Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro is a massive rapid transit system serving the Russian capital and its neighboring cities.

It connects Moscow to nearby areas like Krasnogorsk, Reutov, Lyubertsy, and Kotelniki. This network is a vital part of the region's infrastructure. It currently stands as the longest metro system in Europe and the longest outside of China.

It is also the busiest metro system in Europe. Outside of Asia, it is the busiest system in the world. Many people visit the metro as a tourist attraction because of its lavish interior decorations.

The system operates using a spoke-hub distribution paradigm.

This means most rail lines run radially from the center of Moscow toward the outlying areas. To help passengers move between these radial lines, the system uses circle lines. The Koltsevaya Line, or line 5, forms a large circle around the city center. There are also newer, larger circles like the Moscow Central Circle (line 14) and the Bolshaya Koltsevaya (line 11). These lines serve the middle periphery of the metropolitan area. Most of the tracks are located underground, though some lines have elevated or at-grade sections.

The Filyovskaya, Butovskaya, and Central Circle lines are the three that are mostly at grade.

Powering these trains requires a steady supply of electricity. Most lines use an underrunning third rail that provides 825 volts of direct current (DC). However, line 14 is different because it connects to mainlines. It uses 3000V DC overhead lines instead of a third rail. The system is incredibly efficient at moving large numbers of people. During peak hours, the intervals between trains often do not exceed 90 seconds. In February 2023, Moscow became the first city in the world to reduce these intervals to just 80 seconds.

The metro opens at 05:25 and all stations close at 01:00 for daily maintenance.

The history of the Moscow Metro began with early plans during the Russian Empire. These plans were delayed by World War I, the October Revolution, and the Russian Civil War. In 1923, the Moscow City Council formed the Underground Railway Design Office. By 1931, the decision to build the metro was made by the Communist Party. In 1933, the Soviet government approved a plan for 10 lines covering 100 kilometers.

The first line officially opened in 1935 with 13 stations.

This initial launch included the first logo, featuring a capital M and the text "МЕТРО."

Construction of the metro involved significant international cooperation. Soviet engineers consulted with specialists from the London Underground.

British architect Charles Holden and administrator Frank Pick served as advisors. The British influence led to the use of tunneling instead of the "cut-and-cover" method. They also recommended using escalators rather than lifts and helped design the rolling stock. This connection is visible in the design of the Gants Hill tube station in London. However, this cooperation ended in 1933 when British engineers from the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company were deported. The Soviet authorities accused them of espionage during a show trial.

Naming conventions for the metro have changed several times over the decades. The system was originally named the L. M. Kaganovich Metro. In 1947, it was renamed the Moscow Order of Lenin L. M. Kaganovich Metro. By 1955, the name was changed to the Moscow Order of Lenin and Order of the Red Banner of Labor V. I. Lenin Metro.

While many people call it the V. I. Lenin Metro, the full legal name remains. Although there were proposals to remove Lenin's name, it stays on many station name plates. This is because the name aligns with the official name of the company used since the Soviet era.

The scale of the modern network is immense. The system consists of 15 lines and 304 stations, covering a total route length of 535.3 kilometers.

Each line is identified by a specific color and an alphanumeric index. For example, the Sokolnicheskaya line is identified by its color to help riders navigate. The average distance between stations is 1.78 kilometers. The shortest distance is only 0.53 kilometers between Delovoy Tsentr and Moskva-City. Conversely, the longest stretch is 4.56 kilometers between Krylatskoye and Strogino. These longer distances allow for a high cruising speed of 70 kilometers per hour. As of 2017, the system handled an average of 6.99 million passengers every day.