BRATISLAVA Transport (DPB) has extended light rail Line 3 by 3.9km into Petržalka, Slovakia’s largest residential suburb. As a result, six new stops have been added at Gessayova, Zrkadlový háj, Pajštúnska, Veľký Draždiak, Lúčenka and the new terminus of Južné mesto.
The extension is the second on the line. In 2016 the first extension opened from Šafárikovo námestie in the city centre to Jungmannova on the edge of Petržalka via the Starý Most bridge across the River Danube. The Jungmannova stop has been relocated for the opening of the second extension.
The frequency on Line 3 will be around one service every 5 minutes, with a 2min 30sec frequency during peak hours. The journey time to/from the city centre is about 12 minutes. At the end of the line, a new four-track depot has been built for the Škoda ForCity Plus 30T LRVs that are the only type authorised to operate on the new extension.
Construction of the new line has cost approximately €87m, of which €73m has come from European Union (EU) funding, with the Slovakian government contributing €8.6m and the remainder provided by the city of Bratislava.
“We are convinced that light rail is the future of urban transport - that is why we are also financing the modernisation of other lines, the purchase of LRVs and trolleybuses, as well as the renewal of depot facilities," says Jozef Ráž, minister of transport.
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