On June 30, the metro will (really) connect Linate with downtown Milan: but you'll have to stamp 2 times
From next June 30, at last, the M4 subway will connect Milan's Linate airport with Piazza San Babila in the center of [...]
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From next June 30, at last, the M4 subway will connect Milan Linate Airport with San Babila Square, in the center of Milan (and vice versa). This is an 'epoch-making' event, as much for the Milanese as for those reaching 'Forlanini' from outside the city. To allow the work to be completed service is suspended from today, June 10, to opening day.
In this article:
The first section, the one between Dateo and Linate, was opened on November 26, 2022 and now with the opening of the second lot it will be possible to travel by subway from downtown Milan to the city airport.
Completion of the route in 2024
By the end of 2024, the M4 will reach its 'real' terminus, that of Milan San Cristoforo on the extreme southwestern outskirts of the city.
Thus, in addition to San Babila, an additional point of Interchange with another subway line: the M2, at the Sant'Ambrogio station, which will increase the efficiency of connections to (and from) Linate Airport for both the Milanese and those arriving from outside the city.
How travel is changing
For the people of Milan, this is the first quick connection with definite travel times since the airport has existed, which until now could be reached by car, cab or bus number 73, which always terminates at San Babila. Translated: all road vehicles, subject, as far as speed is concerned, to the vagaries of Milanese traffic, which, especially at rush hour, can really be a hindrance.
The M4, on the other hand, will allow those departing from San Babila to know exactly when they will arrive at the airport, shielding the user from the risk of missing their plane or departures with hours in advance.
The stops, from San Babila (and vice versa, of course) will be seven for a travel time of just 12 minutes. During rush hours there will be a train every 90 seconds. And the cost of the ride will also be certain, unlike a cab ride: 2.20 euros, which is the Atm city ticket.
The San Babila station of the M4 will be a very short distance from that of the M1, which will effectively allow anyone along the M1 route to reach Linate with only one line change; and those along the M2, M3 and M5 to reach Linate with two line changes.
If you change meters you stamp 2 times
It should be mentioned that at the design stage, the interchange between M1 and M4 at San Babila was not made 'flush', that is, on the same level. So passengers arriving from the M1 will have to go up from the tracks to the mezzanine, exit at the M1 turnstiles, walk an underground section, punch their tickets again at the turnstiles, and get off at the M4 tracks.
The cost of the subway ride to Linate will always be 2.20 euros, but it will be necessary to oblieter the ticket twice, within the validity period of 90 minutes. The reason for this would not be planning, but purely economic. The new line was built through project financing this contrivance is designed to be able to count flows exactly and redistribute the profits generated from tickets.
