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M3 (20 km (12.4 mi)) is one of the 4 lines of the Bucharest Metro. M3 Line runs from Anghel Saligny to Preciziei. It is the east-west line of the system.
Contents
History
The first part of the M3 was from Eroilor to Preciziei (at the time known as Industriilor) along with the line to Industriilor depot, some kilometres west of the station itself. This section was not a line on its own, but rather a branch of the M1. It must also be noted that during the communist period the 'M3' was the Gara de Nord - Dristor 2 section of what is today the M1.
Due to the very large gap between Pacii and Lujerului (then known as Armata Poporului) construction of Gorjului started. It was opened in two stages; in 1994 the westbound platform opened and in 1998 the eastbound platform was opened.
In the mid 2000s the route of the M3 was shortened from Pantelimon - Industriilor to Eroilor - Industriilor and the M3 became a shuttle service, similar to the M4 today. In 2008 the long-overdue section from Nicolae Grigorescu to Anghel Saligny (at the time known as Linia de Centura) was finally also opened as a shuttle. Because a line composed of two unconnected shuttles was very impractical, on 4 July 2009 the two shuttles were linked sharing tracks with the M1 between Eroilor and Nicolae Grigorescu, forming the M3 we know today.
Rolling Stock
The M3 currently uses Bombardier Movia trains, however until 2014 Astra IVA trains were also used. After the arrival of new CAF trains and the migration of Movia trains from the M2 to the M3 was complete the old trains were no longer needed.
The first Movia trains were introduced on the M3 in 2009 when through services from Preciziei to Anghel Saligny commenced. After that IVA trains became less and less frequent until they were gone in 2014. The only line which still uses IVA trains is the M4.
Extensions
An extension from Păcii towards the A1 Motorway and the Western Industrial Park is planned for 2030.