The underground transport system plays a significant role in the activity of large cities, being the only means of transport to help traffic decongestion. The underground has the largest transport capacity of all urban transport modes and can reach speeds superior to other means of transport. Therefore, metro transport is safe, fast, efficient, regular and comfortable.
The increasing number of people, urbanization level and mobility need were the reason why new underground systems were constructed and other expanded both in developed as well as emerging countries. Thus, Central and East European countries have a high potential for generating and implementing projects related to underground transport, the purpose of some of them being to build underground networks, while other seek to expand their existing network. No matter what the case is and regardless of the global financial environment, every public underground transport system has a constantly increasing number of passengers carried. The support of European institutions in implementing underground projects is visible. Currently, the countries in the Black Sea area have become the centre of their attention in project implementation.
Successful projects
One of the most efficient and modern underground system in the world is that in the Austrian capital, Vienna. The transport policies in the past decade have been focused on finding a balance between meeting the people’s complex needs of mobility, environment protection and life quality. To face these challenges, Vienna has introduced the intelligent mobility concept meaning attractive means of transport for all users. In 2007, 35% of the city’s citizens used public transport. This was one of the highest percentages of public transport utilization in Europe. A great part of the merits is attributed to Vienna public transport company which exploits five underground lines.
The entire underground network is 75-km long and has 101 stations. And Vienna will not stop here. The authorities, together with the underground operator, have extension plans approved until 2019, when the total length of the network will be 90 km and the number of stations will reach 116. As for funding, in 2010, Vienna Public Transport Agency plans to invest EUR 471 Million in extensions. Other funds will go to the extension of U2 line. The new underground section will be put into operation in schedule on October 2, 2010.
According to the Agency’s manager, Günter Steinbauer, the EUR 5 Million necessary to this project will be allocated from the city’s budget.
Prague underground in the Czech Republic is another successful example of such transport systems, this time in Eastern Europe. Currently, the network is 60-km long and has 57 stations. It was extended in 2008 when the authorities inaugurated a 4.6-km long extension of the underground line C. The project was financed through a EUR 75 Million credit granted by the European Investment Bank, works rising to a total cost of USD 927 Million (around EUR 660 Million, at today’s worth). In 2009, the authorities in Prague could invest USD 535 Million in the extension of line A, radio.cz web site informs. The construction of the 12 km of line has an estimate cost of EUR 720 Million, around EUR 310 Million of which coming from European funding.
With a number of around 600 million passengers every year, the authorities in Prague plan to build the fourth line (D) that is scheduled to enter operation in 2013. There is also a project for the construction of line 5 (E).
The underground network in Warsaw is one of the latest underground networks in Europe. In 2002, the city municipality asked the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to assist the development of the city’s underground system through public-private partnership.
In 2009, the underground operator signed the contract for the construction of the first line section, part of the underground line 2 due to enter service in 2013. The second line will be 26-km long and will have 26 stations. The contract is worth EUR 2 Billion, 80% of the money being EU funding.
In what concerns constructions, the capital’s mayor also announced that “EUR 129 Million will be invested in 2010 in construction works. The investments for the east-west axis line could reach EUR 970 Million and should be finalized by 2012, although financial resources are insufficient. However, it is possible to finish the project earlier is we receive financing”.
Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania keep up with other European countries
The three large cities in Ukraine, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkov and Kiev also focus on the development of the underground system. The oldest and at the same time largest network is that in Kiev which entered service in 1960. The city of Dnipropetrovsk has only one underground line with a total length of 7.8 km and 6 stations, while Kharkov has 3 lines measuring 35 km and 28 stations.
Currently, the entire network is 56.6-km long and has 46 stations. The large number of carried passengers (1.7 Million/day) represents 34% of the total number of citizens who use public transport. Due to the high mobility demand, the authorities in Kiev and the Ukrainian Government have decided to invest in the extension of the underground line by another two lines.
According to the capital’s authorities, construction works on one line require EUR 500 Million. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development got involved in financing the public transport in Kiev by allocating hundreds of millions of euros for vehicle acquisitions, underground projects and traffic improvement projects.
The development strategy of the underground company for the period 2009-2025 consists in the implementation of the projects related to the construction of two lines and 3 underground line extensions. If these works are finalized, the number of stations will reach 100 and the network length will be doubled.
When we talk about underground networks in Sofia (Bulgaria) and Bucharest (Romania) we refer to the same intentions, projects and investments – all with the set purpose of extending the underground infrastructure.
The two countries are currently trying to allocate funds and conclude contracts with the European institutions to obtain financing for the development of their underground network. The fact that these countries want to implement projects related to this specific means of transport proves the authorities’ intensive implication in optimizing and promoting public transport as a method of easing traffic and improving life quality. The recently built lines, the acquisition of performing rolling stock and interlocking equipment, train and traffic control installations, passenger information systems brings a great contribution to an improved transport quality, thus succeeding in reaching European standards.
The Bulgarian capital, Sofia, has a 14-km long underground network and 14 stations. Even though the network is not as big as that of other European capitals, the need of efficient transport and the mobility demand have determined local authorities to prepare and present significant projects to the European Union in view of obtaining funds for potential development works. To this effect, the underground development strategy includes plans for an up to 63-km extension and 63 stations, as well as reaching a maximum volume of 1 million passengers every day.
In 2008, EIB announced that underground extension projects, which consist in the construction of 12.8 km, 13 stations and the acquisition of 15 new trains, will be supported through funds granted by the bank.
The European Investment Bank allocated over EUR 100 Million (total estimate cost – EUR 300 Million) by co-financing the extension works of line 1 (2.2 km) and the first section of line 2 (6.5 km). According to EBI “the project could benefit from financing granted through Structural Funds”.
In September 2009, EC approved the allocation of EUR 247 Million for the implementation of Sofia infrastructure projects, EUR 185 Million of which will go to the extension of line 2, a section due to enter service in 2011, Novinite press agency informs.
In May 2009, the extension of the first line was put into operation (6 km, 5 stations). The Bulgarian Prime Minister declared that “13 underground stations will be opened by 2012 and we are planning the construction of another two underground lines by 2014”.
Just as Sofia, the Romanian capital, Bucharest, is currently developing an underground network extension plan. The network is 66.95-km long and has 49 stations. The most important extension project is the construction of line 5 which will be 17.5-km long and 27 stations. An investment of EUR 883 Million will be necessary for the construction of Drumul Taberei – Universitate section. EBI has recently signed a co-financing contract for this project estimated at EUR 395 Million, the remaining amount of EUR 488 Million being financed through the state budget. “Together with the Romanian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Romanian Ministry of public Finances, I have signed the financing of Line 5, a project which helps improving the citizens’ life quality. This loan represents 45% of the total investments in this project”, Matthias Kollatz-Ahnen, EBI Vice President declared when the contract was signed. The tender for the execution of construction works for tunnelling and below-ground passageways and works, underground works and underground stations will take place in February. The work acquisition contract is worth around EUR 318 Million.
The pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for the extension of Line 4, on Gara de Nord – Piaţa Eroii Revoluţiei – Gara Progresu section, are currently under elaboration and prepare the design services. This technical documentation is expected to be finalized in 2010.
The construction of the underground line to Otopeni Airport demands EUR 1 Billion in funding. EUR 300 Million are allocated by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), “the Romanian state granting, in its turn, around EUR 700 Million, as the JBIC financing would only cover EUR 300 Million”, the Romanian Minister of Transport Radu Berceanu said.
Giving the fact that the underground represents only 3% of the total length of Bucharest’s public transport network and the operator’s statistical data show that an average of 500,000 passengers are carried every day, the increasing traffic and the development of the metropolitan area are already demanding the establishment of a large capacity public transport, which makes the underground network develop all the time.
Therefore, Bucharest’s underground extension policy aims at building 100 new stations by 2025, as well as over 70 km of tunnels.
The implementation of these projects stimulates the economic growth and develops the business area, as the invested money reaches billions of Euros. Even more projects are financed and tenders are under development or in the stage of document elaboration. As soon as the winners are designated, the urban transport will become more attractive and the business sector will be stimulated.
To support the activity of the private segment, the growth of the transport demand, as well as the reduction of the environmental impact, the European Union finances projects of billions of Euros. During 2007-2013, the EU grants EUR 308 Billion for the development and optimization of public transport, more than half of which is directed to 10 East-European countries.
In conclusion, the development of the underground infrastructure is an essential policy in avoiding bottlenecks, accidents, noise, pollution and energy consumption.
by Pamela Luică
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