(Romania )BUCHAREST-M3

Images kindly supplied by Metrorex Bucuresti. (Thanks)
platform stop (1)	platform stop (2)	corridor
control line PCC metro car

Bucharest
The Metro of Bucharest is quite recent (M1 opened in 1979), despite its original planning in years '30s; the enormous delays have been caused by the II World War and the successive political changement (comunist regime). This system is different from many others in eastern Europe capitals, with a modern design and open space stations: it consists in 4 lines (all passing through the city center), with a fifth (M5) expected for 2014 and a sixth (M6) in long term plans.
M1 (1979) is currently 31.7 km long, connecting Dristor to Pantelimon. It has been followed by M3 in 1983 (currently Industriilor-Nicolae Grigorescu-Linia de Centura, with Eroilor-Nicolae Grigorescu 8 km initial section in common with M1 and Nicolae Grigorescu-Linia de Centura segment opened on 20 November 2008 initially as a shuttle service and then fully integrated to the line starting from July 2009; it's expected a western extension towards Carrefour Militari) and by M2 in 1988 along Pipera-Universitatii-Deposit route (18.5 km). M4 opened in 2000; it goes from Gara de Nord to 1 Mai, with Basarab stop in common with M1 (this stop has 4 tracks, with M1-tracks between the M4-tracks). A first northern extension from 1 Mai to Parc Bazilescu opened on 1 July 2011.
A fifth line (M5) is going to be realized connecting Ghencea to Universitatii (a further extension could reach Pantelimon, for a total length of 19 km), with important interchange points at Eroilor (M1/M3) and Universitatii (M4); among the most interesting potentialities of the network there is a sixth line (M6) which could serve both the international airports (Henri Coanda and Aurel Vlaicu) along a north-south alignement.
METROREX (sito ufficiale)

CHRONOLOGY
19-08-1983	Industriilor (Preciziei)-Nicolae Grigorescu
04-07-2009	Nicolae Grigorescu-Linia de Centura (Anghel Saligny)

Country	Romania
Line	Metro 3
Inhabitants	City 2.100.000, District 2.300.000
Date opening	1983
Future development:	western extension towards Carrefour Militari
Length (km)	13.3
Track sections	totally underground
Stops	9, average distance m 1600
Platforms	central
Platform doors	no
general characteristics	length 135-175 m, width --
n. of vehicles	Astra: 251 (cars); Bombardier: 20
n. of cars per vehicle	6
Type	steel wheels
Vehicle dimensions (m)	Astra: length --, width --; Bombardier: length 112.6, width 3.1
Vehicle capacity (pax)	Astra: --; Bombardier: 1.200 (216 seated)
Frequency	--
Current/Voltage	750 V DC (third rail)
Guide/gauge	standard gauge rails (1435 mm)
Speed Km/h	Comm --, Max 80
Accel./Decel. (m/sec2)	--
System capacity	--
Ridership	--
Total cost	--
Staff	--
System builder	ASTRA ARAD, BOMBARDIER
Model	BOMBARDIER: Movia
NOTE	Astra rolling stock in common with M1,M4 (CAF metro cars have been ordered to replace the ATRA ARAD vehicles used for M3); Bombardier rolling stock in common with M1 Nicolae Grigorescu-Linia de Centura section opened on 20 November 2008 and initially operated as shuttle service