Warsaw metro M1 line resumes service after morning technical failure closes five central stations
A technical failure on Warsaw's M1 metro line closed five central stations for over two hours on Monday morning, forcing passengers onto replacement buses and trams before service was restored after 8 a.m.
What happened
On Monday, July 6, 2026, a technical failure on Warsaw's M1 metro line brought services to a halt during the early morning rush hour. The disruption began around 5:30 a.m., with trains unable to run through the central section of the line. The city's public transport authority, Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego (ZTM), announced that trains would operate in two separate loops: Kabaty to Wilanowska in the south, and Młociny to Świętokrzyska in the north. The central segment between Wilanowska and Świętokrzyska was completely shut down.
For technical reasons, M1 metro line trains are running in loops: Kabaty - Wilanowska and Młociny - Świętokrzyska.
The incident left thousands of commuters scrambling for alternatives during the Monday morning peak. Passengers traveling across the city center were forced to exit at the loop endpoints and find surface transport. ZTM advised travelers to allow extra time and to follow ongoing service updates.
- Technical failure halts M1 line; five stations closed, replacement buses and trams deployed.
- Disruption ends, normal service restoration begins.
Affected stations
Five stations were taken out of service: Wierzbno, Racławicka, Pole Mokotowskie, Politechnika, and Centrum. These stations form the core of the line through the Mokotów district and the city center, including the key interchange at Centrum. The closure effectively severed the M1 line, one of Warsaw's busiest transit corridors, during the morning commute.
Replacement services
ZTM quickly deployed replacement bus and tram services to bridge the gap. A special bus line, designated "Za Metro", ran from Metro Wilanowska to Metro Świętokrzyska via Aleja Wilanowska, Aleja Niepodległości, Aleja Armii Ludowej, Waryńskiego, Plac Konstytucji, and Marszałkowska. A tram line, also called "Za Metro", connected Metro Wilanowska with Metro Marymont, traveling along Puławska, Marszałkowska, Generała Andersa, Mickiewicza, and Słowackiego. These services aimed to mitigate the impact on the tens of thousands of daily riders who rely on the M1 line.
Restoration
The disruption lasted just over two and a half hours. Shortly after 8:00 a.m., ZTM announced that the technical issues had been resolved and that normal service was being restored. The authority confirmed the end of the disruption and the gradual return to the regular timetable. No details were provided about the exact nature of the technical fault.
