Cluj-Napoca Metro

Cluj-Napoca Metro
Overview
Locale	Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Transit type	Light rapid transit
Number of lines	1 (under construction)[1]
Number of stations	9 (first stage) 19 (when finished)[2]
Technical
System length	9.16 km (5.7 mi) (first stage) 21.03 km (13.1 mi) (when finished)[2]
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
System map Sfânta Maria Florilor Sportului Piața Unirii Piața Avram Iancu Armonia Piața Mărăști Cosmos Europa Unită This diagram: view talk edit

The Cluj-Napoca Metro is an underground rapid-transit system under construction in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. When opened, it will become Romania's second mass transit network after the Bucharest Metro. The system is of light metro type with a transport capacity of around 15,200–21,600 passengers per hour per direction.[2]

Background

In late 2018 studies began for a proposed Cluj-Napoca Metro,[3] with mayor Emil Boc confirming "I hope we'll be able to launch the call for the tenders of the pre-feasibility study in the first 10 days of November. Investments higher than EUR 75 million need pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, according to the law". Boc signed contracts in April 2020 for the feasibility study of the metro along with a suburban rail network.[4] As of December 2021, the costs of the investment are estimated at over 2 billion euros, with an estimated project implementation time of about 10 years.[5]

In December 2022, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure signed the financing contract for the construction of the Cluj-Napoca Metro with a value of 13.69 billion lei.[6] In February 2023, the design and execution works of the Line I of the Cluj metro were awarded to the association Gülermak – Alstom Transport – Arcada Company.[7] The construction contract was signed on 25 May 2023.

Route

The initial 16 km (9.9 mi) segment of the metro will follow an east-west axis from Florești situated in the western area of the city to the Aurel Vlaicu /Pod IRA area, via future regional hospital, VIVO! Cluj and Mănăștur areas, and the city centre.[8] The complete route Florești – Piața Unirii – Piața Mărăști – Muncii / Europa Unită – Depou Sopor will have a total length of 21 km (13.0 mi) and 19 underground stations.

Works on the first stage of the project (9.16 km (5.7 mi)), between Sfânta Maria – Europa Unită (9 stations and the depot), are expected to be completed by August 2026. The next stage foresees the construction of the last two sections, Țara Moților – Sfânta Maria (7 stations) and Piața Mărăști – Muncii (3 stations), which total 11.87 km (7.4 mi).[6]

References

1. "1 septembrie 2023, ZI ISTORICĂ: Încep lucrările la METROUL Clujului". zcj.ro. 1 September 2023.
2. "Guvernul a aprobat indicatorii tehnico-economici pentru proiect". infrapress.ro. 30 December 2021.
3. "A Second Romanian City Starts Tenders For Subway". Romanian Journal. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
4. "Cluj-Napoca studies metro options". Railway Gazette International. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
5. "Metroul din Cluj-Napoca trece de încă o etapă". digi24.ro. 28 December 2021.
6. "Transporturile au semnat contractul de finanțare al metroului Cluj-Napoca: 13,69 mld. lei". cursdeguvernare.ro. 30 December 2022.
7. "Metroul din Cluj-Napoca va fi construit de o asociere din Turcia". hotnews.ro. 28 February 2023.
8. "Feasibility studies for metro and rail development in Cluj-Napoca". Railway PRO. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.