Total value of the project:  406,553,284 BGN

Grant awarded under OP Transport:  215,141,300 BGN

Sources of funding:

- European Regional Development Fund: 182,870,105 BGN

- National co-funding:  32,271,195 BGN

Beneficiary: Metropoliten JSC

The project is funded under Priority Axis 3 “Improving the intermodality of passenger and freight transportation” and Operational Programme Transport 2007-2013.

Stage III was approved by the European Commission in December 2012 and was launched in the first half of 2013. Deadline for implementation: April 2015.

Aim of the project

Extending the line from Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd. to Sofia Airport in the north-east and from Mladost 1 do Mladost 4 in the south-east will facilitate the transportation of large passenger flows from the eastern parts of the city. Direct connections between Sofia Airport and the national railway network, major roads and bus stations in the city of Sofia will also be implemented in the near future, creating a fast intermodal connection between the main modes of transport.

The main users of the project will be the additional 190,000 citizens of Sofia who will be served by the extended metro diameter, the employees who will be hired for the 251 new jobs to be created by Metropoliten JSC, citizens and guests in Sofia.

Technical parameters of project

Lot 1 — “Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd. — Druzhba RD — Sofia Airport” — This is an extension of the first metro diameter from Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd. through Druzhba RD to Sofia Airport. The section is 5 km long and has 4 metro stations, 2 of which are underground and 2 are elevated — on the ramp and at the ground level.

The following activities are included:

• Construction and overall architectural layout of the 4 metro stations;
• Construction of the Druzhba railway station;
• Construction of a 625 m long steel ramp;
• Construction of section tunnels between the metro stations with a total length of 2.7 km;

In addition to the above-mentioned construction works Lot 1 includes:

• Rail track (double track allowing metro trains to move in both directions) and conductor rail with a length of 10.5 km;
• Three dispatch management systems — covering the movement, electric power supply, as well as sanitary and technical equipment for a 4.97 km long section, connection with the Central Dispatch Point and their integration in the common dispatch systems for metro management at the Central Dispatch Point (CDP) of the metro at 35 Antim I Str., Sofia;
• Radio connection system for a 4.97 km long section;
• Electric power supply system, including 4 traction step-down substations, cable lines, main and backup power supply for a 4.97 km long section, main and emergency lighting of the metro stations and tunnels and external power supply of key traction step-down substations;
• Traffic automation and train speed regulation systems for a 4.97 km long section;
• Complex audiovisual systems and low current systems for metro operations for a 4.97 km long section;

Lot 2 — “Mladost 1 RD — Business Park in Mladost 4” — This is a branch of the first metro diameter from Mladost 1 RD to the Business Park in Mladost 4. The section is entirely underground, with a length of 2 620 m and 3 metro stations.

The following activities are included:

• Construction and overall architectural layout of the 3 metro stations;
• Construction of section tunnels between the metro stations with a total length of 1.952 km (170 m have been constructed);

In addition to the above-mentioned construction works the section includes:

• Rail track (double track allowing metro trains to move in both directions) and conductor rail with the corresponding connections and electric power supply for a 2.62 km long section;
• Three dispatch management systems — covering the movement, electric power supply, as well as sanitary and technical equipment for a 2.62 km long section, connection with the Central Dispatch Point and their integration in the common dispatch systems for metro management at the Central Dispatch Point (CDP) of the metro at 35 Antim I Str., Sofia;
• Radio connection system for a 2.62 km long section;
• Electric power supply system, cable lines, main and backup power supply for a 2.62 km long section, main and emergency lighting of the metro stations and tunnels and external power supply of key traction step-down substations;
• Traffic automation and train speed regulation systems for a 2.62 km long section;
• Complex audiovisual systems and low current systems for metro operations for a 2.62 km long section;

The construction of the sections also includes the following activities: working design, reconstruction of affected engineering networks, supervision and expropriation of terrains.

Sofia Metro Extension Project, Stage III, Lot 1 “Tsarigradsko Shose — Sofia Airport”

• Section “Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd. (МS 19) km 2+138.90 km to km 3+184.90”

Value of the construction contract: BGN 12,664,769 (excluding VAT)

Contractor: Stanilov – Metroprojekt Holding

• Section from km 3+184.90 to Nedelcho Bonchev Str. km 5+010.00

Value of the construction contract: BGN 48,509,256 (excluding VAT)

Contractor: Metro Druzhba DZZD Holding (DZZD: company under the Law on Obligations and Contracts)

• Section from Nedelcho Bonchev Str. km 5+010.00 to Sofia Airport km 7+107.00

Value of the construction contract: BGN 24,887,238 (excluding VAT)

Contractor: Metro Sifer Holding

Sofia Metro Extension Project, Stage III, Lot 2, section from MS 13 (Mladost 1, km 15+450) to MS 16 (Business Park in Mladost 4, km 18+070) — with 2 metro stations

• Autonomous position No. 1: section from MS 13 (Mladost 1, km 15+450) to km 17+000

Value of the construction contract for Autonomous position No. 1: BGN 33,583,761 (excluding VAT)

Contractor: Metro Build Mladost Holding

• Autonomous position No. 2 — section from km 17+000 to MS 16 (Business Park in Mladost 4, km 18+070)

Value of the construction contract for Autonomous position No. 2: BGN 19,790,438 (excluding VAT);

Contractor: Geometro B. P. Holding

Expected results if the project is successfully implemented

• More than 190,000 additional persons served by the new sections of the metro;
• Thousands of hours saved — 4 755 man-hours per day;
• Millions of euro saved — EUR 6.92 million per year;
• Passengers using the metro — additional 53,780 passengers per day;
• Average speed of public transport on central routes — 38.27 km/h
• Metro system capacity — 30 additional wagons (funded by another project);
• Metro lines built — 7.59 km;
• Metro stations built — 7;