Opened in 1935, Moscow Metro is the most effective means of public transport in Moscow. It is also the biggest metro system of Russia and one of the biggest underground transport networks in the world. Today, it carries 56% of the capital’s public transport load. The metro consists of 12 lines, 185 stations and 305,5 km of tracks. It has 15 depots, 288 station entrances and is used by 8 to 9 million passengers per day. The 66 stations forming 26 interchanges are used on a daily basis by 5,8 million passengers (60% of all ridership). With the fleet of over 5 thousand cars, Moscow Metro operates over 9,5 thousand trains per day (530 trains per line). A recent benchmarking study has shown that Moscow Metro is the most effective means of transport in the Russian capital. By combining good operational speed with high quality services and by improving the train technologies and safety and security systems Moscow Metro keeps the leading position in the transport sector. The fulfillment of the train schedule by 99.98% is achieved with the minimum headway of 89 seconds.
Inauguration of Novokosino metro station
Moscow Metro is continuously improving its performance indicators. Being a transport operator with over 70 years of experience, Moscow Metro holds a prominent place in the transport sector and is widely popular due to its punctuality, high quality of transport services and the beauty of its stations. Short headway, fast transportation from one part of Moscow to another and the independence from the overground traffic conditions are the biggest advantages of the metro system. The considerable length of the network as well as reasonable fees are of major importance too.
To keep pace with the time, Moscow Metro is constantly upgrading its systems, building new line sections, maintaining and modernising its facilities and rolling stock etc. The fare collection system has recently undergone a few changes too: now the passengers can opt for the payment with their bank card. To facilitate the payment procedure and the transportation a new type of card was introduced - it combines a ticket for the Aeroexpress train (connecting Moscow airports with the city centre) with a metro ticket. The metro is also testing the possibility of making payments with mobile phones - the project is done together with OAO MobileTeleSystems. Besides, new ticket vending machines are being installed at station vestibules: 1200 machines selling tickets for one and/or two rides and 300 machines selling all types of metro tickets. This will help to significantly reduce long queues at the ticket offices and improve the quality of service.
Moscow Metro is upgrading its rolling stock: the new 81-760/761 series of trains have been tested and will gradually replace the older stock. The new trains will feature modern ventilation systems, UV systems for air disinfection and a special system for passenger evacuation in tunnels. All cars will be equipped with CCTV and the images will be displayed in Moscow Metro’s OCC. The new sliding plug doors of the trains will feature individual anti-jamming systems.
In 2011, Moscow Metro finished replacing old trains on the Circle Line with more comfortable and safer Rusich stock trains which have higher capacity and more doors. The new trains are also equipped with the air conditioning system.
Following the schedule of ventilation shafts modernisation, old ventilators were gradually replaced with the modern ВОМ-20, ВОМ-16Р and ВГПМ-20 ventilators. This has improved the efficiency of the ventilation systems in tunnels and at metro stations enabling safe passenger evacuation in case of emergency. From 2005 till 2012, a total of 296 ventilation systems were replaced.
Since 1987, Moscow Metro has been replacing old escalators with modern ones.
The power supply system was extensively renovated in harsh conditions: train frequency was continuously rising, new trains with more powerful engines were coming into operation and new train control systems were being introduced. The remote control systems that manage power supply from one dedicated office have also been modernised. Old lighting at stations is being changed: luminescent, energy-saving and LED lamps are now being installed. At the same time, all the cables, switches, signaling and protection systems are being changed.
Much work has been done to improve the information systems for passengers. City and transport maps can now be found in front of every metro station. In the ticket halls, passengers can obtain brochures with relevant information and check the validity of their travel cards. All metro stations are fitted out with emergency and information columns. The metro administration is currently reviewing the signage system and is discussing the possibility of adding Latin transcription of the station names for easier orientation. The Signaling Department of Moscow Metro is responsible for installing the emergency and information columns at new stations and for adding metro maps to the existing information columns. Additional information panels showing train status have been installed at Kievskaya, Smolenskaya, Arbatskaya, Alexandrovsky Sad, Vystavochnaya and Mezhdunarodnaya stations of Filyovskaya line.
The Moscow City government has adopted a decree aimed at creating special parking zones near metro stations. The Parking Operation Unit of Moscow Metro responsible for the project worked hard with the city district administrations to find space for the new parking zones. Moscow Metro is responsible for equipping the parking spaces with sensors and CCTV.
Moscow Metro development encourages active collaboration. As a result of successful PPP, Myakinino station was opened: the metro line construction was funded by the city government while the station itself was built by the investor. The metro administration is considering collaborating with international companies to build a metro line extension in the east of Moscow (Aviamotornaya - Lyuberetskie Polya section).
Moscow Metro is working hard to improve passenger service. In 2005, it launched its website which is now an important information channel and a useful source for reporters and journalists. Another website, torgi-mosmetro.ru is dealing with the tenders. Passenger hot line was introduced in 2010 providing passengers with any relevant information 24/7. Every metro system is complex, thus safety and security of the passengers is the top priority. Moscow Metro is continuously improving its safety and security systems and while increasing the use of new technologies. In 2005, a new Control Centre of the metro system was opened. Gathering all the information about the work of the system it facilitates decision-making procedures and provides the necessary data for the analysis of the metro operations. CCTV plays an important role helping to react faster in emergency situations. With the help of CCTV the Control Centre managers can see any station or a ticket office of the system to check their sanitary state or the passenger flow. In order to create a comprehensive safety and security system in Moscow Metro, a test security system was installed at Okhotny Ryad station. Moscow Metro has developed a programme aimed at improving the service quality for the handicapped. All metro stations have been fitted out with a sound system warning blind or visually impaired people of the approaching train. Over 600 cars of the metro and the monorail systems are equipped with visual information displays showing the next station. The new train stock (in operation since 2008) is fitted out with light signals warning people of the closing doors. Over 250 staircases have been furnished with ramps for prams and rolling bags. Metro platforms are gradually fitted out with bumpy lines and light lines marking the end of the platform. The edges of the escalator steps are marked with yellow stripes for better visibility. The Monorail transport system is also being equipped for the handicapped people. The overground stations of Butovskaya metro line and the monorail stations were equipped with elevators. Later on, the elevators were installed at Kuntsevskaya, Strogino, Slavyansky Bul’var, Volokolamskaya, Myakinino, Mitino stations of Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line, Dostoevskaya and Mar’ina Roshcha of Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya line. All new metro stations are equipped with elevators.
The extension of the metro system into the faraway districts, the creation of extra transport hubs outside the city centre and the modernisation of the system are the key priorities of Moscow Metro development. This will improve passenger transportation, boost safety and security of the system and raise the quality of passenger services.
The metro is one of the few sectors where so many modern systems and technologies have been implemented. The International Metro Association encourages the exchange of experience between Russian and international metro systems and improves partnership relations. The meetings organised by the Association are aimed at improving the work of the metro systems, their safety, security and the service quality.
| Key Performance Indicators, 2012 | |
| Total operational length (two tracks), km | 313.2 |
| Number of lines | 12 |
| Number of stations | 188 |
| Including number of stations with one exit | 73 |
| Metro system density (sq.km per city km.) | 0,31 |
| Number of pairs of trains per hour | 40 |
| Minimum headway, sec | 90 |
| Fulfillment of train schedule, % | 99,985 |
| Inventory rolling stock, cars | 4831 |
| Rolling stock in operation, cars | 3579 |
| Total car/km, mio. | 776,4 |
| Number of depots | 15 |
| Average operational train speed, km/h. | 49,06 |
| Average train speed, km/h. 41,65 | 41,65 |
| Power consumption, mio. kWh | 1965,8 |
| including power for train traction, mio. kWh | 1485,3 |
| Specific energy consumption for traction, Wh per t/km | 51,37 |
| Number of substations | 319 |
| Length of power cable systems, km | 26050 |
| Number of escalators in operation | 663 |
| Number of stations with escalators | 133 |
| Length of lines equipped with speed control systems, km., including: | 333,3 |
| as a main signaling system, km. | 168,6 |
| with seamless track circuit, km. | 155,3 |
| Number of switches | 1244 |
| Number of ventilation shafts in operation | 430 |
| Number of ventilators in operation | 823 |
| Number of water drainage installations | 971 |
| Operational length of tunnels, km. | 720,7 |
| Staff responsible for operations, pers. | 36419 |
| Total ridership, mio. pax. | 2463,8 |
| Average daily ridership, mio. pax. | 9,28 |
| Cost of transportation of 1 passenger, roubles | 28,3 |
| Modal share, % | 48 |
Contact:
Moscow metro headquarters: 41, Prospect Mira, bldg. 2, Moscow, 129110, Russia (Prospect Mira station – Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya line).
Website: www.mosmetro.ru
Tel.: +7 495 688 02 93
E-mail: info@mosmetro.ru