View source for Transport in Bucharest

{{Short description|Public transportation opeated by STB in Bucharest}}

[[File:Universitate_Station,_Bucharest_Metro_3.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles|CAF]] metro train at [[Universitate metro station|Universitate]] metro station]]

[[Bucharest]] has the largest transport network in [[Romania]], and one of the largest in [[Europe]]. The Bucharest transport network is made up of a [[Bucharest Metro|metro]] network and a surface transport network. Although there are multiple connection points, the two systems operate independently of each other, and are run by different organisations (the metro is run by [[Metrorex]] and the surface transport network by [[TPBI|Bucharest-Ilfov Intercommunity Development Association for Public Transport]]. The two companies used separate ticketing systems until 2021, when a new smartcard was introduced alongside the old tickets, which allows travel on both the TPBI and the Underground.

==Bucharest Metro==
{{Main|Bucharest Metro}}
Bucharest has a fairly extensive metro system consisting of five lines ([[M1 Line (Bucharest Metro)|M1]], [[M2 Line|M2]], [[M3 Line|M3]], [[Bucharest Metro Line M4|M4]], and [[Bucharest Metro Line M5|M5]]) ran by [[Metrorex]]. In total, the network is {{convert|80.1|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} long and has 64 stations,<ref>{{Cite web|title = METROREX|url = http://www.metrorex.ro/network_features_p779-2|website = www.metrorex.ro|access-date = 2015-07-21}}</ref> with {{convert|1.5|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} average distance between stops. It is one of the fastest ways to get around the city. The oldest metro line is M1, which was opened in 1979.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://clubferoviar.ro/ziua-metroului/ | title=16 noiembrie, Ziua Metroului. Ce amintiri au Octavian Udriște și alți foști directori | date=16 November 2020 }}</ref> The newest metro line is M5, which was opened in 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://metroulbucuresti.com/linia-m5/ | title=Linia M5 Râul Doamnei - Eroilor }}</ref> A sixth metro line, [[Bucharest Metro Line M6|M6]] line, is currently under construction.

<gallery>
File:3_Bucuresti_Nord_metro_130916.jpg|Bombardier [[Alstom Movia|Movia 346]] metro train entering [[Gara de Nord metro station|Gara de Nord]] metro station
File:StraulestiMetrou.jpg|[[Străulești metro station|Străulești]] metro station, which was added to [[Bucharest Metro Line M4|M4 line]] in 2017
File:Valea_Ialomiței_după_deschidere.jpg|[[Valea Ialomiței metro station|Valea Ialomiței]] metro station of [[Bucharest Metro Line M5|M5 line]], which is the newest metro line of Bucharest Metro, opened in 2020
File:Stația_Tudor_Arghezi_(interior).jpg|[[Tudor Arghezi metro station|Tudor Arghezi]] metro station, which was added to [[Bucharest Metro Line M2|M2 line]] in 2023, being the newest metro station to date
File:Bucharest Wilderness (Unsplash).jpg|Interior of a metro train
File:Metro_București.svg|Map of Bucharest Metro stations, also showing [[Bucharest Metro Line M6|M6 line]], which is currently under construction
</gallery>

==Surface transport==
Surface transport in Bucharest is run by [[TPBI|Bucharest-Ilfov Intercommunity Development Association for Public Transport]] (TPBI) and it is operated by [[Societatea de Transport București]] (STB), Societatea de Transport Voluntari (STV), a.o..

TPBI consists of an extensive network of [[bus]]es, [[trolleybus]]es, [[tram]]s and [[light rail]]. The TPBI network is one of the densest in Europe, and the fourth largest on the continent, carrying about 1.7 million passengers daily on 85 bus lines, 23 tram lines, 2 light rail lines and 15 trolleybus lines. At times, however, it suffers from severe overcrowding.

TPBI is a reasonably efficient and a very frequently used way of getting around Bucharest. As with the metro, the system is undergoing a period of renewal. Some new features are the upgrade of tram/trolleybus infrastructure and the replacement of old rolling stock.

[[File:Harta transportului în comun București.svg|thumb|Network map of public transport in Bucharest region]]

===Buses===
{{commons category|Buses in Bucharest}}
With a total route length of {{convert|1374|km|mi|abbr=on}},<ref name="ratb">[http://www.ratb.ro/index.php?page=stats&id_rubrica=3 Statistics-Length of public transport network]</ref> the TPBI urban bus network is the densest of all the transport types in Bucharest. There are 85 bus lines (plus 25 night routes) operating mostly in the municipality of Bucharest, as well as over 39 bus lines serving commuters from surrounding towns and villages in [[Ilfov County]]. In mid-2005, the lines that linked the city to the peripheral area were licensed out to independent transportation providers, but in early 2006, they were returned to STB control due to a wide range customer complaints about the private operators. Sometime in 2010, all the STB lines of the peripheral network were removed, leading to an increase in [[Marshrutka|minivans owned by private transport companies]], and so far only a few of these lines have been put back.

In 2017 was founded  [[TPBI|Bucharest-Ilfov Intercommunity Development Association for Public Transport]], and with that STV took over most of the peripheral bus routes.

====Fleet====
The main public transport operator in Bucharest ( STB ) has a bus fleet made up of 1,143 vehicles (2018), which are all wheelchair-accessible ([[low floor]]) and around 55% are air-conditioned.<ref>[http://transportbucuresti.trei.ro/autobuze/Parc_autobuze.htm Parc autobuze RATB] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107214641/http://transportbucuresti.trei.ro/autobuze/Parc_autobuze.htm |date=2011-11-07 }} (''RATB bus fleet''), BucureștiTransport, fan site by Dr2005 {{in lang|ro}}</ref> The fleet utilisation rate during workdays stood at 78.1% in 2018.<ref name="stbsa.ro">[https://www.stbsa.ro/docpdf/Raport%20de%20Activitate%202022.pdf Raport de Activitate 2022, Societatea de Transport Bucuresti]</ref>

Between 2005 and 2009, the fleet underwent its most substantial renewal since 1989, and is now among the most modern in Europe. In December 2005, STB signed a contract for 500 [[Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro|Mercedes Citaro]] low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses. The buses were delivered between June 2006 and April 2007. In January 2008, the first of a further series of 500 Citaro low-floor buses were put into service.

The fleet makeup, as of 2019, is as follows, with years of delivery shown in brackets:
<gallery>
File:STB S.A. Mercedes Citaro cu motor de propulsie Euro 6 sau HYBRID.jpg| {{access icon}} [[Mercedes Citaro]] Hybrid Bus (2020–present) <br />air-conditioned<br />''130 vehicles''

File:Autobuz Otokar, Bucuresti.jpg|{{access icon}} [[Otokar]] Kent (2018–2019) <br />air-conditioned<br />''400 vehicles''
Image:Citaro2 bucharest.jpg|{{access icon}} [[Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro|Mercedes Citaro Facelift]] (2008–2009)<br />air-conditioned<br />''500 vehicles''
</gallery>

Central Lines are usually populated by Electric and Hybrid buses, while lines connecting residential areas tend to use the Otokar and Mercedes Citaro buses.

===Trolleybuses===
{{See also|List of trolleybus routes in Bucharest}}
{{commons category|Trolleybuses in Bucharest}}
[[Trolleybuses]] supplement buses on the TPBI system network, which operates 15 trolleybus lines (mainly on high-usage routes), measuring {{convert|164.1|km|mi|abbr=on}}  of routes<ref name="ratb"/> on {{convert|73.2|km|mi|abbr=on}} network.<ref name="club">[http://retele.tramclub.org/ Trams and trolleybuses system networks in Romanian cities]</ref> During the 1990s, the fleet was updated with modern trolleybuses manufactured by [[Ikarus Bus|Ikarus]], in light blue and yellow livery, which have acoustic station announcements and digital display screens. 

In early 2007, 100 wheelchair-accessible [[Irisbus Citelis]] trolleybuses were introduced on routes 61, 62, 69, 70, 86, 90, 91, and 92.

Two distinct, non-interconnected networks exist in Bucharest, the main network (comprising the two main east–west lines as well as a spur in the northern part of town) and a relatively small southern network in [[Berceni, Bucharest|Berceni]]. Each of the networks has its own, separate trolleybus depots (including separate fleets) and is not connected to the other in any way, in 1987 being separated after the opening of M2 metro line. The trolleybus network is currently{{when|date=February 2018}} being overhauled or expanded — a goal is to eventually unite the two networks.

The newer fleet of [[Solaris Trollino|Solaris Trollino 12]] trolleybuses is used to convert diesel bus routes to trolleybus routes (Eg.: Bus route 133 became part of Trolleybus route 97).

====Fleet====
In 2022, the STB had a fleet of 265 trolleybuses spread across 3 depots and 1 mixed tram-trolleybus depot. Most of them were Astra-Ikarus 415T (163 trolleybuses). The fleet utilisation rate during workdays stood at 67.66% in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Raport de Activitate 2022, Societatea de Transport Bucuresti |url=https://www.stbsa.ro/docpdf/Raport%20de%20Activitate%202022.pdf}}</ref>
In 2024, the STB started receiving 100 [[Solaris Trollino|Solaris Trollino 12]] trolleybuses.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tpbi.ro/primele-troleibuze-cu-autonomie-vor-circula-pe-linia-61/|title=Primele troleibuze cu autonomie vor circula pe linia 61|date=18 January 2024 }}</ref>
<gallery>
Image:Bucharest Solaris Trollino 12M.jpg|{{access icon}} [[Solaris Trollino]] 12M on route 61<br /> air-conditioned <br />''100 vehicles being delivered''
Image:91-Iveco-Citelis.jpg|{{access icon}} [[Astra Citelis]]<br />trolleybus on Route 91<br />''100 vehicles''
File:Ikarus 415T 5248 at Gara de Nord.jpg|[[Ikarus 415T]]<br />trolleybus on Route 62<br />''163 vehicles''
Image:Rocar DeSimon 412EA 7459 in Bujoreni depot.jpg|[[Rocar De Simon 412E|Rocar 412E]]. Only one exists these days, with AC motors. Stored due to faulty equipment.
Image:Rocar Autodromo 812E 7460 in Bujoreni depot.jpg|Rocar 812E [[Autodromo_(company)|Autodomo]]. Stored due to faulty equipment
</gallery>

==={{Anchor|Trams in Bucharest}}Trams and light rail===
{{See also|Bucharest Light rail|Bucharest Articulated Tramcar}}
{{commons category|Trams in Bucharest}}
STB operates a complex system of [[tram]]s measuring {{convert|332.2|km|mi|abbr=on}} of routes<ref name="ratb"/> on {{convert|143.9|km|mi|abbr=on}} of lines throughout Bucharest.<ref name="club"/> In addition to 23 tram lines, there are two converted [[light rail]] lines called ''metrou uşor'' ("light metro"), numbered 41 , which serve the western and south-western parts of Bucharest.  This line has upgraded trams running on separate designated corridors for faster travel times.

67% of the city's tram infrastructure had been modernised by 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stbsa.ro/docpdf/RAPORT%20DE%20ACTIVITATE%202018.pdf|title=Raport de Activitate 2018, Societatea de Transport Bucuresti}}</ref> The light rail service is expected to be expanded by upgrading existing tram lines to light rail status.

Most trams operated by STB (all V3A, Bucur 1 and Bucur LF models) are manufactured internally by STB at their subsidiary [[URAC Bucharest]] (the same subsidiary also handles tramway repairs and is in charge of scrapping vehicles reaching the end of their useful life). Currently, URAC produces three models for STB – two three-section, partially low-floor, wheelchair-accessible models (V3A-CH-PPC/CA-PPC derived from the earlier V3A-93 model and the all-new Bucur-LF model) as well as a two-section, non-wheelchair-accessible model (Bucur 1), made from scrapped Tatra axles with new equipment. It is uncertain if their production will continue, because as of now their production has been halted for the past 7 years.{{when|date=February 2018}}

Routes 1, 7, 10, 11, 21, 25, 32, 41 are wheelchair-accessible, using new Astra Imperio Metropolitan, V3A-93-PPC, V3A-CH-PPC/V3A-CA-PPC or Bucur LF trams. Lines 14, 16/17 (17 is an off-days variant of line 16), 19, 23, 27, 40, 42, 44, 47, 53 and 55 are also wheel chair accessible when V3A-93-PPC (number is limited to 8 vehicles at this moment, 008, 164, 169, 181, 206, 227, 303 and 343 can be seen on these routes occasionally, or CA/CH-PPC are sent on these routes. Other routes (if most) will become wheelchair-accessible as soon as more V3A-PPC will undergo reparations or modernisations, or even buy more new tramsets (is it planned an acquisition of 250 trams, of different lengths).

The maximum speed of trams in Bucharest is {{convert|60|km/h|mph}}.

====Fleet====
In 2018, the STB had a fleet of 486 trams, most of which were the V3A-M type (323 trams). The fleet is spread across 7 tram depots and 1 mixed tram-trolleybus depot. The fleet utilisation rate during workdays stood at 55.6% in 2018.<ref name="stbsa.ro"/> In December 2022, the first 15 [[Astra Imperio|Astra Imperio Metropolitan]] trams (out of a total order of 100 units) were put into circulation.<ref>{{cite web |author=Andreea Rubica |url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/bucuresti/tramvaiele-noi-de-la-astra-arad-au-iesit-pe-2226717.html |title=Tramvaiele noi de la Astra Arad au ieșit pe traseu |publisher=adevarul.ro |language=Romanian |date=10 December 2022}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Tramvai Imperio Metropoltan (București) - Exterior, Față.jpg|{{access icon}}[[Astra Imperio|Astra Imperio Metropolitan]]
File:Bucur LF on line 1.jpg|{{access icon}}[[Bucur LF]] low-floor tram
Image:CH-PPC low floor tramway in Bucharest on route 41.jpg|{{access icon}}[[Bucharest Articulated Tramcar|V3A-CH-PPC]] partial low-floor tram. The other variant is ''V3A-2010-CA'' with AC motors.
File:Bucharest V2A-T tram.jpg|''Bucur-1/V2A-T'' tram
File:Bucharest V2S tram.jpg|''Bucur-1-V2S-T'' tram<br />Only 2 exist. Stored in Militari Depot
File:V3A 220 on line 11 in Giulesti-Constructorilor, Bucharest.jpg|[[Bucharest Articulated Tramcar|V3A-93]]
File:Bucharest V3A tram 6.jpg|V3A-93M/[[Electroputere]]
File:V3A FAUR number 285 on line 11 in Giulesti.jpg|V3A-93M-[[FAUR]]
File:Bucharest V3A tram 8.jpg|V3A-H tram
File:RATB Tatra T4R at Basarab on line 35.jpg|[[Tatra T4|Tatra T4R]]
</gallery>

== Tickets ==
Surface transportation, operated by STB uses a different ticketing system from the metro network, operated by Metrorex, a separate entity. Their tickets and prices can be found on their website, available in English as well. http://www.stb.ro/

They include subscriptions, rechargeable cards as well as single use cards. A simple metropolitan ticket valid on all surface lines for 90 minutes costs 3 RON and can be activated by tapping either a STB transit card or a contactless bank card on the ticket machines present inside all vehicles. Tickets can also be bought through SMS by sending a message to 7458, with the message "C", you will be charged 0.65 EUR + VAT. You can also purchase a 24-hour pass for 8 RON at any kiosk or by sending the message "AB" to the same number, costing you 1.5 EUR + VAT.

This method of SMS-based payment is also available through the app, InfoTB. The app can also plan routes using all types of transportation in the city, and show the GPS location of vehicles. Approximately 85% of vehicles are equipped with a GPS positioning system.

A separate app, 24Pay, can be used to pay for fares using a credit card.

An online account can also be created on the website, that allows clients to add credit to their STB cards.

BCR (Romanian Commercial Bank) ATMs also allow clients to recharge their physical cards with money.

Metrorex and STB have integrated tickets and passes, information which is available on their websites, but also on the [[Bucharest Metro]] page. An integrated fare costs 5 RON and can be used simultaneously on both surface lines and the metro, with a time limit of 120 minutes.

The Bucharest Metro uses a per-entry constant fare system, every entry costing 3 RON, regardless of stations travelled, time spent or zones used, changing lines doesn't require additional pay and is free, the only exception is Gara De Nord, where the 2 corresponding stations are separate and thus you are required to exit the system and pay again at the other station to transfer lines, though free transfers from the M1 to the M4 can be done at the neighbouring Basarb station.

Passengers can purchase paper tickets loaded with 1, 2 or 10 fares or simply tap their contactless bank cards at the turnstiles, which will charge them 3 RON. Rechargeable contactless metro cards can also be issued and loaded with passes available for either a day, a week, a month or a year. The most commonly used pass is the 1 month pass priced at 80 RON.

===Personal cars===
At the end of 2008, in Bucharest there were 1.24 million vehicles, of which 985.000 were personal cars. In 2007 there were 150.000 fewer vehicles, which means the number of vehicles increased by 13.76% in one year.<ref>Hot News [http://economie.hotnews.ro/stiri-auto-5388824-parcul-auto-din-romania-trecut-cinci-milioane-vehicule-sfert-din-ele-sunt-bucuresti.htm Parcul Auto din Romania a trecut de cinci milioane vehicule. Un sfert din ele sunt in Bucuresti.]</ref>

With so many cars and a very high population density (50% higher than [[Tokyo]] and 4 times bigger than [[Rome]] for example), parking is a problem in Bucharest.
<gallery>
File:Bucuresti, Romania. Imagine vazuta de pe Arcul de Triumf (2). Oct. 2019.jpg
File:Pantelimon night.jpg
</gallery>

==CFR Trains==
{{See also|Căile Ferate Române}}
In 2011, Bucharest had 99&nbsp;km of railway lines, 79 of which were electric.<ref>Planul de Dezvoltare Regionala a Regiunii Bucuresti-Ilfov 2014–2020, Iulie 2015, pg.70</ref>

Bucharest has several train stations throughout and around the city, the main one being [[Bucharest North railway station|Gara de Nord]] where trains depart to all destinations. Other main stations include Baneasa, Obor and Basarab.

Gara de Nord is a relatively modern station. It was opened in 1872 and has undergone modernization and refurbishment several times. From here, trains leave to every destination in Romania and to other European cities. The other stations only see around five trains a day and are not considered "important" stations by CFR.

Bucharest was once home to a vast system of industrial railways that sprawled all over the city, linking factories to the surrounding neighbourhoods and towns. However most of these are now{{when|date=February 2018}} gone and what remains has fallen into disrepair. Therefore, Bucharest doesn't have an [[Réseau Express Régional|RER]]/[[S-Bahn]] type of [[Commuter rail|commuter network]]. Attempts have been made in the past to introduce such a system, but so far not much has been achieved. It is true that there are trains operated by CFR from Bucharest to neighbouring towns, however due to long journey times and poor rolling stock most people tend to use personal cars to get into the city.

==Road network==
[[Image:Bucharest at night.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Magheru Boulevard at night]]
The city's municipal road network is centred on a series of high-capacity boulevards (6 to 10 lanes), which generally radiate out from the city centre to the outskirts and are arranged in geographical axes (principally north–south, east–west and northwest–southeast). The principal and thus most congested boulevards are [[Calea Victoriei]], Bulevardul Unirii and Șoseaua Mihai Bravu, which is the longest in Bucharest and forms a sort of semicircle around the northeastern part of the old district. The city also has two ring roads, one internal (Mihai Bravu is part of it) and [[Centura București|one external]], which are mainly used for cars that bypass the city as well as trucks, which aren't allowed in the city centre, Works on a third ring road (the [[Bucharest Ring Motorway|A0]]), which would be mainly used for transit and freight traffic around the city, began in 2020 on some segments. Aside from the main roads, the city also has a number of secondary roads, which connect the main boulevards. In the historical city centre, particularly the [[Lipscani]] area, many streets are cobbled and are classified as pedestrian zones.

The city's roads are usually very crowded during rush hours, due to an increase in car ownership in recent years. Every day, there are more than one million vehicles travelling within the city limits.<ref>[http://www.videanu.ro/?id=6 Governing programme of Adriean Videanu, General Mayor of Bucharest]</ref> This has resulted in wearing of the upper layer of tarmac on many of roads in Bucharest, particularly secondary roads which are now used in an equal amount, this being identified as one of Bucharest's main infrastructural problems. The [[pothole]] problem is notorious enough to have inspired a song by the band [[Taxi (Romanian band)|Taxi]] with a chorus ''"Cratere ca-n București, nici pe luna nu gaseşti!"'' ("Craters like in Bucharest you won't even find on the moon").<ref>Simona Tudorache, [http://www.curierulnational.ro/?page=articol&editie=658&art=47774 Taxi a iesit cu Politica in strada], ''Curierul Naţional'', 23 October 2004.</ref> However, in recent years,{{when|date=February 2018}} there has been a comprehensive effort on behalf of the City Hall to boost improvement of road infrastructure, mainly by resurfacing and widening roads, and repairing footpaths. Faulty urban planning will likely lead to an increase in traffic and parking problems, since new housing areas are built with houses and apartment buildings literally squeezed into existing small grid roads, a problem commonly identified in the "suburbs" of the city.

Bucharest is one of the principal junctions of [[Roads in Romania|Romania's national road network]], which links the city to all of Romania's major cities as well as to neighbouring countries such as [[Hungary]], [[Bulgaria]] and [[Ukraine]]. Furthermore, the city is the starting point of the [[A1 motorway (Romania)|A1 motorway]], towards [[Pitești]], the [[A2 motorway (Romania)|A2]], linking the capital with the country's ports and seaside resorts on the [[Black Sea]] and the [[A3 motorway (Romania)|A3]], towards [[Ploiești]].

==Airports==

Bucharest has one international airport: 
* [[Henri Coandă International Airport]], located north of the Bucharest metropolitan area, in the town of Otopeni, Ilfov. Currently the airport has one terminal divided into three inter-connected buildings (International Departures Hall, International Arrivals Hall and the Domestic Flights Hall – at the ground level of the Arrivals Hall). The International Departures Hall consists of 36 check-in desks, one finger with 10 gates (5 equipped with jetways), while the Domestic Hall has an extra four gates. Today's International Arrivals Hall is the old Otopeni terminal, while the new Departures Hall, including the finger and the airbridges was built and inaugurated in 1997. A second finger with 7 jetways is under construction and a new building terminal on the east side is in project phase. The airport received 8,317,168 passengers in 2015{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}. It is accessible by STB buses 100 and the future M6 underground line, which will link the airport with the main train station of Bucharest.
Until 2012 there was also another airport which is no longer used, except for charter/private flights:
*[[Aurel Vlaicu International Airport]] is situated only 8&nbsp;km north of the Bucharest city centre and is accessible by STB buses 100, 131, 330, 335, tram line 5 (temporarily closed, replaced by 605) and taxi.

==Water transport==

Although it is situated on the banks of a river, Bucharest has never functioned as a port city, with other Romanian cities such as [[Constanţa]] and [[Brăila]] acting as the country's main ports. However, the [[Danube-Bucharest Canal]], which is 73&nbsp;km long, was under construction until 1990 and is not being worked on as of 2015. When eventually finished, the canal will link Bucharest to the [[Danube River]] and, via the [[Danube-Black Sea Canal]], to the [[Black Sea]]. This transport corridor is expected to be a significant component of the city's transport infrastructure and increase sea traffic by a large margin.

==Notes==

<references/>

==External links==
{{commons category|Public transport in Bucharest}}
*[http://www.stb.ro Official site of STB (main surface transport operator)]
*[http://www.metrorex.ro Official site of Metrorex (metro transport operator)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080117053720/http://www.ratb.metrouusor.com/ Site that contains all about RATB, depots, vehicles, news ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090818231428/http://metrou.transira.ro/ Site that contains all about the Bucharest Metro ]

{{Transport in Bucharest}}
{{Urban public transport in Romania}}

[[Category:Transport in Bucharest| ]]