In the first part of this report, we presented you with the photos taken by Publics.bg reporter Evgeni Krusev from the first three stations of Sofia’s second metro line set to be completed within six months. Here is what followed during his 8-km walk in the tunnel.

 

Next stop - St. Nedelya Station. The station is no less than unique in its construction. Why? If you imagine the vertical cut of its highest part, the length of the hall multiplied by its height makes St. Nedelya Station the largest one in Europe by this criterion. The architects opted for a new Austrian technology for the construction of the station in order to preserve and display the Roman archeological artifacts that surfaced there. The main works on the station have been completed and it is to be connected to the nearby Serdica Station from the first metro line.

 

 

The workers are currently laying the rails along the tunnel which connects St. Nedelya with the next stop of Evgeni’s walk, yet unknown to the citizens which should raid the escalators and the platforms soon.

 

National Palace of Culture Station is what follows. It is a crucial place in the very heart of the capital city. The station itself was planned and constructed way back in the 1980’s along with the other adjacent infrastructure in the area of the National Palace of Culture. This is why the platform of the station is one of only two island platforms in the new metro line.

 

The design of the station takes on wavy motives which are represented on the walls, floor and ceiling.

 

 

After the National Palace of Culture, next stop is St. Naum Station, the second one with island platform in this line. One of its exits will be at the Man and Earth National Museum. The workers are still to deal with a leak caused by Perlovska River which overpasses the tunnel.

 

 

 

 

The line then takes a steep ascention under Cherni Vrah Blvd. to Lozenets district. The terminus is atJames Boucher Station (Bulgarian spelling of James Bourchier, Irish journalist). The station has collateral platforms and is at a relatively big depth, considering the steep relief. An underground parking lot will be built between the surface and the station.

 

 

Evgeni’s walk took more than two hours. You will be able to travel the entire distance in a little over 20 minutes as of July this year.