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The public transport in Sofia consists of a comprehensive network of bus, trolleybus, tram and metro lines. It is overseen by the Sofia Urban Mobility Center, a municipal enterprise responsible for route planning, scheduling, fare collection and ticket inspection. It also pays the various transport operators for their service on a per-kilometer basis. Sofia is the only city in Bulgaria that operates the four modes of public transport.[1]
The public transport in Sofia is operated by three municipal and one private company — Sofia Public Bus Transport Company JSC operates the majority of bus services; Sofia Public Electrical Transport Company JSC operates the tram and trolleybus networks; Metropoliten JSC operates the Sofia Metro; and the private company MTK Group operates some, mainly suburban, bus services.
The Sofia Metro is the only metro in Bulgaria. It began operation on 28 January 1998.[2] As of 2023[update], the Sofia Metro consists of four interconnected lines, serving 47 stations, with a total route length of 52.0 kilometres (32.3 mi)[2][3] and also being among the top 20 of the most extensive European metro systems, ranking 19th as of 2020. The Metro links the densely populated districts of Lyulin – Mladost (M1 line – Red) and Nadezhda – Lozenets (M2 line – Blue), and serves the Sofia Airport.[4][5]
Trams began operation on 1 January 1901.[6] As of 2006, the tram system included approximately 308 kilometres (191 miles)[6] of narrow and standard gauge one-way track and operates 15 lines.[6] Most of the track is a narrow gauge (1,009 mm or 3 ft 3+23⁄32 in), with standard gauge (1,435 mm or 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) used on lines 20, 22 and 23 and accounting for approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) of the system's track length.[6] The average speed of trams in Sofia as of 2020 is 14 km/h.
Trolleybus transport was the last form of surface public transport to develop in Sofia, after buses and trams. The first Sofia trolleybus line opened on 8 February 1941. It was over 3 km (2 mi) long, and connected the city with the Gorna Banya quarter. The line was covered by 2 MAN trolleybuses, which were stored on the last stops during the night, due to the lack of depot.
In the 1950s and 1960s, massive development of the trolleybus transport in Sofia began. At that time, the construction of new trolleybus routes proceeded especially rapidly, and two depots ("Stochna Gara" and "Nadezhda") were opened, with a total capacity of 160 trolleybuses. In 1951, the first Bulgarian made trolleybuses entered service. In 1987, a new depot, "Iskar", was opened with a capacity of 130 trolleybuses. "Levski" depot was opened in 1994 with a capacity of 60 trolleybuses. As of 2021 three depots are in operation: "Nadezhda", "Iskar" and "Levski". The latter also serves as a storage and overhaul facility. The system presently comprises 10 routes with 193 km route length.
The public bus transport in Sofia developed relatively late compared to the other types of transport in the city. The first operational line was opened on 20 April 1935. Soon after that six more lines were opened, bringing the total network length to 23 km.[7]
During the communist era, the bus fleet consisted mainly of Ikarus and Bulgarian-made Chavdar buses. After the political changes in 1989, however, the fleet has gradually been modernised. The system presently comprises 98 routes with a length of 2,380 km.
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