID cards can only be obtained from RATB kiosks. The system is called Card ACTIV. RFID cards are given away free of charge, but only if one agrees to have one's personal data (name and personal numeric code) imprinted on the card. Along with the personal data, as one uses the transport system, cost and usage data is collected in a centralised database. RATB claims this data is used only for improving the transport system. Only the person with the name imprinted on the card may use that card if used in combination with a monthly pass. If the card is lost, the lost card can be cancelled and the traveller, for a small fee, can obtain a new card with the remaining credit on it. Anonymous RFID cards can also be obtained for a small fee and they can be used by multiple travellers.
One must purchase a pass or credit to actually use the Card ACTIV on the underground or ground network. Also, these newer cards currently support for the metro network only monthly passes and a form of payment by trip, where trevellers can buy credit (but only at RATB kiosks). The full cost of a trip - 1.3 RON (€ 0.29) is then deducted from the card whenever entering the metro network, regardless of the number of times a traveller enters the metro network in a given time interval. Because of this limitation, the 10 trip older-style metro card (see below) remains the most cost-effective solution for the casual traveller.
Older style metro cards cand be purchased at any metro station. Prices (as of February 2008)[6]:
  • 2 trip card- 4 RON (€ 0.9)
  • 10 trip card - 15 RON (€ 3.37)
  • Monthly pass (full price) - 60 RON (€ 13.5)
  • Student monthly pass (only for Romanians) - 30 RON (€ 6.75)
  • 1 day card - 6 RON (€ 1.35)
  • Free for senior citizens over 70 years of age
Older-style metro cards are not linked with personal data or usage data in a central database and thus they guarantee anonimity of the travel. Because of that, however, if a metro card is lost or damaged, the traveller cannot be reimbursed for the unused trips.
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