Sofia tram lines face expansion
A long overdue expansion of the tram network in Sofia by another 24 km is in progress, aiming to modernise the capital's oldest form of public transport. The trams are Sofia's most iconic means of mass transport. They date back to 1890, when the first routes were laid by mayor Dimitar Petkov in what was then the new Bulgarian capital city, Sofia.
Some of the oldest boulevards in Sofia date back to those times, including Tsar Boris III, as well as the squares in front of St Nedelya chuch next to the Sheraton Hotel and the square outside the National Assembly, according to Stroitelstvo Gradut.
There was a vast expansion of the tram system in the 1970s as well as the foundation of the first plans for the construction of Sofia's metro system. The tram network was then substantially expanded to facilitate transport and make the system more efficient for Sofia's residents.
With the current development of the metro system, there has been a scheme to revamp the tram network as well and add additional lines to Sofia's ever expanding boroughs. The new lines will not be criss-crossing the Sofia city centre, rather they will be installed to ease transport among the Sofia suburban boroughs.
The entire project has been planned and will be undertaken by Sofproekt OGP as part of the common urban planning programme. It still awaits final approval. The west end of Sofia, known as Lyulin, will be kitted out with a new tram line from the metro station at Dobrinova Skala Street along the length of Pancho Vladigerov Boulevard, Cherni Vruh Boulevard, until the metro station at Skopie Boulevard.
Another borough of Sofia, Obelya, will also see the installation of a new tram line. New tram tracks will also be built linking the boroughs of Studentski Grad (Students' Town), Druzba and Mladost. In Gorublyane, there will be a tram link with the metro system leading to Sofia International Airport. New tram stops will link the network with the metro system also at Obelya railway station, Sofia Central Train Station and the Druzba station.
Some of the oldest boulevards in Sofia date back to those times, including Tsar Boris III, as well as the squares in front of St Nedelya chuch next to the Sheraton Hotel and the square outside the National Assembly, according to Stroitelstvo Gradut.
There was a vast expansion of the tram system in the 1970s as well as the foundation of the first plans for the construction of Sofia's metro system. The tram network was then substantially expanded to facilitate transport and make the system more efficient for Sofia's residents.
With the current development of the metro system, there has been a scheme to revamp the tram network as well and add additional lines to Sofia's ever expanding boroughs. The new lines will not be criss-crossing the Sofia city centre, rather they will be installed to ease transport among the Sofia suburban boroughs.
The entire project has been planned and will be undertaken by Sofproekt OGP as part of the common urban planning programme. It still awaits final approval. The west end of Sofia, known as Lyulin, will be kitted out with a new tram line from the metro station at Dobrinova Skala Street along the length of Pancho Vladigerov Boulevard, Cherni Vruh Boulevard, until the metro station at Skopie Boulevard.
Another borough of Sofia, Obelya, will also see the installation of a new tram line. New tram tracks will also be built linking the boroughs of Studentski Grad (Students' Town), Druzba and Mladost. In Gorublyane, there will be a tram link with the metro system leading to Sofia International Airport. New tram stops will link the network with the metro system also at Obelya railway station, Sofia Central Train Station and the Druzba station.