| Brescia Metro | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
 | |||
| Overview | |||
| Native name | Metropolitana di Brescia | ||
| Locale | Brescia, Lombardy, Italy | ||
| Transit type | Rapid transit | ||
| Number of lines | 1[1] | ||
| Number of stations | 17[1] | ||
| Daily ridership | 51,262[2] | ||
| Annual ridership | 18,710,631[2] | ||
| Website | Brescia Mobilità | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | 2 March 2013[3] | ||
| Operator(s) | Brescia Mobilità S.p.A. | ||
| Number of vehicles | 18 AnsaldoBreda Driverless Metro | ||
| Train length | 3 cars | ||
| Headway | 4–10 minutes | ||
| Technical | |||
| System length | 13.7 km (8.5 mi)[1] | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| Top speed | 80 km/h (50 mph)[4] | ||
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The Brescia Metro (Italian: Metropolitana di Brescia)[5] is a rapid transit network serving Brescia, Lombardy, Italy. The network consists of a single line, having a length of 13.7 kilometres (8.5 mi) and a total of 17 stations from Prealpino to Sant’Eufemia-Buffalora, located respectively at the north and southeast of Brescia.[1]
During the 1980s, road congestion in the vicinity of Brescia rose dramatically, resulting in the City Council becoming interested in the adoption of a new mass transit platform to provide an alternative means of access around the city. Following studies of several mass transit systems, it was decided that the development of a light metro would be the most suitable option. During this time, several other European cities had introduced their own automated light metro networks, which likely provided a model for Brescia's transport planners. While efforts were made during the 1990s to secure funding and attempt to launch the project, the tendering process for the construction of the first section of the Metro was initiated in 2000. In April 2003, a €575 million contract was awarded to a consortium led by Ansaldo STS, which included AnsaldoBreda, Astaldi and Acciona, who proposed to implement a system bearing considerable similarities to the Copenhagen Metro.
In January 2004, construction work on the project commenced. However, progress was hindered by the discovery of several sites of archaeological importance, leading to redesign efforts to minimise the network's infringement on such historical locations. While delayed, on 2 March 2013, the first line of the Brescia Metro was officially opened to regular services. This first railway line has been viewed as simply being the starting point for the subsequent construction of an ambitious and large metro network spanning across the city and into its suburbs; multiple plans for its expansion have been proposed. The existing Metro is operated using a fleet of 18 three-carriage trainsets, which run entirely under driverless operation along the route from a centralised control centre, while all of the 17 stations on the Metro network feature platform edge doors.
- ^ a b c d "Mappa della linea metropolitana" (PDF) (in Italian). Brescia Mobilitá. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
- ^ a b "Trasporto Pubblico Locale" (PDF).
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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rgi200804was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "LA METROPOLITANA DI BRESCIA". Brescia Mobilità. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.