The city has announced the construction of a third subway line, and the first field work is expected to begin soon. Meanwhile, design is also underway for two new stations on the downtown section of the first line. The investments are generating considerable controversy.
Third subway line
photo: ZTM Warsaw
On March 15, the capital's authorities announced the decision to proceed with the construction of the third line of the Warsaw subway. Work is currently underway on two sections of the extended M2 line - in Wola, Bemowo and Bródno. The investment is being dragged out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with work expected to be completed in 2022. The announced third line is to connect Praga Południe (National Stadium Metro station) with Gocław. In subsequent stages, it is to be extended to Mokotow and Ochota. This Thursday, at the request of Rafal Trzaskowski, the City Council is expected to decide on the transfer of funds for the first stage of the work. The first six stations are to be built by 2028.
National Stadium subway
photo: Warsaw Metro
This was not an easy decision, as the city's financial situation is really difficult. However, Warsaw must become not only an ideal place to work, but also a dream place to live. The construction of the third subway line is crucial here, as transportation is one of the most important services we provide to our residents.
Rafal Trzaskowski
The M3 line will begin its run at the existing National Stadium station, which has been adapted to the role of an interchange and has an additional platform from the beginning. From there, the underground railroad will go toward East Station, Minska Street (near the so-called Soho area), Wiatraczna Roundabout, Ostrobramska Street, Jan Nowak-Jezioranski Street and will end its run at the Goclaw terminal station. A technical station at Kozia Górka is also to be built as part of the project. The second stage is to cover the section to Mokotow and Sluzewiec, in two alternative variants. The third and final stage of the extension is to include a line connecting the National Stadium with West Station, crossing the South Downtown area along the way, with a new transfer station under Constitution Square.
By streetcar faster?
Comparison of streetcar and subway routes to Goclaw.
Despite the city's assurances that the route of the line has been determined on the basis of independent experts' analyses and the conclusions of the work on the new study of the conditions and directions of land use in Warsaw, the investment has stirred up a lot of controversy among city activists. First of all, they point out, the complicated, meandering course of the tunnels. Such shaping of the subway route will mean that the subway will not develop its maximum speed, and stations will not be able to be distributed evenly due to the curves. The use of the National Stadium station, which enforces this shape of the line, is also viewed negatively. Focused, among others, around the City Is O urs association, activists argue that the damage from extended travel times or transfers will outweigh the gains from using the existing infrastructure.
The crowning argument, however, is that the streetcar line to Goclaw is more attractive in terms of time. According to MJN's calculations, the commute from Goclaw to the Center would be shorter for the many times cheaper construction of the streetcar line, which has been postponed due to cost savings. The activists recall alternative proposals - their own and those of experts from the Warsaw University of Technology - assuming the implementation of a third line bypassing the National Stadium. They themselves proposed, among other things, the realization of a new line from Białołęka, through Wola, to Służewiec, which would relieve the burden on the popular M1 line and serve the expanding western part of downtown.
New stations in the center
Constitution Square subway
The new line is not the only metro expansion project being prepared by the city. In addition to the expansion of the M2 in Bemowo, design work is currently underway on two stations on the first line that were never realized. These are Constitution Square and Muranow. Their opening is expected to increase the transportation accessibility of downtown neighborhoods and allow for a more even distribution of passengers. Opponents of the investment point to the very short distances between the planned stations and the increase in travel time. The Muranów and Constitution Square stations were planned from the beginning of the construction of the M1 line.
Photo: Warsaw Metro
