The Moscow Metro system is notable for its underground stations, which are located from 20 m deep in the city centre to the outskirts. For example, 'Park Pobedy' is 73 m deep, 'Maryina Roshcha' – 72 m, 'Chekhovskaya' – 62 m and 'Sretensky Bulvar' – 60 m.
Among the stations closest to the ground are 'Kropotkinskaya' (13m) and 'Alexandrovsky Sad' (7m). Both of these stations were built during the early stages of Moscow's metro system in the 1930s.
Building small, close-to-ground stations would have been easier and cheaper, but this was not possible in central Moscow at that time.
Building small, close-to-ground stations would have been easier and cheaper, but this was not possible in central Moscow in the 1930s.
First, the construction of deeper stations was due to the rapid growth of Moscow in the 1930s, with an ill-considered design of the metro system that would soon be overloaded.
Second, the construction method of Moscow metro stations is more complicated than the solid and earthen foundations, along with the rivers surrounding the city.
Third, Soviet designers wanted to use the stations in an extended role as bomb shelters against any attack.
Currently, Moscow only builds underground stations where there is a risk of ground subsidence, or where the density of buildings above is too high. Some stations on the major ring roads pass through densely populated areas and need to be built at a safe depth. At the same time, most modern stations still function as emergency shelters.
In addition to the above applications, Moscow's subway stations are considered Russian art "museums" because of their solemn, sophisticated design and majestic beauty like palaces.
Moscow's subway stations are likened to Russian art "museums" because of their solemn, sophisticated design and the majestic beauty of palaces.
On May 15, 1935, the first Moscow metro system was opened, consisting of 13 stations with an 11 km long railway line, serving the people of Moscow and neighboring provinces. This was also the first underground railway line, and at the same time the most ambitious architectural work of the Soviet Union at that time.
As of 2024, the total length of the lines is more than 466 km, including 263 stations and 14 lines. Behind each station lies many stories related to the cultural life of the Soviet people at the time they were built. Three metro stations, Belorusskaya, Kievskaya and Komsomolskaya, are listed as cultural heritage.
After nearly 90 years of operation and development, many metro stations in Moscow still retain their original splendor. The project plays an important role in the city's traffic, transporting about 9 million passengers every day.
As part of the plan to upgrade the Moscow metro system, in March 2023, Russia inaugurated the Great Circle Line - the world's longest metro loop with 70 km, 31 stations, which was opened in stages, starting from the end of 2011 and completed after 12 years.
As of 2024, the total length of Moscow metro lines will be more than 466 km, including 263 stations and 14 lines.
The longest circular metro line was built in record time for such a large-scale project in one of the world's most densely populated urban areas. There are 31 stations in total, 24 of which provide 47 transfer lines to existing and future metro lines, the Moscow Central Circle (MCC), the Moscow Central Diameter (MCD) and suburban railway lines.
The full commissioning of the Big Circle Line is the main transport event in the life of Moscow for more than 70 years, comparable in importance to the closing of the First Circular Line of the former Moscow Metro.
For Moscow - a metropolis of 13 million people as well as a political and social center, the issue of regional connectivity and transport accessibility is very important. The Great Circle Line will completely change the transport infrastructure and ensure the connectivity of different areas of the city, giving a strong impetus to the development of the entire metropolis, both economically and socially.
The idea of building a Great Circle Road has been around since the Soviet era, but the project has not been launched for decades, and now it has become a reality for the people of Moscow, Russia.
Tra Khanh (Source: RBTH)
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