Fandakova: 88% of the activities under the first stage of the third line are accomplished

The tunnel boring machine "Vitosha" completed the work on 7 km of the route. By the end of the year, another 8 km of Sofia subway will be put into operation, which is the first part of the third line from "Krasno Selo" to "Vladimir Vazov" Blvd. The tunnel boring machine finished the first 7 km long part of the tunnel. 88% of the activities under the first stage of the third line are accomplished, the finishing works on the tunnels and the subway stations continue, said today the mayor of Sofia, Yordanka Fandakova at the completion of the work of the tunnel boring machine in the presence of Prof. Stoyan Bratoev, executive director of "Metropolitan" EAD.

The President of the European Commission Representation to Bulgaria, Ognyan Zlatev and the Chair of the Sofia Municipal Council, Elen Gerdjikov attended the event. 

On February 27, 2019, the tunnel boring machine reached its end point - to the subway station at “Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi” Blvd. and “Yanko Sakazov” Blvd. With the specialized tunnel boring machine was built the 7 km tunnel for the third subway line from "Krasno Selo" to Little City Theatre "Off the Channel". Another tunnel of 1 km is built to “Vladimir Vazov” Blvd and the section "Krasno Selo - Ovcha Kupel - Gorna Banya" of 4 km and 4 subway stations.

Mayor Fandakova thanked the whole team of Professor Bratoev for the work on the subway. 

Currently, two of the four stages of the third subway line in Sofia - "Vladimir Vazov Blvd. - Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi Blvd. - Orlov Most - NPC - Krasno Selo - Ovcha Kupel" are under construction, with a length of 12 km and 12 subway stations under the "Transport and Transport Infrastructure" 2014-2020 Operational Program. The Stage 1 design of Line 3 includes a complete construction of the section - "Vl. Vazov Blvd. - City Centre - Krasno Selo", 8 km long and 8 subway stations,"Zemlyane" depot and the supply of 20 subway trains from "Siemens". Stage 2 includes the section "Krasno Selo - Ovcha Kupel - railway line Sofia-Pernik in Gorna Banya district, 4 km long with 4 subway stations. They are funded by the European Regional Development Fund with local co-financing from Sofia Municipality. 

In 2016, the German company “Herrenknecht” produced a tunnel boring machine for the complex engineering and hydro-geological conditions along the route, suitable for work in weak heavily watered soils, which started work on 27.02.2017. The average daily performance of the tunnel is between 15 and 20 meters per day. The machine built a two-way 7 km long tunnel with an external diameter of 9.4 m in the section: "Zhitnitsa Str. - Krasno Selo - Bulgaria Blvd. - National Palace of Culture - Orlov Most - Little City Theatre "Off the Channel". 

The architectural and finishing works on some of the subway stations continue. 

16 new subway trains have been delivered. The train equipment allows for energy savings of about 28%, modern equipment is provided for the control and security systems. 

The construction of the subway section of Stage II, 4 km long with 4 subway stations started in the summer of 2017. Four underground metro stations (Trakia, Ovcha Kupel, Ovcha Kupel II and Gorna Banya) are being built along the route. From the terminal station there will be an underpass connection under the Ring Road with exits to residential area “Ovcha Kupel”, to Gorna Banya district and to the envisaged in the design joint railway station on the Sofia-Pernik line.

The Stage II section should be completed in the first half of 2020. About 60% of the construction works have been accomplished already.

The public benefits from the construction of the two stages of Line 3 are: anticipated prospective passenger flow on the line of about 130 thousand passengers per day; intermodal connections with the main entry arteries in the city, with the national railway network in Gorna Banya district, and by the first and second subway line - connection to the Sofia Airport, the Central Railway Station and Sofia Bus Station; reduction of traffic on the route - up to 25%. The third line will save 90,000 tons of harmful emissions in the air.