Metro construction history
On February 4, 1977, the Council of Ministers of USSR signed a decree to start the construction of the underground transport system in Minsk. Three months later, on May 3, 1977 the works began. The tunneling construction started on November 4, 1977. Line 1 came into operation on June 30, 1984, just before the 40-th anniversary of the liberation of Minsk from the fascists troops in WWII. The first line section was 7,84 km long and it featured 8 stations and one depot (Moskovskoe).
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Shortly after the inauguration of the first line section it became obvious that the system had to be expanded. As a result, a 1,71 km extension was built connecting Moskovskaya station with Vostok station.
The construction of Line 2 began in 1985. Brought into passenger service in 1990, it featured 6,12 km of tracks and 6 stations.
Metro construction stages:
1995 - 2,92 km extension of Line 2 (two stations),
1997 - 3,55 km extension of Line 2 (two stations),
2001 - 1,796 km extension extension of Line 2,
2003 - construction of Mogilevskoe depot,
2005 - 3,93 km extension of Line 2 (three stations),
2007 - 2,69 km extension of Line 1 (two stations).
One of the special features of Minsk Metro is its shallow stations. Owing to a very high level of ground water the stations were built only 10 to 17 metres deep. As construction of the metro was often hampered by quicksand the works required absolute precision, especially when the tunnels and the stations had to be built in the city centre. After the work had been successfully completed, Minsk Metro workers received many positive comments and thanks from the first passengers. The metro stations resembled palaces and each station had its own design. The metro system finally managed to solve the longstanding transport problems in Minsk caused by numerous plants and factories in the city. With the introduction of the underground system the passenger load on the surface transport dropped and Minsk Metro became the most popular means of public transport. In the first year of operations, the metro carried 80 million people.
Minsk Metro today
Today, Minsk Metro consists of 28 stations, 35,43 km of tracks and two lines: Moskovskaya and Avtozavodskaya.
The metro is the most comfortable, reliable and sustainable means of public transport. It is a rapid transit system which is open for passenger service from 5:30 a.m. till 1:00 a.m. The headway in peak hours is 2 minutes.
The metro carries 32,7% of Minsk public transport load.
Since the inauguration of the metro system in 1984, the ridership has trippled (207,000 passengers in 1984, 769,000 passengers now) and this figure is higher than forecasted in those days.
In 1984, Minsk Metro was the 9-th metro system of the Soviet Union. Now it is the 4-th busiest metro system of the former USSR (after Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Kiev metros).
The inventory fleet is 337 cars and there are 31 escalators in Minsk Metro.
The existing lines are fitted out with signaling systems, with an automated train control system, jointless rail circuits and a simple automatic block signaling system.
Lisna-M modernised traffic control system is used to control power supply and the work of escalators.
The head cars of the trains feature LED panels with the names of the terminal stations.
The overhaul of the metro rolling stock is done in Mogilevskoe depot.
Special vacuum systems are used for cleaning cars and underfloor equipment.
All metro stations are fitted out with CCTV. The installation of colour CCTV cameras in the metro system began in 2005. The images from the cameras are sent to train dispatchers, Electromechanical Department and police and are stored for 72 hours in the Videonet system. The CCTV installation process was completed in 2012.
At present, Minsk Metro is replacing its old fire extinguishing system on the trains with the new one (Igla).
Along with the replacement of the radio communication system on trains and at stations, Minsk Metro has changed the cabling and has modernised automatic telephone stations. Every station has received extra telephone lines.
Minsk Metro stations have been equipped with emergency telephone lines. Now, passengers can easily reach station managers and police in case of emergency.
All metro stations have GSM coverage provided by the 3 biggest telephone operators in Belarus.
The power supply system of the metro is based on Pluton Energo, Hoppeke and Reihem equipment.
The new stations are equipped with elevators and lifts for people with reduced mobility.
Minsk Metro is installing autonomous heating systems (heat pumps, electric boilers and hot air curtains) in all new stations and during the modernisation of the old stations.
More and more stations of Minsk Metro are getting their vestibules. The construction of station vestibules is now a part of the new stations construction, while the vestibule construction at existing stations is funded by private investors who are planning to open their kiosks and retail outlets there.
The stations are equipped with АКП-2004 and ПКА-2004 series of turnstiles that are fitted out with modern АКП-73 and ПКА-73 electronic systems. АКП-2004 turnstiles feature both readers for magnetic and contactless cards and slots for tokens. The tokens are used for single trips while cards are used as seasonal tickets.
The special passages are equipped with the passenger count systems.
The training of drivers is done in metro depots that are equipped with drivers cab simulators and special software.
Development prospects
The construction of the 1,8 km extension of Line 1 (from Petrovshchina to Malinovka stations) is now coming to an end. The next line section from Malinovka to Shchemyslitsa (2,7 km) is now being designed. Malinovka station will come into passenger service in 2014.
The development of Minsk Metro is among the goals of the city of Minsk development plans. In the future, the system will feature 4 lines, 77,1 km of tracks and 58 stations.
The 20,8 km long Line 1 with 16 stations will connect the south-west and the north-east of the city with the city centre and the railway station.
Line 2 (20,3 km long, 16 stations) will run from the north-west to the south-east of the city and it will have connections with the city centre and the industrial part of Minsk.
The metro development plans include the construction of lines 3 and 4. They will be inaugurated between 2017 and 2035.
Line 3 will consist of 14 stations (17,2 km). The first line section with 4 stations is planned to be brought into passenger service in 2017. Two of the stations will be interchange stations with Line 1 and 2, relieving passenger load there.
The preparation works began in 2013. Three stations of Line 3 will be 20 metres deep resulting to be the deepest stations of Minsk Metro. Line 3 will be equipped with platform screen doors and ATO. It will also feature a 100 metre long moving walkway with the speed of 1 meter per second.
Line 4 will consist of 9 stations (15 km of tracks).
| Key Performance Indicators, 2012 | |
| Total operational length (two tracks), km | 35,43 |
| Number of lines | 2 |
| Number of stations | 28 |
| including number of stations with one exit | 5 |
| Metro system density (sq.km per city km.) | 0,115 |
| Number of pairs of trains per hour | 30 |
| Minimum headway, sec | 120 |
| Fulfilment of train schedule, % | 99,99 |
| Inventory rolling stock, cars | 337 |
| Rolling stock in operation, cars | 337 |
| Total car/km, mio. | 31,3 |
| Number of depots | 2 |
| Average operational train speed, km/h. | 49,2 |
| Average train speed, km/h. | 40,5 |
| Power consumption, mio. kWh | 97,97 |
| including power for train traction, mio. kWh | 77,51 |
| Specific energy consumption for traction, Wh per t/km | 65,90 |
| Number of substations | 35 |
| Length of power cable systems, km | 4140 |
| Number of escalators in operation | 31 |
| Number of stations with escalators | 9 |
| Length of lines equipped with speed control systems, km., including: | 44,46 |
| as a main signaling system, km. | 44,46 |
| with seamless track circuit, km. | 44,46 |
| Number of switches | 153 |
| Number of ventilation shafts in operation | 67 |
| Number of ventilators in operation | 127 |
| Number of water drainage installations | 188 |
| Operational length of tunnels, km. | 77,46 |
| Staff responsible for operations, pers. | 3435 |
| Total ridership, mio. pax. | 281,4 |
| Average daily ridership, mio. pax. | 769 |
| Cost of transportation of 1 passenger, rub. | 7,17 |
| Modal share, % | 32,7 |
Website: http://www.minsktrans.by/structure/metro
Address: 6, Nezavisimosti Prospekt, Minsk, 220030 Belarus
Tel./fax: + 375 17 219 50 09, + 375 17 200 51 22
E-mail: metro@minsktrans.by, metro@mail.bn.by