Metropolitana di Napoli

Infobox Public transit
name = Naples Metro

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imagesize = 70px
locale = Naples
transit_type = Suburban rail transport

began_operation = 1889
ended_operation =
system_length = km to mi|53|abbr=yes|precision=1
lines = 7+3(planned)
vehicles =
stations = 69
ridership =
track_gauge =
reporting marks =
operator =
owner =

Metropolitana di Napoli is the name of the is the transport network of the city of Naples, Italy, which includes 2 underground rapid transit railway lines.

Until five years ago the network was made up of five urban and some suburban lines which were poorly connected with each other: Ferrovia Cumana and Circumflegrea, Ferrovia Circumvesuviana, Ferrovia Alifana (now MetroCampania Nord-Est) and "Metropolitana Trenitalia". A major project is now underway to restructure the city's transport system and to connect the existing lines. It aims at a system with a total of ten lines, new interchange stations and parking areas. in addition the four existing funicular lines that connect the hillside suburb of Vomero with the city centre will be connected with the urban lines.

Lines

Line 1 - "Metrò dell'Arte"

The first section of the line opened in 1993. It has been renamed "Metrò dell'Arte" (Metro of Art) because of the contemporary art works installed in its stations. The line will in the future constitute the complete circle. Line 1 is a Metro line with dedicated infrastructure and is operated by Metronapoli.

Planning began in the 1960s and construction commenced in March 1993 between the stations of "Vanvitelli" and "Colli Aminei". In July 1995 it was extended to "Piscinola - Scampia".

In 2001, it was extended from "Vanvitelli" to "Museo" (at the National Archaeological Museum) where it connects with "Piazza Cavour" on Line 2 by a long underground walkway. It was extended to "Dante" in the heart of the city centre in 2002. An intermediate station was opened at "Materdei" in 2003.

The line is currently being extended to Trenitalia's main Naples station at "Piazza Garibaldi", passing through the port area where it will interconnect with the proposed Line 6 at "Municipio" (Town Hall). This is due to open in 2008. Extension work is also underway between "Piscinola" and "Capodichino" (Naples International Airport). A proposal exists for competing the circle between "Capodichino" and "Piazza Garibaldi", due to open in 2011. A proposal for a spur line from Piscinola to Giugliano is under development.

Line 2

Line 2 crosses the city of Naples from East to West direction, from "Pozzuoli" to "Gianturco". It is a suburban railway line operatated by Trenitalia, and the tracks are shared by long-distance trains (Naples - Rome).

Construction was begun in 1911 and was then suspended during World War I. It was completed in 1925. In 2002, Line 1 and Line 2 were connected from a pedestrian tunnel between "Museo" and "Cavour". It is being extended to "San Giovanni a Teduccio" on the eastern periphery of the city.

Line 2's suburban services are currently provided by dilapidated rollingstock, with poor access for an urban railway, and operate through low platforms designed for long-distance trains, requiring three rather high steps from the platform to sitting or standing places. Only at "Garibaldi" are there separate platforms for suburban and other trains, but the design of the station is not any different.

Line 3

Line 3 opened in 2004 and runs for approximately 12 km from the city centre ("Porta Nolana") to San Giorgio a Cremano via "Madonnelle" and constitutes part of an "eastern ring". It partly uses lines of the Circumvesuviana and it will connect with Lines 1, 2 and 4.

Line 4

This line constitutes the other part of the "eastern ring", connecting Naples to the "Vesuvio" (Vesuvius) station near the outer suburb of "Ponticelli". It uses the Circumvesuviana line between the city and Sarno and its quadruplication is planned within a few years.

Line 5

Line 5 will constitute part of an "western ring", connecting the station of "Montesanto" with the north-western outskirts, built on additional tracks and tunnels next to the existing line of the Circumflegrea railway. Recently the new stations of "Traiano" and the "Trencia" have been opened in the suburb of Pianura. A connection is planned with Line 1 at "Cilea".

Line 6

Opened in February 2007, Line 6 connects "Fuorigrotta" to "Mergellina", and will be extended to the West of Naples with the city center at "Municipio". Line 6 is a Metro line with dedicated infrastructure and is operated by Metronapoli. [cite web| url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2007/03/7083/napoli_line_6_opens.html | title=Napoli metro Line 6 opens | publisher="Railway Gazette International" | date=2007-03-01 | ] It partly follows the route of the old line "Linea Tranviaria Rapida" (Fast Tram Line), begun in 1980s and later abandoned. It is intended to connect with lines 1, 2, 7 and 8.

In July 2006 preliminary work began on the extension of the line to "Municipio", where work is already already under way on Line 1. In September 2007 Ansaldo STS was awarded a €426m contract for the 3.1 km section "Mergellina" - "Municipio". [cite web| url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2007/10/7794/napoli_awards_euro426m_metro_line_6_contract.html | title=Napoli awards €426m metro Line 6 contract | publisher="Railway Gazette International" | date=2007-10-04 | ]

Line 7

Line 7 will form the second part of the "western ring" and it will share track with Line 5 from "Montesanto" to "Soccavo". The remainder is under construction and will form an underground link between the Circumflegrea railway and the Cumana railway and will connect the new campus of the University of Naples Federico II at "Monte Sant'Angelo" to "Fuorigrotta".

Line 8

Line 8 will form the final part of the "western ring" and will largely follow the route of the Cumana railroad from "Fuorigrotta" to "Montesanto", with a spur to "Bagnoli". It would connect with Lines 2, 6 and 7 at "Fuorigrotta".

Line 9

This line is still being planned. It is also called the "Line of the museums" and will connect "Colli Aminei" to the National Archaeological Museum via the Museo di Capodimonte, providing an alternative route to part of Line 1. Two connections with Line 1 and one with Line 2 are planned.

Line 10

In July 2003 the City of Naples adopted a plan for a line ("Metro of Casoria") that would connect the city centre (Piazza Cavour, connecting with Lines 1 and 2) to Naples International Airport at Capodichino (connecting with line 1), the neighboring municipality of Casoria and the high speed railway station in the municipality of Afragola.

ee also

* List of Naples metro stations
* List of rapid transit systems

External links

* [http://www.metro.na.it/ Official site of the Metropolitana di Naples] it icon
* [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/nap/napoli.htm Urbanrail.net Naples rail website]
* [http://www.stazionidelmondo.it Railways and metro station of Naples] it icon

References