Warsaw Metro facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Warsaw Metro
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Info
Owner	City of Warsaw
Locale	Warsaw, Poland
Transit type	Rapid transit
Number of lines	2 (3 more planned)
Number of stations	39
Website
Operation
Began operation	7 April 1995
Operator(s)	Metro Warszawskie
Technical
System length	41.3 km (25.7 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail

The Warsaw Metro (Polish: Metro Warszawskie) is an underground train system in Warsaw, the capital city of Poland. It helps people travel quickly around the city. Right now, it has two main lines: the M1 line runs north-south, connecting the city center with busy northern and southern areas. The M2 line runs east-west.

The city plans to build three more lines (M3, M4, and M5) in the future. The company that runs the metro is called Metro Warszawskie, and it's owned by the city. The Warsaw Metro is the only metro system in Poland.

The first part of the M1 line opened in 1995. It was slowly made longer until it reached its full length in October 2008. Work on the M2 line started in August 2010. The first part of M2, which was about 6.3 kilometers (3.9 miles) long with seven stations, opened in March 2015. One of these stations, Świętokrzyska, lets you switch between the M1 and M2 lines. More parts of the M2 line have opened since 2019, and it is expected to be finished in 2026, with a total of 21 stations.

In February 2023, Warsaw's mayor, Rafał Trzaskowski, shared a plan for the metro to have five lines by the year 2050. This plan includes adding two more stations to M1, extending M2, and building the three new lines (M3, M4, M5). With these additions, the metro will reach almost all of Warsaw's districts.

History of the Warsaw Metro

The first phase of the planned metro network started in 1938. It was never finished because of World War II.

Early Plans (1918-1939)

People in Warsaw first thought about building an underground train system way back in 1918. This was after Warsaw became Poland's capital again. They hoped an underground railway would help with traffic in the busy city center.

Real planning began in 1925, and construction was supposed to start in the late 1920s. But the Great Depression, a time of big economic problems around the world, stopped these plans.

In 1934, a new mayor, Stefan Starzyński, wanted to restart the metro project. He used the old plans from the 1920s. Construction finally began in 1938. The plan was to build two lines, with the first one ready by the mid-1940s. However, World War II started, and the project had to stop. The short tunnels built in 1938 are now used as a wine cellar!

Post-War Ideas (1945-1950)

Warsaw was badly damaged during World War II. After the war, new leaders in Poland wanted to rebuild the city differently. They thought Warsaw should be less focused on the city center.

Engineers were asked to design a fast city railway. This railway would mostly follow the path of the first pre-war line, but only the central stations would be underground. However, this plan was also canceled.

In 1948, new ideas for a deeper underground line were developed. This line would go up to 15 meters (49 feet) deep. But construction never started, and this project was also given up.

Cold War Tunnels (1950-1957)

A map of the deep-tunnel metro plan from 1953.

In the 1950s, during the Cold War, the Soviet Union wanted a secret way to move troops across the Vistula river. One idea was to build a very deep metro system in Warsaw, up to 46 meters (150 feet) underground. This system could also be used to transport soldiers.

Work started in 17 different places at the same time. But by 1953, only 771 meters (843 yards) of tunnels were built. After Joseph Stalin died and the Cold War became less tense, all work stopped. The reason given was "technical difficulties." The tunnels were eventually flooded in 1960.

The Current Metro (1983-Present)

Planning and Building

In 1955, planners went back to the idea of a shallow metro system. But planning was very slow, and Poland's economy made it hard to start building. Finally, in 1983, the government approved the project, and the first tunnels were built.

However, there wasn't enough money, and the building methods were old. This meant that work moved very slowly, sometimes only 2 meters (6.6 feet) per day.

Opening Day

The Warsaw Metro officially opened on April 7, 1995. It started with 11 stations. The first line, M1, now has 21 stations and is 22.7 kilometers (14.1 miles) long.

Newer Extensions

On March 11, 2016, a company from Italy called Astaldi won a contract to build the first part of the M2 line's north-east extension. This part included 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) of track and three new stations: Szwedzka, Targówek Mieszkaniowy, and Trocka. Construction began in April and May 2016 and took three years. These stations opened on September 15, 2019.

Other parts of the M2 line have also opened:

• The extension from Rondo Daszyńskiego to Księcia Janusza opened on April 4, 2020.
• The extension from Księcia Janusza to Bemowo opened on June 30, 2022.
• On September 28, 2022, three more M2 stations opened: Zacisze, Kondratowicza, and Bródno.

A Turkish company, Gülermak, is building the three westernmost stations on the M2 line: Lazurowa, Chrzanów, and Karolin.

Metro Timeline

Metro Lines

The Warsaw Metro currently has two lines:

• The M1 line runs from north to south.
• The M2 line runs from east to west.

Three more lines are planned for the future: M3, M4, and M5.

Map of the metro system as of January 28, 2020.

Warsaw Metro tickets.

Lines in Use

Planned Lines

Metro Trains

How many people ride the Warsaw Metro each year and the number of stations.

The Warsaw Metro uses different types of trains.

Line	Current trains	Image	Started using	Number of trains	Length (m/ft)	Seats	Total people
M1	Alstom (Alstom Metropolis 98B)		2000–2005	18	116.74/383.01	264	1454
M1	Siemens Mobility (Siemens Inspiro)		2013,2015	35	117.7/386	232	1500
M2
M1	Škoda Transportation (Škoda Varsovia)		2022	37	119.01/390.45	230	1500
M2

When the metro first opened in 1995, it used Russian-built trains. These trains were a gift from the USSR. In 1998, Warsaw ordered 108 new, modern trains from a French company called Alstom. These trains were delivered by 2005.

In 2011, an order was placed with the German company Siemens for 35 new trains called Inspiro. Some of these were made in Poland. The first Inspiro trains started running in 2013. However, a fire on one train in November 2013 caused all five new trains to be taken out of service for safety checks. After the problem was fixed, they returned to service in March 2014. By 2020, Siemens Inspiro trains made up most of the metro's fleet.

In January 2020, a company called Škoda Transportation won a contract for 37 new trains, named Varsovia. The first of these arrived in Warsaw in April 2022, and they started carrying passengers on the M1 line in October 2022.

As the new Škoda Varsovia trains arrive, the older Russian-built trains are being slowly removed from service. Some of these older trains have been given to cities in Ukraine, where they are still commonly used. One old train will be kept in working order as a museum exhibit.

Train Depots

The metro has one main depot located south of the Kabaty station. This is where trains are stored and repaired. A second depot, called Karolin, is being built and should open in 2026. A third depot, Kozia Górka, is planned as part of the new M3 line.

Retired Trains

Line	Old trains	Image	Used from	Retired	Number of trains	Length (m/ft)	Seats	Total people
M1	Metrovagonmash (81-717.3/714.3)		1989-1990, 2006	2023	15	115.26/378.15	260	1200
	Vagonmash (81-572/573)		1994-1997	2023
	Vagonmash (81-572.2/573.2)		2009	2023	7

Even though the 81-series trains are no longer used in Poland, they are still common in other countries. These trains can go quite fast, up to 80 km/h (50 mph). Many thousands were made, so spare parts are still needed abroad. Some of these trains were given to Ukraine.

Future Plans

A map of the Warsaw Metro, showing the north-south Line M1, and the planned east-west lines.

Two new stations are planned for the M1 line.

The M1 line does not go directly under Warsaw's Old Town, which is a big tourist spot. It also doesn't connect directly to the main train station, Warszawa Centralna. Before the M2 line opened in March 2015, the metro only ran on the western side of the Vistula river. This meant it didn't help with traffic on the bridges to the eastern part of the city, called Praga.

There were plans for a third line to Warsaw Chopin Airport, but these have been put on hold. The airport now has its own train station.

Transport planners have also suggested connecting the WKD, a light rail line to the western suburbs, with the city's tram system or the metro. The WKD, PKP (Polish State Railways), and Warsaw Metro systems are connected. Warsaw city travel cards can be used on suburban trains run by SKM and KM.

Coming Extensions

Warsaw Metro master plan for 2050.

Here are some future plans for the Warsaw Metro:

• Adding Plac Konstytucji and Muranów stations to the M1 line. These stations were left out of the original plan to save money.
• Extending the M2 line with new stations: Lazurowa, Chrzanów, and Karolin. A new depot, Karolin Depot, will also be built. This section is expected to be finished in 2026.
• The M3 line is set to begin construction in 2028. The first part, from Stadion Narodowy to Gocław, is planned to be completed by 2032.

Images for kids

• 

  Nowy Świat-Uniwersytet Station, M2

• 

  Świętokrzyska Station, M2

• 

  Ratusz Arsenał Station, M1

• 

  Dworzec Gdański Station, M1

• 

  Płocka Station, M2

• 

  Bemowo Station, M2

• 

  Stare Bielany Station, M1

See also

In Spanish: Metro de Varsovia para niños

• Transport in Poland
• Public Transport Authority (Warsaw)
• List of metro systems