Metropolitano de Lisboa or Lisbon metro is one of the fastest and convenient mode of transport. Since it started functioning on December 29, 1959, the underground railway system has been serving the capital city by taking passengers to different parts of the city in no time. It functioned as the first sub way of Portugal with 46 stations and running for a length of 39 kilometers.
Lisbon Metro – A brief history
The construction of metro in Lisbon started on August 7, 1955, though its actual service began on December 29 1959. The Y-shaped line had two branches, one starting from Sete Rios and the other from Entre Campos. These two bifurcated lines joined at the Rotunda and then continues till Restauradores right at the city center. Initially, the total track length was 6.5 kilometers. In the subsequent years several branches were added. Northern branches were extended to Colegio Militar and Campo Grande respectively. Expansion of the southern branch linked Rossio, Anjos and Alvalade and also Campo Grande.
Lisbon Metro Lines
Currently there are 4 lines connecting 46 stations. The Lisbon metro lines are known by their catchy names and were differentiated by different colors representing them. The 4 Lisbon metro lines are :
- Gaivota (Seagull) Line or the Blue Line. This line starts from Amadora Este through
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Alfornelos and Pontinha. At Marques Pombal, it interchanges with the yellow line.
- Girassol (Sunflower) or the Yellow Line: This line runs via Campo Grande, the only surface station, after crossing important stations it terminates at Rato. After expansion in 2004 new stations like Quinta das Conchas, Lumiar, Ameixoeira were added.
- Caravela (Caravel) or the Green Line: The nine kilometer long line has 12 stations.
- Oriente Line or the Red Line: The 6 kilometer long line runs through several important intermediate stations interlinking Olaias, Cabo Ruivo, Chelas Olivias and Bela Vista.
Lisbon Metro Stations
The decoration of the Lisbon Metro station is a reflection of the rich culture and heritage of the city. Stations are decorated with artifacts created by renowned Portuguese artists and ceramicists. The central station at Campo Pequeno is decorated with larger than life human figures.
Tickets of Lisbon Metro
The best way to avail metro is to use Sete Colinas or the electronic ticket. Carris is a Sete Colinas card can be used for traveling in both Lisbon bus and Lisbon tram. Lisbon metro provides service from 0600 hrs to 0100 hrs.
Lisbon Metro is undoubtedly the most popular and efficient mode of public transport in the city.
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