Brussels, 19/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) granted a €465 million loan on Friday 16 December to finance the design, construction and commissioning of Section II of the Bucharest Metro Line 5 to develop a new east-west underground public transport corridor in the Romanian capital. On that same day, it also granted a CZK 8.5 billion (some €350 million) loan for the extension of the Prague Metro Line A in the north-west of the city.
The Bucharest Metro project involves the extension of Line 5 between the Universitate and Pantelimon stations, construction of the Pantelimon 2 Depot, and the acquisition of 30 new trains for this line. The new Section II, which is expected to be in operation after March 2019, will increase the annual number of metro passengers by 34 million to almost 260 million. The construction of Section II will run in parallel with the building of Section I (between the Drumul Taberei and Universitate stations), which is also being co-financed by the EIB with a loan of €395 million signed in November 2009. The new metro Line 5 will help to “reduce the use of private cars with positive consequences for the urban environment in terms of reduced traffic congestion and decreased traffic-related emissions and noise levels”, the EIB says in a press release.
The extension of the metro network is one of the key infrastructure projects currently being carried out by the City of Prague. It will help to improve the accessibility of public transport and increase transport safety, comfort and capacity. The extended line will provide access at several points to other public transport modes (buses, trams) and park and ride facilities. As a result, it will contribute to creating a better quality of life not only for Prague's citizens but also for thousands of commuters travelling to work every day in the city. The EIB loan will finance a 6.1 km double-track extension of one of the three lines of the Prague Metropolitan network, from the current end-station Dejvická in the north-west part of the city, under the westbound Evropská avenue, and then south-westwards to the Motol Hospital area. The extension will include the construction of four new stations. (OL/transl.rt)