Waiting for the Belgrade Subway

There is no doubt that the metro is the most efficient form of public urban transportation, but also the most expensive to build. Is that the reason why Belgrade is among the few multimillion capitals in Europe that do not have an underground railway?

It's not easy to answer this question. Throughout its turbulent history, our city has been on the verge of getting the public transportation it deserves many times. However, circumstances were not favorable to the metro system, and we still don't have neither a light nor a heavy urban railway system.

Hoping that things will finally change, let's take a look at who, how, and when had the ambition to build a metro in the capital city.

The metro is a urban railway system that mainly utilizes underground urban spaces for passenger transportation. The idea originated from the need to transport citizens of large metropolises quickly and easily, regardless of traffic conditions and weather. In the late 19th century, congestion on the streets of European cities was growing, and experts devised plans for the reorganization of public transportation. The densely populated capitals of Paris, London, Moscow, and Istanbul were seeking ways to reduce the chaos caused by the enormous number of daily commuters. The first underground train began operating in London around 1863. Other capitals soon started constructing their own metro systems, connecting the farthest neighborhoods and enabling easy and convenient transportation through the urban jungle.

The First Study of Belgrade Subway

Belgrade also experienced rapid expansion between the two World Wars, and the authorities at that time began considering the metro as a possible solution to traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, our city already had a good tram system, so city officials believed that the metro would be an investment for the future. That's how the 1938 study came about. The idea was to connect Kalemegdan, Terazije, Slavija, and Čubura with the first underground railway line. Unfortunately, World War II hindered the further development of this project, and the study itself was only published in 1946. Due to the difficult post-war conditions, Belgrade had to put the construction of the metro on hold. Nevertheless, this project was the first serious attempt to build an underground railway in our city.

Second Attempt at Metro Construction

The first comprehensive concept of the metro was created by Sava Janjić in 1963. The renowned Belgrade mayor, Branko Pešić, supported this project. For the first time, it seemed that Belgraders would enjoy public transportation similar to that of European metropolises. This was an ambitious study that involved three railway lines intersecting in the city center. Although actual construction never began, the 1963 project paved the way for all subsequent attempts to build a metro in Belgrade.

Perhaps the most serious project to date was developed between 1974 and 1981. Essentially, it was an elaboration of the 1963 study, which involved five metro lines. Combined with the regional railway and tram and bus transportation, it would provide modern and convenient transportation for citizens from all parts of the city. Despite the fact that preparatory work had begun and funds had been allocated, this project also failed. Political upheavals were likely the reason. After lengthy delays, the city authorities replaced it with the "Tram of the 21st Century" project, which also remains incomplete.

From the 1990s to the Present

The breakup of Yugoslavia further distanced us from the start of metro construction in Belgrade. However, urban transportation became an increasingly pressing problem. The rapid increase in the population forced the city authorities to reconsider the idea of building an independent rail system.

In 1997, the search for a conceptual solution for the Belgrade metro began again. Over the past twenty years, we have witnessed several studies analyzing the best ways for the capital to obtain either an underground or an aboveground urban railway. The BELAM project from 2003 envisioned the construction of a semi-independent rail system, a so-called light metro. After much controversy, BELAM became history, and Belgraders continue to suffer the consequences of outdated and dysfunctional public transportation.

The latest study returns to the idea of a heavy metro with certain modifications to the routes, aiming to connect New and Old Belgrade. This would greatly relieve the city's bridges and improve the speed of passenger transportation from one side of the city to the other.

The latest information suggests that we could have the first metro line as early as 2027. We can only hope that this project will be more successful than the previous ones.

Considering the complicated history of the Belgrade metro, there is a concern that our renowned poet Duško Radović was right. In one of his shows, he sincerely wondered, "When will that metro arrive? Many Belgraders are already underground, waiting..."