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Moscow Metro: The Complete Guide

The Moscow Metro is busy, but easy to use

Robert Schrader

With nearly 7 million riders per day on its 16 lines, the Moscow Metro is the sixth-busiest metro system in the world as of March 2019. Riding the Moscow Metro, however, does not need to be a stressful experience. In fact, it's by far the easiest and most enjoyable way to get around Moscow, especially since many Moscow Metro stations are veritable works of art. Our guide to the public transportation will teach you how to ride the Metro and more.

How to Ride the Moscow Metro

Here is some essential practical information you need to know to easily and seamlessly ride the Moscow Metro.

• Fares: Moscow Metro fares start at 55 rubles for a one-way ticket, which is good for five days after purchase. You'll pay more if your journey takes you outside of the central Moscow zones of A and B, though this is not the case for most tourists.
• How to Pay: Cash is the only way to buy a one-way ticket. However, if you have Apple Pay or Samsung Pay, you can tap your phone directly at the ticket gate and enter using NFC technology. You can also use both mobile payments and credit cards to top-up your reloadable Troika card.
• Routes and Hours: The Moscow Metro has 13 lines that snake and criss-cross the city, plus outer and inner loop lines that string them together, as well as a monorail. The Moscow Metro is open from approximately 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., and trains run with a frequency that can range between 1 and 7 minutes.
• Service Alerts: Download the official MosMetro app on the AppStore or Google Play .
• Transfers: Regardless of how you pay to enter the Moscow Metro, you can transfer to any of the core lines plus the Moscow Monorail without passing through an additional ticket gate. If you wish to transfer to bus lines, airport trains or other rail services, paying with Troika or your mobile device might be more convenient.
• Accessibility: Although Moscow Metro is impressive and modern in many ways, it is not very accessible . Visitors who use wheelchairs should try to avoid the subway and take aboveground transportation instead.

Beautiful Moscow Metro Stations

The Moscow Metro has achieved internet notoriety — and not just because of how busy it is. Several Moscow Metro stations are distractingly beautiful, including:

• Aviamotornaya: Brilliant gold themed to the flight of Icarus.
• Komsomolskaya: Bright yellow ceilings and murals chronicling Russia's journey to independence.
• Mayakovskaya: Art Deco, featuring mosaic ceilings and pink marble floor
• Park Pobedy: Modern station (built in 2003) with colorful murals; one of the deepest metro stations in the world (276 feet below ground!).
• Ploschad Revolutsii: Constructed in 1938 at the height of Soviet pride, this station is home to bronze statues that locals still rub for good luck.

Although it's technically legal to take pictures within the Moscow Metro, guards might approach you if you spend too long photographing a particular station, or use professional equipment like a tripod. Be as discreet as possible to avoid an uncomfortable confrontation!

Other Moscow Public Transit

In addition to the (mostly) subterranean transport offered by the Moscow Metro, Russia's capital is home to a number of aboveground transport options. This includes a large network of buses, as well as trams and "trolley buses." While these are all cheaper than the Moscow Metro, they also require some command of Russian to use; the ordinary buses are also subject to sitting in Moscow's terrible traffic.

In terms of payment, your Moscow Metro ticket isn't valid for transit to any other form of transit, though a Troika card will allow you to do so seamlessly. Likewise, while the various Aeroexpress trains (between Sheremetyevo Airport and Belorussky Station, Domodedovo Airport and Paveletsky Station and between Vnukovo Airport and Kievsky Station) feature modern vehicles and offer fast, reliable connections to Moscow's major airports, these lines are not considered to be part of the Moscow Metro system.

As noted earlier, the Moscow Metro is technically organized by "Zone," with the center of Moscow being occupied by the "A" and "B" zone. Again, you shouldn't worry too much about this. If you're hanging out in the parts of the city, you probably speak enough Russian to be able to ask a local for advice!

Taxis and Ride Sharing Apps

The bad news? It is exceedingly unlikely that a taxi drive in Moscow will speak English. The good news? Uber works in Moscow as of March 2019, which means that if you have the app installed on your smartphone (and a Russian SIM card, which you can pick up at Moscow Airport), your next Moscow ride is basically a matter of plug-and-play.

Russia also has a number of homegrown ride sharing apps, though these aren't as ubiquitous as Uber — they also don't have good English-language interfaces. If you're interested in learning more about them, in any case, be sure to visit the websites of InDriver or Taxi Maxim . Keep in mind that many of these applications require Russian credit cards, or a Russian bank account to pay for rides.

Security-wise, the technological aspect of using ride sharing apps in Russia makes them relatively safe. On the other hand, taxis have a dodgy reputation at best. If you do end up needing to take a taxi in Moscow, make sure to use a registered car. The ones waiting at the airport stands are generally legitimate; within the city limits, try and have your hotel call a taxi to be safe.

Renting a Car in Moscow

Traffic in Moscow is reliably awful, to say nothing of how difficult navigating the city's serpentine network of ring roads and one-way streets can be. However, if you do want to rent a car in Moscow (or in Russia, more generally) there are some facts you should keep in mind.

Documentation wise, it's not officially necessary to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) — your US driver's license will work, at least if you plan to drive in Russia for less than six months. However, it might serve you well to get an IDP (you can apply at your local AAA office) for peace of mind. In Russia as in the US, you drive on the right side of the road; gas costs about 40 rubles per liter, or about $2.40 per gallon.

Another potential downfall of renting a car of Russia is the threat of interactions with Russian traffic police. While this doesn't put you in any mortal danger, there is a chance you'll have to bribe your way out of any confrontation, which outside the center of Moscow or other Russian cities will almost certainly necessitate some Russian language or body language skills.

Tips for Getting Around Moscow

Regardless of whether you take the Moscow Metro or any of the other transportation options listed here, these general tips for getting around Moscow will serve you well:

• Moscow's city center is very walkable. Unless you're visiting on a bitterly cold day during the middle of winter, many of Moscow's attractions are close enough together that you could walk. For example, you can easily walk from Red Square to Gorky Park, Bolshoy Theatre , Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts , the Kremlin or simply along the Moskva River.
• All roads lead to Red Square. Although Moscow is not a grid-pattern city, it is relatively organized. The majority of major roads start and end at Red Square; the rest are circular ones that connect the "spokes" from Red Square. With this basic idea in mind, it's pretty difficult to get lost in Moscow!
• Moscow's awful traffic means that rail is usually the quickest option. Even if the physical distance between two places is shorter by car, traveling via the Moscow Metro is probably going to be quicker.
• English signage in Moscow has greatly improved over the years. On the other hand, familiarizing yourself with the Cyrillic alphabet before your trip to Russia probably wouldn't be a bad idea. If you need to push someone out of the way (spoiler alert: you probably will!), say izvineetye (sorry) to excuse yourself.
• Petty theft is common, especially during rush hour. Wear your backpack in front of your body, and don't keep large amounts of cash (or your smartphone!) in your back pocket. Hide any conspicuous signs of wealth to avoid being a target!

The Moscow Metro is easy to use—once you get the hang of it. After all, more than two billion trips take place across its rails every year. If it were difficult, this simply wouldn't be possible! Want to learn more about things to do in Moscow? Make sure to check out this guide to Red Square , which is both the geographical and cultural heart of Moscow (and arguably Russia).

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Moscow Metro

Opened in 1935 under Stalin, the Moscow Metro is one of the largest networks in the world and a tourist attraction in itself. Discover how to get around on it!

Designed to be " palaces of the people ", the different stations of Moscow's metro are spectacular examples of Socialist Realist art and architecture. Aside from providing fascinating insight into the city's history, the metro network is also an  efficient and economical way to get around the Russian capital .

Operating times & frequency

The Metro Moscow operates daily between  5:30 am and 1 am , with trains departing every 1 to 3 minutes during peak times. Outside of rush hour, trains are less frequent, every 4 to 7 minutes depending on the line and the time of day.

Ticket prices

The price of a single ticket for the Moscow Metro is 55 Roubles . Single tickets allow you to change trains as many times as you like, with no limit on distance or time. To buy tickets, you may struggle to find English speaking staff, however you should be to communicate the number of tickets you need by holding up your fingers, and thankfully most stations now have simple automated machines that you can use too. 

There are often long queues to buy tickets, so if you're planning to travel by metro a lot, we recommend buying multi-ride tickets to save time and money. You'll get a paper card which you tap on the reader to go through the turnstile.

You can buy a daily ticket for ₽ 230 ( US$ 2.50) or a 3-day ticket for ₽ 438 ( US$ 4.80).

Metro lines

Moscow Metro has 17 lines  with a total length of 246 miles (397 km) divided into more than  230 stations  (265 if we include the Moscow Central Circle). Each line is identified by a name, a number and a colour.

Guided tour of the Moscow Metro

Moscow's metro network is a museum in itself, and it's a must-see attraction on any trip to the Russian capital. The long marble corridors, fascinating Soviet-themed frescoes and gilded sculptures are truly captivating.

A curious detail about the Moscow metro lies in the announcements on the trains. Unless you speak Russian, you probably won't understand the content of the voiceovers, however, you may note something interesting: trains heading into the city have male voiced announcements, and trains heading out of the city have female voiced announcements!

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Public Transportation and Metro Rail Information

Moscow Metro

Moscow metro information.

Over the years, Moscow’s metro system has truly changed. From its humble beginnings in 1935 to one of the most important means of public transport in Moscow. How has this happened? From a single line serving 13 stations, it is now the busiest metro system outside of Asia. With a length of over 330km, it is no surprise that it is the fifth longest metro system in the world. It now consists of 12 lines serving 200 stations and has an annual ridership of 2.4 billion (2014). Moskovsky Metropoliten is the operator of this massive system.

The Moscow Metro system supports a significant number of daily commuters, with a total of 6,550,000 passengers travelling daily. Unlike some other metro systems, it doesn’t offer a 24-hour service and operates from 5:30am to 1:00am (M-D).

Air conditioning is available, but only on lines 3 and 5, and was introduced in 2009. The system doesn’t allow passengers to walk between platforms and there are no driverless trains. There are no screen doors on the platform.

The average speed of trains on the Moscow metro is about 41.5 km/h. The fare is 64 roubles.

For more information, please visit the Moscow Metro Official Website .

Moscow Metro Map

Map of Moscow Metro showing various lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it.

Lines and Stations

Moscow’s metro system consists of 14 interconnected lines, allowing passengers to travel almost anywhere in the city. Each of these lines has a unique name, code (a combination of numbers or numbers and letters) and colour, making it easier to identify each line and transfer from one to another. While most of Moscow’s metro lines are underground, there are also some surface and elevated stations.

Sokolnicheskaya Line

The Sokolnicheskaya line is Moscow’s oldest metro line, running from Bulvar Rokossovskogo to Salaryevo and crossing the city along the north-east-south-west axis.

• Line color : Red
• Number of stations : 22
• Length : 20.19 mi (32.5 km)
• Schedule : 5:00 am to 1:00 am

Zamoskvoretskaya Line

The Zamoskvoretskaya line crosses Moscow from north to south. One of its most beautiful and popular stations is Mayakovskaya.

• Line color : Dark green
• Number of stations : 23
• Length : 20.19 mi (42 km)

Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line

The Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line, the second to open in Moscow, is also the city’s longest. Its 22 stations cross Moscow from west to east, connecting the Mitino district and Krasnogorsk with Moscow’s eastern suburbs.

• Line color : Dark blue
• Length : 28.02 mi (45.1km)

Filyovskaya Line

Unlike most lines that cross Moscow from one end to the other, the Filyovskaya line starts in the city centre and connects to the Dorogomilovo and Fili districts in the west.

• Line color : Light blue
• Number of stations : 13
• Length : 9.1 mi (14.7 km)

Koltsevaya Line

The Koltsevaya line is one of Moscow’s two circular metro lines. Its 12 stations form a ring around the city centre. This line is one of the most famous, as some of its stations still retain the iconic Stalinist architecture.

• Line Color : Brown
• Number of stations : 12
• Length : 12.05 mi (19.4 km)

Kaluzhsko–Rizhskaya Line

The Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya line crosses Moscow from north to south, connecting Medvedkovo and Novoyasenevskaya.

• Line Color : Orange
• Number of stations : 24
• Length : 23.5 mi (37.8 km)

Tagansko–Krasnopresnenskaya Line

The Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya line, with 23 stations, crosses Moscow from north-east to south-east and is the most heavily used metro line.

• Line Color : Purple
• Length : 26.1 mi (42 km)

Kalininsko–Solntsevskaya Line

The Kalininsko-Solntsevskaya line consists of two separate sections crossing the city from east to west. It is expected that both sections will be connected by 2020.

• Line Color : Yellow
• Code : 8 and 8a
• Number of stations : 8 and 5, respectively
• Length : 10.1 mi (16.3 km) and 6.6 mi (10.7 km), respectively

Serpukhovsko–Timiryazevskaya Line

The Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya line, the second largest metro system in Moscow, crosses the city from one end to the other, connecting Altufyevo and Bulvar Dmitriya Donskogo.

• Line Color : Gray
• Number of stations : 25
• Length : 25.8 mi (41.5 km)

Lyublinsko–Dmitrovskaya Line

The Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya line crosses Moscow from Seligerskaya to Krasnogvardeyskaya.

• Line Color : Light green
• Number of stations : 20
• Length : 20.8 mi (33.4 km)

Kakhovskaya Line

The Kakhovskaya Line, the shortest in the Moscow metro system, connects the Grey Line to the Green Line and is only 2.1 mi (3.3 km) long.

• Line Color : Aquamarine
• Number of stations : 3
• Length : 2.1 mi (3.3 km)

Butovskaya Line

The Butovskaya line can be seen as an extension of line 6, reaching as far as Buninskaya Alley. It is not an underground line, but an elevated one.

• Line Color : Grayish blue
• Number of stations : 7
• Length : 6.2 mi (10 km)

Although it is a monorail and not a metro, it is considered part of the metro system. Transfers between the metro and the monorail are free within 90 minutes.

• Line Color : Blue
• Number of stations : 6
• Length : 2.3 mi (4.7 km)

Central Circle

The Central Circle is the second circular line of the Moscow Metro. Its 31 stations encircle all of Moscow’s historical sites.

• Line Color : White circle with a double red line
• Number of stations : 31
• Length : 33.6 mi (54 km)

Schedules and Frequency

Most Moscow metro stations open at 5:30 a.m. and close at 1:00 a.m. The Monorail (line 13) operates from 7:00 to 23:00 and the Central Circle (line 14) from 5:45 to 12:30. Trains on most lines run every 2 or 3 minutes most of the day, and every 90 seconds at peak times. At night, trains run every 6 to 10 minutes.

Connections with other systems

Moscow’s 14 metro lines intersect at various points along their routes, making it easy to transfer from one line to another. Once your ticket has been validated, you can change between lines 1-12 without any time limit or extra charge.

Transfers between the first 12 lines and Line 13 (the Monorail) and vice versa are free within 90 minutes of first boarding.

Transfers between the first 12 lines and line 14 (Central Circle) and vice versa are free within 90 minutes of first boarding.

Single Metro tickets do not include connections to other modes of transport such as buses or trams.

Troika Card

The Troika card is the most convenient way to pay for public transport in Moscow. This plastic card can be loaded with money and used to purchase any type of ticket available.

The card requires a deposit of 50 rubles (US$0.88), which will be refunded when the card is returned. The Troika card is valid for 5 years and can be used on the metro and other public transport. You can top up your card at station ticket counters, vending machines or via the app.

• Troika card: 57 rubles (US$0.88)
• A trip on the metro and monorail: 36 rubles (US$0.63)
• A trip on other modes of transportations: 36 rubles (US$0.63)
• Unlimited 90-minute connections between metro and other modes of transportation: 56 rubles (US$0.99)

Single tickets

If you do not want to use a Troika card, you can buy a single ticket or a pass, which is issued in the form of a red card. This card can be used on the metro as well as other modes of transport such as buses and trams.

• 1 trip (valid for 5 days from the day of purchase): 55 rubles (US$0.97)
• 2 trips (valid for 5 days from the day of purchase): 110 rubles (US$1.94)
• 20 trips (valid for 90 days from the day of purchase): 747 rubles (US$13.17)
• 40 trips (valid for 90 days from the day of purchase): 1494 rubles (US$26.34)
• 40 trips (valid for 90 days from the day of purchase and only available for purchase with the Troika card): 1765 rubles (US$31.12)

Unlimited trips

Edinaya” passes allow unlimited travel during a specified period. These passes can be used within 10 days of purchase and the validity period starts to count down from the first use. In the future, however, the 30-day passes can only be purchased with a Troika card and are valid from the time of purchase.

• 1 day: 218 rubles (US$3.84)
• 3 days: 415 rubles (US$7.32)
• 7 days: 830 rubles (US$14.63)
• 30 days: 2075 rubles (US$36.58)
• 90 days: 5190 rubles (US$91.5)
• 365 days: 18900 rubles (US$333.21)
• Although Moscow’s metro system may seem complicated, with 14 lines, planning a trip is easy thanks to the interactive map on the official website and app.
• Buying individual tickets is cheaper than buying a Troika card.
• If you have money loaded on your Troika card and you are leaving the country, you can go to any of the metro’s main offices and request a refund of the available amount on the card, including the deposit.
• Maps in stations and trains show stations in both Russian and Latin alphabets.
• The Yandex.Metro app offers bilingual maps and allows you to plan your trip, estimate travel time and take into account connections.
• As some of Moscow’s famous metro stations are among the most beautiful in the world, they are also among the busiest. Avoid visiting them during rush hours.

Interesting Facts

• Moscow’s metro is famous for its stations decorated with murals, mosaics, chandeliers and works of art. These beautiful stations have become one of Moscow’s tourist attractions, with tours explaining the art and history of the stations.
• The Moscow Metro was one of the first metro systems in the Soviet Union.
• It is the sixth largest metro system in the world.
• The Park Pobedy station is one of the deepest in the world at 276 feet (84 metres). It also has one of the longest escalators in Europe.
• Since 1 December 2014, all metro lines have free Wi-Fi, thanks to the company Maxima Telecom.
• With more than nine million passengers a day, Moscow’s metro is one of the busiest in the world.
• Although it hasn’t been confirmed, there is speculation that a secret metro system exists beneath some of the regular lines. This system, known as D-6, was supposedly created to evacuate a select group of influential people in the event of an emergency, such as a nuclear attack during the Cold War. It is believed that this secret metro is run by the army.

Future expansions

Although Moscow’s metro is extensive, reaching out to the city limits and connecting with surrounding districts, it is in constant need of expansion and modernisation to meet growing demand. Some of the stations on Line 1, which was first opened, are among the oldest in the system and require modernisation.

While significant extensions have been completed in recent years, major expansions of the Moscow metro are currently underway. Currently, several lines are planned to be extended by a total of 93 miles (150 kilometres) by 2020. Key expansion projects will add 5.9 miles (9.5 kilometres) to the Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya line and extend the metro system to the Solntsevo district and suburbs of Moscow.

Connection to the airport

Moscow has three international airports, each 19 to 25 miles (30 to 40 kilometres) from the city centre. It’s possible to get to any of them by a combination of metro and bus, but bear in mind that this may not be the best option if you’re travelling with a lot of luggage, as the bus will drop you off in the suburbs, where you’ll then have to take a metro into downtown Moscow.

If you are travelling with a lot of luggage, the best option is to take a taxi or the Aeroexpress, a train that connects the airports with downtown Moscow.

If you’re not travelling with a lot of luggage or are looking for the cheapest option, it’s possible to get to the city centre by bus or metro. Here’s how:

• From Domodedovo Airport: You can take the 308 bus to Domodedovskaya station on the Green Line (Line 2) and from there take one of the metro lines to your destination. The journey from the airport to the Green Line takes 30-40 minutes. Express buses cost 100 roubles (US$1.76), while 24-hour buses cost 120 roubles (US$2.11).
• From Sheremetyevo Airport: Several bus lines take you from the airport to Rechnoy Vokzal station on the Green Line (Line 2) or to Planernaya station on the Purple Line (Line 7). The journey to either station takes between 40 and 50 minutes. A 90-minute ticket, which includes bus travel, metro entry and unlimited connections during the 90 minutes, costs 50 roubles. (US$0.88).
• From Vnukovo Airport: Take the N611 bus to Yugo-Zapadnaya station on the Red Line (Line 1). The trip costs 50 roubles (US$0.88) and takes about 40 minutes. You can buy a 90-minute ticket, which includes the bus ride, metro entry and unlimited connections during the 90 minutes.

Sights to see via Moscow’s metro

St Basil’s Cathedral: This iconic cathedral is a landmark not only in Moscow, but in all of Russia. This Orthodox church, unique in its architecture and famous for its colourful domes, is located on Red Square and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral is a 10-minute walk from Ploshchad Revolyutsii metro station (Line 3) and Teatral’naya metro station (Line 2).

Red Square: In addition to St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square is home to the Kremlin, the official residence of the Russian President, the Monument to Minin and Pozharsky, and Lenin’s Mausoleum. To get to the square, take metro line 3 to Ploshchad Revolyutsii station or line 2 to Teatral’naya station.

Metro Stations: With their chandeliers, murals and mosaics, metro stations are a tourist attraction in their own right. Some of the most famous and beautiful are

• On Line 5: Kievskaya, Belorusskaya, Komsomolskaya, Novoslobodskaya and Park Kultury.
• On line 3: Ploshchad Revolutsii, Elektrozavodskaya, Kurskaya, Park Pobedy and Slavyansky Bulvar
• On line 2: Mayakovskaya

Tretyakov Gallery: This is one of the most famous art museums in Moscow. It houses the largest collection of Russian works in the world. The gallery is a five-minute walk from Tretyakovskaya metro station on Line 6.

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Moscow Metro map and journey planner app called Yandex.Metro is available for iOS and Android for free.

We have a great Moscow Metro & Stalin Skyscrapers Private Tour across all famous metro stations, available for you every day.

1. Famous Moscow metro stations

The station was opened on March 14, 1954. It was named after the nearby Kievsky Railway Station. Decorating of station is devoted to friendship of Russian and Ukrainian people. Rich mosaic decoration is made from smalt and valuable stones by project of Ukrainian architects, chosen from seventy-three works presented on competition.

It was opened on April 5, 1953. Design of the station is devoted to the Soviet Ukraine and reunion of Ukraine and Russia. The station is decorated with a large number of the picturesque cloths executed in style of socialist realism in fresco technique. The fresco «Holiday in Kiev», made in 1953 was practically destroyed in 2010, due to an accident during nearby constructing works. While the fresco recovery, restorers revived its original appearance that had gone through many changes since its creation.

The station was opened on March 13, 1938. The most interesting feature of the station is 76 bronze figures, situated in niches of 18 arches. This peculiar gallery of images of Soviet people, aimed to personify force and power of the country, its glorious past and bright future. One of the bronze sculptures — a dog that accompanies a frontier guard — is believed to bring good luck if you touch its nose.

Prospect Mira station of the Circle line was opened on January 30, 1952. It used to be called Botanical Garden up to June 20, 1966. The station’s decoration is devoted to development of agriculture in the USSR. Light marble and bas-reliefs by sculptor G. I. Motovilov decorate poles of the station. Famous smalt panel «Mothers of the World» by A. N. Kuznetsov is situated in the lobby.

Komsomolskaya station was opened on January 30, 1952. The station has rich decoration devoted to a fight of USSR against overseas aggressors and victory in the Great Patriotic War. Mosaic panels from smalt and valuable stones, created according to sketches of the Lenin Award winner Pavel Corin, represent famous Russian commanders and weapons of different eras.

The station was opened on November 20, 1943. Its name was originally written through a hyphen: ‘Novo-Kuznetskaya’. The interior of the station is rich with decorating elements. The idea of creative force and power of Soviet people, its remarkable victories in the Great Patriotic War found realization in architectural design of station. The perimeter of the escalator arch is decorated with bronze sculptures by the sculptor N.V.Tomsky.

Novoslobodskaya station was opened on January 30, 1952. It was called after Novoslobodskaya street, where the station is situated. 32 original stained-glass windows from multi-colored glass, framed with steel and gilded brass and the famous mosaic panel «World peace», situated at the face wall the station, are made by sketches of Pavel Dmitriyevich Corin.

Dostoevskaya is comparatively new station, opened on June 19, 2010. It is situated at Suvorovskaya Square. Russian writer Fedor Dostoyevsky was born and lived in this district of Moscow. Therefore, the station bears his name and features scenes from his works «Crime and Punishment», «The Idiot», «Demons», «The Brothers Karamazov». Artist Ivan Nikolaev, the author of the decoration, said that depicting scenes of violence shows depth and tragedy of Dostoevsky’s work.

2. General information about Moscow metro

The Moscow Metro is open from about 5:30 am until 1:00 am. The precise opening time varies at different stations according to the arrival of the first train, but all stations simultaneously close their entrances and transitions to other lines at 01:00 am for maintenance. The minimum interval between trains is 90 seconds during the morning and evening rush hours. Each line is identified according to an alphanumeric index (usually consisting of a number), a name and a color. Voice announcements in Russian refer to the lines by name and by numbers in English. A male voice announces the next station when traveling towards the center of the city or the clockwise direction on the circle line, and a female voice – when going away from the center or the counter-clockwise direction at the circle. The lines are also assigned specific colors for maps and signs.

Free Wi-Fi is called MT_FREE and available on all 14 lines (inside the trains).

Using Metro services is frequently the fastest and the most efficient way to get from one part of the city to another. But during daytime Moscow Metro stations are usually overcrowded so if you want to just enjoy the beauty of the underground, it’s better to visit it late in the evening.

Since 2016 The Moscow Metro is connected to two new types of rail transport. The first one is MCC – Moscow Central Circle. It has 31 stations around the city with changes to metro stations (most of them require to walk a few minutes via the street). The second one is MCD, Moscow Central Diameters, a system of city train services on existing commuter rail lines in Moscow and Moscow Oblast. MCD has several lines, they’re being marked as D1, D2 etc. Changing to both MCC and MCD from the Metro is free when your journey is within the city. Both MCC and MCD lines exist on all of the Moscow Metro maps.

213 people were born in the metro during the World War II, when it was used as a bomb shelter.

There are 76 bronze sculptures of workers, peasants, soldiers, sailors, etc. at Ploshchad Revolyutsii station. There is legend connected with this station. To pass any examination successfully, a student should touch the bronze dog’s nose («the Frontier Guard with a Dog» sculpture). You can easily understand high popularity of this legend by looking at the polished nose of the dog.

It is said that some of the magnificent mosaics at several central stations, for example the «World Peace» mosaic at Novoslobodskaya, were made with the pieces of enamel and smalt, taken from the famous Christ the Savior Cathedral, before it’s destruction.

As any other dungeon the Moscow metro, has its own ghosts. The most famous one is the old lineman. He is not dangerous and usually hides into the wall, when people appear. The ghostly metro train is much more dangerous. It appears after midnight at the Circle Line and consists of old-time carriages. It sometimes stops at the stations and opens its doors, and then goes back into the darkness. It is said that the souls of Stalin’s prisoners, perished during the building of the metro are locked in the train forever.

3. Moscow Metro tickets

You can buy tickets in ticket offices or in automatic ticket machines. Passes for 1 or 2 trips are the most expensive. They sold only in ATM and cost 57 and 114 rubles (€0.56 and €1.12) respectively.

All the other kinds of tickets are available in the ticket offices. Tickets for bigger amount of trips are more profitable.

A ticket «90 minutes» is valid for one trip on the metro and an unlimited number of trips on surface transport within this time. It costs 65 rub (€0.64).

You can also use «Troyka» – refillable card to pay for travelling on all kinds of public transport – metro, buses, trolley-buses, trams, monorail and blue minibuses. With «Troyka» one trip costs 35 rub (€0.34).

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15 Most Beautiful Moscow Metro Stations to Visit in Russia (Tips & Travel Guide)

by Aileen Adalid Russia , Train or Rail Tours 5 comments

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My first trip to Russia was a sudden travel project that I had to do for a client; that’s why I didn’t have the time to thoroughly research the sights that I’ll be seeing… I did have some idea about most of the city’s attractions, but not so much about the beauty that is found “ under ” the capital. So imagine my surprise when I first set foot in the breathtaking Moscow Metro stations!

After all, I have witnessed beautiful railway stations in Europe before, but the scale and design of the ones in Moscow were nothing short of a masterpiece. (Much like St Petersburg Metro Stations ).

It may just be a way of transport for Russian locals, but as a visitor, a huge number of them were overwhelmingly gorgeous that I could have easily mistaken as grand halls, castles, or cathedrals!

Looking for other must-do activities?

Check out these Russia travel guides now!

In fact, they say that though London has the oldest or that Shanghai has the biggest train stations, Moscow’s very own are said to be architectural legends in their own right, making them one of the most beautiful in the world.

With over 241 Moscow Metro stations, you will also find that no two stations look alike — some may be quite simple, but most are elegantly decorated. Surely it would be impossible to see all of them in one go, so in order to save you time, money, and effort, I have compiled below a list of the 15 most beautiful Moscow Metro stations that you MUST see!

…But before we jump into that, let me share with you some brief history, as well as some metro tips that you need to take note of.

Table of Contents

Metro Travel Guide

How to use the moscow metro system.

Open from 5:30AM to 1AM, the Moscow Metro is relatively cheap — certainly a small price to pay for enjoying well-connected transportation AND jaw-dropping architecture!

The Metro is extremely clean and well-guarded by train staff too, so it’s relatively safe; but still, be wary of possible pickpockets because Moscow is a big city. To help make your journey a pleasant one, take note of the following tips.

» Ticket Cost

Photo by: Shutterstock

• There are NO zones, so even with just one ticket, you don’t have to worry if you went too far.
• This red paper ticket can also work on buses and trolleys.
• RUB36 is deducted from your card for every trip taken and you can change to a bus, tram, or monorail for an additional RUB20 in the next 90 minutes.
• It can be used to pay for Aeroexpress tickets to the airport, Velobike sharing, as well as some other city museums and parks.
• Day and multiple-day passes are also available for purchase.

» Purchasing Metro Tickets

Buying tickets is easy because you can get them in every Metro station at either of the following…

• You don’t have to speak Russian because you can just hold up your fingers to show the number of tickets you need; otherwise, make use of a translation app
• Accept both money and cards, and are also both in Russian and English.

» Top Tips for Navigating Moscow’s Metro

• Download a Moscow Metro map for iOS or Android (both can be used offline) — but for a more hassle-free experience, I recommend downloading Google Maps . I used it during my stay in Moscow and I got around just fine!
• If you want help translating the Russian signages, download a translation app .

TRIVIA & HELPFUL TIP: An upcoming station is announced by a male voice when a train is going inbound to the city center (on the Circle line, if it’s going clockwise), whereas a female voice is used on a train that is going outbound away from the city center (counter-clockwise on the Circle Line). . Some people say that this is the case because a man’s voice helps encourages people who are heading off to work, and a female’s voice helps passengers relax on their way back home!

Aquarelle Train photo by: Shutterstock

• Stand on the right and walk on the left.
• RUSH HOURS: Usually from 8AM to 10AM in the morning, and 5PM to 7PM in the afternoon. The trains will get crowded so it’s best to avoid these times if you want to do some sightseeing at Moscow Metro stations. Sunday will usually be a quiet day, or if you can come as early as 6AM in the morning, the better.
• GUIDED TOUR: If you want a hassle-free experience, you can also just join a guided Metro tour (or do a private tour ) !
• There is also a Sokolniki Retro Train that is designed after the original 1930s trains, and it is typically used around a major anniversary of the Moscow Metro system.
• During Russian holidays, some of the trains are also decorated.

15 Most Beautiful Moscow Metro Stations

Finally, you are about to read the list of the topmost beautiful Moscow Metro Stations. You’ll be surprised to see that most of these train stations portray a certain era or history in Russia, if not a political leader or influential person — as such, you might even feel that you are walking through a massive underground museum!

» BONUS: Other Noteworthy Moscow Metro Stations

• Vorob’evy Gory is a unique station because it is on a bridge that crosses the Moscow River!
• Line 2, Green: Dinamo
• Line 4, Light Blue: If you’re a history buff, you might like to explore this train line because it holds the oldest stations.
• Line 5, Brown: Belorusskaya, Park Kultury
• Line 6, Yellow: VDNKh
• Line 7, Violet: Spartak
• Line 10, Light Green: Dostoyevskaya

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Yes, it is allowed! In fact, there are some spots in most Metro stations that are marked as photo points. The only restriction that they have is for film-style shooting because for those, you will need the permission of the Metro authorities (because of this rule, I have read accounts wherein people weren’t allowed to shoot with a tripod; but well, I was traveling solo and have used a tripod in Komsomolskaya station but no one reprimanded me).

Though the trains run every 2 minutes or so, you will still need quite some time for transfers. Even so, it is possible to enjoy the 15 metro stations stated in the list for a whole day; but, if you don’t want to spend so much time underground, you can just take note of these stations and insert some of them in your day-to-day Moscow itinerary as you please.

I would highly recommend exploring Koltsevaya (Line 5, Brown) which is the so-called ‘Circle Line’. After all, its 12 stations are said to be the grandest given how they were built during Stalin’s regime. Nevertheless, try to also mix it with some of the stations found on Line 3 because places like Arbatskaya, Elektrozavodskaya, and Ploschad Revolutsii are places that are worth your while too!

Check out CozyCozy for the top accommodations in Moscow — it basically compares all places to stay in one search.

Absolutely! Join this guided Metro tour (or do a private tour ) to have a hassle-free experience.

In general, Russia is a safe country. Just take note though that since Moscow is a major city with a massive number of people, petty theft can still happen especially when you’re in a tight space such as in a train car — so just stay street smart and use your common sense at all times and you’ll definitely be fine. Rest assured, there are security staff in every train station, so if you ever need assistance, they are pretty easy to spot.

» Compare All Moscow Hotels & Rentals «

I hope this underground guide will help make your Moscow Metro exploration a rewarding and hassle-free experience!

Let me know in the comments section below if you happen to find any other interesting subway station in the Russian capital that I might have missed .

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Here in Moscow now and will use your guide – thank you!!!

Hope it helps! Let me know :D

OMG YESSSSSS!!! You can see the pics on my IG: @rdub

When I write my article on my Russia trip, I will absolutely link to this article…SO helpful!!! Thank you!!!

Soooooo amazing! I just finished my article on my Moscow trip and I mentioned, praised and linked you a few times! I hope you’ll check it out. Your guide was so good!!!

I used your guide to the stations today and absolutely enjoyed myself. Made no mistakes. I love urban history. You made my day!

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

M1 travel updates after building fire closes major motorway ahead of rush hour

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A major motorway has been left eerily quiet in the lead-up to rush hour as a building fire closes the M1.

The motorway is closed in both directions between junction 1 for Brent Cross and junction 4 for Elstree.

The London Fire Brigade are at the scene and Highways England have put diversions in place.

Thick clouds of smoke from the fire at a commercial unit in Cricklewood are drifting across both carriageways which is creating poor visibility for drivers.

The closure on one of England’s busiest motorways is likely to cause chaos for commuters as the evening rush hour approaches.

Official diversion routes for the M1 closure

Road users travelling northbound are advised to follow the hollow diamond diversion symbol

• From the Staples Corner roundabout (A406/M1 J1), follow the A406 eastbound until Brent Cross (A41)
• At Brent Cross interchange, exit the A406 and join the A41 Hendon Way
• Follow the A41 northbound through Hendon Central and Colindeep interchanges
• At Fiveways Corner interchange, join the A1 northbound
• Continue on the A1 and take the 2d exit at Mill Hill Circus interchange to continue on the A1 until Apex Corner
• Take the 2nd exit to join the A41 Edgeware Way/Watford Bypass
• At the 1st roundabout on the A41, take the 3rd exit and then take the 1st left to re-join the M1 northbound at J4

Road users travelling southbound are advised to follow the hollow circle diversion symbol on road signs

• Exit at J4 and join the A41 Edgeware Way.
• At the first roundabout take the first exit to remain on the A41 Edgeway Way/Watford Bypass.
• At Apex Corner roundabout take the second exit on to the A1 Watford Way.
• At the Mill Hill Circus roundabout take the second exit to remain on the A1 Watford Way.
• At the Fiveways Corner Interchange take the second exit to re-join the A41 Watford Way southbound towards Central London.
• Continue on the A41 southbound through Colindeep and Hendon Central Interchanges.
• At the Brent Cross interchange exit the A41 via the third exit to join the A406 North Circular westbound.
• Take the next exit from the A406 to access Staples Corner Interchange.

M62 official diversion routes

Road users are advised to follow the solid diamond diversion symbol on road signs if 4.8m high or below:

• Exit the M62 at J25 and proceed to the end of the slip road.
• At the roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A644. Continue on the A644 for approx. 1 mile to the roundabout with the A62.
• At the roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A62.
• Continue on the A62 to the junction with A6107.
• At the junction with the A6107 turn right. Follow the A6107 for approx. 2 miles to the junction with A643.
• At this junction, turn left, and continue on the A643 for approx. 2 miles.
• At the roundabout with the A629 take the 2nd exit onto the A629 and follow to the M62 J25 entry slip.
• Re-join M62 at J24 westbound. 

Road users are advised to follow the solid triangle diversion symbol on road signs if above 4.8m high:

• At the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto A644 and proceed along this road for approx. 1 mile.
• At the roundabout with the A641 take the 1st exit and continue on the A641 for approx. 2 miles.
• At the roundabout with the A6107 take the 3rd exit and proceed along the A6107 for approx. 1 mile.
• At the junction with the A643 turn left and proceed along the A643 for approx. 2 miles.
• At the roundabout with the A629 take the 2nd exit and follow the A629 to the M62 J24 westbound entry slip.
• Re-join M62 at J24. 

M62 closed in both directions due to lorry fire

A lorry on fire on the M62 motorway has blocked both carriageways between junction 25 for Brighthouse and junction 24 near Huddersfield.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue are on scene.

National Highways will be providing diversion routes soon and we’ll share them here as soon as they’re made available.

London Trams part suspended due to faulty tram

London TramLink has no service between East Croydon and Reeves Corner because of a faulty tram at Church Street.

There is currently good service on all other Tram routes.

Elsewhere in London, there are still severe delays on the Jubilee line and minor delays on the Central line.

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Car and van trips up nearly 8% in a year

AA analysis of Department for Transport (DfT) figures shows people in England made an average of 363 trips in their car or van last year – nearly one per day and up 7.7% from the 337 trips made during 2022.

Trips as a car or van passenger also increased, from 165 to 185 or 12.1%.

AA head of roads policy Jack Cousens said: ‘Today’s national travel survey shows that greater use of road transport and particularly cars signals a return to near-normality after the disruption of Covid and the lockdowns.

‘More significantly, increases in trip rates amongst private transport modes and public transport modes in 2023 – while trip rates for active transport modes such as walking and cycling have remained similar in 2023 compared to 2022 – underline the importance of the car for personal mobility.’

RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: ‘It’s abundantly clear that the private car remains the mode of choice for journeys over a mile in length, despite the fact that the proportion of households with access to a car has remained broadly flat for the last 50 years.

‘And while the average distance travelled by bus has crept up slightly this year, it’s still the case that these figures are down hugely compared to the start of the century – reinforcing the fact that many local bus services, where they still exist, simply aren’t working for people.’

The latest update on the Three Bridges signal failure impacting trains to Gatwick Airport

Southern and Thameslink services will be delayed in the Three Bridges area.

Thameslink services from Bedford which usually terminate at Three Bridges may terminate and restart at Gatwick Airport instead. If you require Three Bridges, you may need to change services at Gatwick Airport and catch an alternative Southern or Thameslink train.

Thameslink services which usually start from Horsham towards Peterborough may start at Three Bridges instead. If you are at Horsham and require Three Bridges, please use a Southern service towards London Victoria, or one of the bus routes covered by your ticket listed below.

You can continue to travel using your usual route, but you will need to allow at least 10 minutes extra to complete your journey, especially if you need to change for services towards Three Bridges.

Services heading north from Three Bridges are currently unaffected.

Severe delays on the Jubilee line

A trespasser on the track at Kingsbury has caused severe delays across the entire Jubilee line.

London Underground tickets are being accepted on London buses, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, Southeastern, Thameslink, C2C and the DLR.

There are currently also minor delays on the Central line due to train cancellations, and minor delays on the Elizabeth line between Paddington, Heathrow Airport and Reading due to a signal failure at Southall.

Disruption between Paddington and Heathrow Terminals

Those heading to Heathrow Airport should prepare for possible delays until 2pm due to disruption between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals.

Delays of 10-15 minutes possible heading south from Gatwick Airport towards Brighton

Southern Rail has said services are subject to short notice alterations after an earlier signaling fault between Gatwick and Three Bridges.

📢 Delays of 10-15 minutes are still possible, affecting southbound trains from Gatwick Airport towards Three Bridges, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Brighton and the coast. Some services may be subject to short notice alterations as a result. Please check before you travel and… — Southern (@SouthernRailUK) August 28, 2024

Map of road diversions for the M62

It is the first time in recent memory, the M62, which carries around 120,000 vehicles a day, will be closed for a whole weekend or other extended period for planned work.

Work to replace Castleton bridge, located between junction 19 for Heywood and 20 for Rochdale, means the M62 will be closed between these junctions for two full weekends in September.

The bridge has been in place for 60 years and carries the main railway line between Manchester and Rochdale.

The motorway will be closed in both directions from 9pm on September 6 to 6am on September 9, and from 9pm on September 20 to 6am on September 23.

Plan your journey around the incident in Three Bridges

Is your journey affected by the signal failure at Three Bridges?

Don’t worry – National Rail has provided some links for you to re-plan your route.

Live departure boards can be found  here .

You can view a live map of the network  here .

You can also see an alternative route guide  here .

If you’re travelling in the London area, you can plan journeys on alternative routes by using the TfL Journey Planner  here .

Other lines affected by Three Bridges signal failure

The ongoing signal failures are affecting other lines as well as services to Gatwick Airport.

Gatwick Express between London Victoria and Brighton.

Southern between London Victoria and Eastbourne / Ore / Littlehampton / Bognor Regis / Portsmouth Harbour

Thameslink between Peterborough and Horsham, between Cambridge and Brighton and also between Bedford and Three Bridges / Brighton

What’s going on with the services to Gatwick Airport?

A National Rail spokesperson said: ‘Your journey is likely to be delayed due to a signalling issue in the Three Bridges area.

‘The signals on the affected part of the network will have changed so that they are only showing red lights to drivers.

‘This means that trains are unable to travel forward on some lines, and are crossing over to utilise available routes.

‘This will cause delays to allow services to cross safely.

‘Southern and Thameslink are working closely with Network Rail, who manage the signalling system, so that they can get more details.

‘Network Rail staff will be investigating as quickly as possible.’

Warning as M62 will be closed for two weekends in September

A major motorway will be closed for two full weekends next month as a railway bridge needs to be replaced.

Castleton bridge is located between junction 19 for Heywood and 20 for Rochdale, so the M62 will be closed between these junctions for two full weekends in September.

The bridge has been in place for 60 years and carries the main railway line between Manchester and Rochdale. It needs to be demolished and replaced with a brand new bridge.

It is the first time in recent memory that the M62, which carries around 120,000 vehicles a day, has been closed for a whole weekend or other extended period for planned work.

Gary Farrell from National Highways said: ‘Network Rail clearly needs to replace what is an ageing bridge and a critical piece of the railways infrastructure supporting the important Manchester Victoria to Leeds service and other routes.

‘We’ve been working with staff from Network Rail for many months to plan and publicise this work including the two full weekend closures.

‘We are urging drivers to avoid this section of the M62 during the two weekends by delaying journeys or planning alternative routes – but anyone who does need to use the M62 over the two weekends should follow the official diversions and not rely on sat nav advice.

‘It’s worth noting that as well as working closely to coordinate lane and carriageway closures with Network Rail we have or will be using as many opportunities as possible to complete our own routine maintenance at the same time – reducing the need for our own lane and carriageway closures at other times.

‘We would like to thank motorway users and anyone living along the diversion routes for their patience and support.’

Lines through Leeds have reopened

The trespass incident has now been resolved and the overhead electric wires have been switched back on.

Services are able to run again, however there’s likely to be a knock-on effect with services being cancelled or delayed by up to an hour.

National Rail expects the disruption will last until around midday.

Disruption through Leeds is expected to last until at least midday

British Transport Police are on site and power to the overhead electric wires has had to be switched off while the trespass incident is dealt with.

It’s affecting CrossCountry, LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express services and trains could be cancelled, delayed by up to an hour, or revised.

Here is some customer advice for people hoping to travel on these services this morning:

CrossCountry

Trains may be diverted between Sheffield and York not calling at Wakefield Westgate and Leeds.

To assist you with your journey your ticket will be accepted on Transpennine Express and Northern services via any reasonable route.

To assist you with your journey your ticket will be accepted on Northern services between Leeds and Harrogate / York.

Services on the following routes are unable to run in both directions:

• Leeds – York (via Micklefield)
• Leeds – Hull
• Leeds – Doncaster
• Leeds – Ilkley
• Leeds – Bradford Forster Square
• Leeds – Skipton

Services on the following routes can run but may be subject to short-notice delays and cancellations in both directions:

• Leeds – York (via Harrogate)
• Leeds – Sheffield
• Leeds – Manchester Victoria
• Leeds – Blackpool North
• Leeds – Carlisle
• Leeds – Lancaster/Morecambe

To assist you with your journey your ticket will be accepted on the following alternatives:

• CrossCountry services between Sheffield and Leeds / York
• TransPennine Express services between Leeds and Manchester / York, also between Doncaster and Sheffield
• LNER services between Doncaster and York, also between Leeds and Harrogate

Any ticket restrictions have been lifted during this disruption.

TransPennine Express

Some services may be diverted via Castleford.

• LNER services between York and Newcastle
• CrossCountry services between Leeds and Newcastle
• Northern services between Leeds and Huddersfield / York

Delays on trains between Leeds and York

There are trespassers on the railway which means all services have to run at a reduced speed between Leeds and York.

TransPennine Express say disruption is expected until further notice, and that all services running through the above cities could be delayed or diverted.

Severe delays on Elizabeth line due to faulty train at Paddington

There are currently severe delays between Abbey Wood and Heathrow/Reading due to the faulty train, but there’s good service on the rest of the Elizabeth line.

Elsewhere there are severe delays on the London Overground between Euston and Watford Junction because of another faulty train, this time at Harrow & Wealdstone.

The Central line is currently seeing minor delays due to train cancellations.

Aside from the part closures on the Piccadilly line, there is good service everywhere else on the Underground this morning.

Good morning

It is just past 6.30am. If you are anxiously scrolling on your phone for updates to your commute, then follow our travel blog for the latest.

Closures on the Piccadilly Line continue to disrupt the rush hour travel of people in London .

Until Sunday, September 1, commuters will be forced to come up with alternative routes to their work while the work continues.

During the period, the line is partially shut between Wood Green and Cockfosters, and between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge.

Additionally, there is a reduced service on other parts of the Piccadilly line due to the unavailability of trains.

Currently, there is good service on all other lines.

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• Active Transportation Plan

Our Active Transportation Plan: Ride & Stride 2050, will identify infrastructure, policies, and processes based on public and stakeholder input to encourage physical activity . We want to:

• Make it safer for people to walk and bike in their communities and improve access to transit facilities.
• Identify feasible projects that can be constructed and determine prioritization criteria to aid in the development of the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (our next long-range plan).
• Provide realistic, non-automobile travel options for our residents and visitors to reduce reliance on automobiles for access to work, school, shopping, and healthcare.

Study Partners and Timing

MetroPlan Orlando is leading the Active Transportation Plan in partnership with our local government partners in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties. We have been coordinating with community members, agencies, businesses, and government entities throughout our 18-month schedule (October 2022 through April 2024) to guide project goals, review preliminary project concepts, and share information about the study.

Key Project Milestones

Existing Conditions Assessment (October 2022 – February 2023)

Assessment of the existing and future levels of comfort and accessibility for active transportation modes based on the existing and planned bicycle and pedestrian networks.  

Public Engagement #1 (January 2023 – March 2023)  

Help us identify where you want more walking and bicycling facilities by March 10, 2023.  

Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian System Planning (March 2023 – August 2023)  

Based on opportunities identified in the existing conditions assessment , and feedback from the public, develop preliminary regional network improvements.  

Public Engagement #2 (October 2023)  

Obtain feedback on the preliminary regional networks to incorporate into the draft Active Transportation Plan.  

Draft Active Transportation Plan (March 2024)

Public review draft of the Active Transportation Plan available.

Final Active Transportation Plan (April 2024)  

Final draft of Active Transportation Plan presented to MetroPlan Orlando Board for action.

PROJECT DOCUMENTS

We have been working hard to identify infrastructure, policies, and processes to expand and improve active transportation throughout the region. In this section, you’ll see the completed Active Transportation Plan and its component documents that helped shape the final plan.

The Active Transportation Plan summarizes the bicycle, pedestrian, and other active transportation infrastructure needed throughout the region as well as policy recommendations to keep active transportation top of mind for future efforts.

Active Transportation Plan Final Report (April 2024)

ATP Tech Appendix (April 2024)

Existing Conditions Technical Report

This report takes a look at the existing active transportation conditions around our region. This includes policy documents currently adopted by local partners, existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, an overview of the region, and much more. You can also find the methodologies for our Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) and Pedestrian Level of Comfort (PLOC) Analyses here.

Existing Technical Conditions Report

Existing Conditions Technical Report Appendix

ATP Strategies Toolbox

Part of the ATP final report will be a list of proposed projects to improve and expand the active transportation network. The ATP Strategies Toolbox lists possible improvement strategies and techniques that can be used in this process.

DRAFT ATP Strategies Toolbox

Facility Type Definitions  

This handout serves as a quick reference guide to the different types of active transportation facilities that exist throughout the region. These facility types and reference figures are also included in the Existing Conditions Report.  

Active Transportation Facility Types

Policy Memorandum

Provides details related to proposed new policies that will be included in the plan.    

Draft Policy Recommendations

Staff Contact

For more information, contact: Taylor Laurent, PE, AICP MetroPlan Orlando | Project Manager (407) 481-5672, Ext. 306 [email protected]

¡SU APORTE ES IMPORTANTE!     

Gracias a todos los que brindaron comentarios sobre sus experiencias caminando y andando en bicicleta en la región. El plan preliminar estará disponible para su revisión en diciembre.   

Los Objetivos del Plan

Nuestro Plan de Transporte Activo: Ride & Stride 2050, identificará la infraestructura, las políticas y los procesos necesarios para fomentar la actividad física, basados en los aportes del público y de organizaciones interesadas. Queremos:

• Hacer que sea más seguro para las personas caminar y andar en bicicleta en sus comunidades, y mejorar el acceso al servicio de transporte público.
• Identificar proyectos que se pueden construir y determinar criterios de priorización para ayudar en el desarrollo del Plan de Transporte Metropolitano 2050.
• Proporcionar opciones realistas de transporte para reducir la dependencia de automóviles para nuestros residentes y visitantes a fin de que las personas tengan acceso a lugares de trabajo, escuelas, compras y atención médica.

Regístrese Para Seguir el Progreso del Plan por Correo Electrónico

¿Quiere mantenerse al día con el desarrollo del Plan de Transporte Activo y conocer las oportunidades para brindar su opinión? Regístrese a continuación para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico sobre este estudio.

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Socios Y Calendario

MetroPlan Orlando está liderando el estudio en asociación con nuestros socios gubernamentales en los condados de Orange, Osceola y Seminole. Coordinaremos con miembros de la comunidad, agencias, empresas y entidades gubernamentales a lo largo de nuestro programa de 15 meses (octubre de 2022 a diciembre de 2023) para guiar los objetivos del proyecto, revisar los conceptos preliminares del proyecto y compartir información sobre el estudio.

Etapas Claves

Evaluación de las Condiciones Existentes (Octubre 2022 – Febrero 2023)

Evaluación de los niveles de comodidad y accesibilidad existentes y futuros para los modos de transporte activos en base a las redes existentes y planificadas.

Participación del Publico #1 (Enero 2023 – Marzo 2023)

Ayúdenos a identificar dónde desea más instalaciones para caminar y andar en bicicleta respondiendo una encuesta y dejando comentarios en nuestro mapa interactivo antes del 10 de marzo.

Planificación del Sistema Regional de Bicicletas y Peatones (Enero 2023 – Mayo 2023)

Desarrollar mejoras preliminares de la red regional con base en las oportunidades y limitaciones identificadas en la evaluación de las condiciones existentes.

Participación del Publico #2 (Agosto 2023 – Septiembre 2023)

Obtener comentarios sobre las redes regionales preliminares para incorporar en el Plan Preliminar.

Plan Final (Octubre 2023 – Diciembre 2023)

Incorporación de los comentarios para desarrollar el Plan de Transporte Activo final.

Plan de Transporte Activo Preliminar (Marzo 2024)    

Revisión pública del Plan de Transporte Activo preliminar.    

Plan Final de Transporte Activo (Abril 2024)     

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DOCUMENTOS DEL PROYECTO

Hemos estado trabajando arduamente para identificar mejoras a la infraestructura, políticas y procesos para expandir el transporte activo en toda la región. En esta sección, podrá ver el progreso que hemos logrado. A medida que más componentes del Plan de Transporte Activo tomen forma, actualizaremos esta sección para incluir más recursos.

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Este informe analiza las condiciones existentes de transporte activo en nuestra región. Incluye políticas actualmente adoptadas por gobiernos locales, infraestructura existente para bicicletas y peatones, una perspectiva general de la región y mucho más. También puede encontrar la metodología utilizada para nuestro análisis de nivel de estrés de tráfico (LTS) y nivel de confort de peatones (PLOC).

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Como parte del informe final del Plan de Transporte Activo, se incluirá una lista de proyectos propuestos para mejorar y expandir la red de transporte activo. La Caja de Herramientas de Estrategias ATP enumera posibles estrategias y técnicas que se pueden utilizar en este proceso.

Definición de Tipos de Instalaciones      

Este folleto sirve como una guía de referencia rápida donde se explica los diferentes tipos de instalaciones de transporte activo que existen en toda la región. Estos tipos de instalaciones y respectivas referencias también se incluyen en el Informe de Condiciones Existentes.    

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Proporciona detalles relacionados con nuevas políticas propuestas en el plan.

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Para obtener más información, contacte: Cynthia Lambert, APR MetroPlan Orlando | Public Information Manager (407) 481-5672 Ext. 320 [email protected]

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The Sydney Metro City line is finally open. Here's what you need to know

By Sarah Gerathy

Topic: Public Transport

The driverless Sydney Metro trains travel at speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour. ( ABC News )

It's the transport project that's expected to reshape the future of how Sydneysiders move about their city.

And riding the new Sydney Metro City line from Sydenham to Chatswood definitely feels a bit like something from a science fiction movie.

Rocketing under Sydney Harbour at 100 kilometres per hour, you can peer through the front window of the driverless train to see lights streaking past as you travel through twin tunnels up to 40 metres below the surface of the water.

The shiny new futuristic stations along the way are far from the grimy underground stops that commuters are used to shuffling through in the bowels of Town Hall or Wynyard.

And it's being sold as a project that offers people a seamless commute on routes that used to be a hassle, potentially enticing more people from behind the wheels of their cars and opening up new destinations for social outings.

Here's everything you need to know about the new line that opened today.

What is it exactly?

The new metro is a 15.5km underground line connecting Sydenham in Sydney's inner west to Chatswood in its north, snaking its way beneath the CBD and diving under Sydney Harbour along the way.

Its turn-up-and-go driverless trains will connect with the existing Metro Northwest line, which has been running automated single-deck trains from Tallawong to Chatswood since 2019.

The trains will run every four minutes during the morning and evening peak, and initially every seven minutes during the day.

It means that for the first time commuters on the Metro Northwest line won't have to change to conventional double-decker trains at Chatswood to get into the city and can travel in one journey all the way to Sydenham.

And commuters from Sydenham and Waterloo won't have to switch trains before accessing the northern side of the harbour and areas like the business district at Macquarie Park.

Sydney Metro City and Southwest project director Hugh Lawson said it's a game-changer. 

"Even before the opening people [were] talking about journeys that they couldn't take before," he said.

"When people get on the metro and they experience just how quick it is it really will change the way people think about where they are and how they move around."

Eventually the line will travel all the way out to Bankstown, but that section won't be open for at least a year.

When the new section of the track opens today after seven years of construction, the entire line will be rebranded as the M1.

The project has definitely not been without controversy though, and its $21.6 billion price tag is almost $10 billion over the original $12 billion forecast when the project was announced.

Where will it stop?

The new line will pass through six new stops along the way, as well as new platforms at some existing stations.

The underground stations are designed to be as close to the surface as possible to help commuters get in and out easily.

This is where the new section of the metro line connects to the existing driverless Metro Northwest.

It means passengers commuting from that part of Sydney won't have to switch to heavy rail to get into the city but can simply remain on the metro.

This new station is on the western edge of Crows Nest shops, which is about an eight-minute walk away from the nearest existing train station at St Leonards.

Victoria Cross

This is a new station just a short walk from the existing train station at North Sydney. 

While the heavy rail journey from North Sydney to its first CBD stop at Wynyard takes about six minutes, the new metro will take just three minutes to travel from Victoria Cross to Barangaroo.

This is a new stop for commuters wanting to access the northern part of the CBD. 

It also makes for easier access to the arts and culture precinct at Walsh Bay and ferry services at Barangaroo.

Planners are hoping it eases congestion at Wynyard and Martin Place train stations.

Martin Place

This new stop is slightly north of the existing train station at Martin Place.

It will have an underground pedestrian connection for those wanting to switch to regular trains on the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line.

This new station is expected to relieve some of the pressure at Town Hall.

It will have entries via a northern pedestrian plaza opening to Pitt and Park streets, and a southern plaza opening to Bathurst Street.

New platforms and concourses have been carved out of the sandstone beneath the existing station for the metro.

Central station now features the longest escalator in the Southern Hemisphere — complete with special panelling to stop commuters getting vertigo.

This new station has entrances on Raglan and Wellington streets and is expected to take the pressure off Redfern and Green Square stations.

The end of the line for metro passengers, until the line is extended all the way to Bankstown next year.

Will I get to where I'm going faster?

The new direct trip between Sydenham and Chatswood will take 22 minutes — slashing at least 13 minutes off the current peak-hour commute which involves switching trains at Town Hall.

To head from Sydenham to the employment hub of Macquarie Park is 31 minutes.

And a journey under the harbour from Victoria Cross station to Barangaroo will take just three minutes.

A trip all the way from Tallawong in the north-west to Barangaroo in Sydney's CBD will take 46 minutes — a journey which takes over an hour on an express bus in morning peak or up to an hour-and-a-half battling on the roads in a car.

What will it look like?

The stations along the route are unlike any Sydney has seen before.

Mr Lawson said they've been deliberately designed to be very different from each other so they're instantly recognisable to commuters on arrival.

"Each has a slightly different palette of materials, colours, finishes that helps you to just intuitively know I'm in the right station," he said.

The new Gadigal station has futuristic white curves and striped lines, while at Waterloo commuters are greeted with a giant image of a smiling Indigenous boy and a sculpture featuring 100 Indigenous footprints along a wall moulded by artist Nicole Monk.

Public art for each station has been carefully conceived and executed to bring a sense of place to each stop.

"These have to be big stations to deal with the expected number of customers that will be coming through but you want them to be vibrant and enjoyable spaces to be in as well," Mr Lawson said.

But he said there has also been a focus on designing the interchanges between the metro stations and the rest of the transport network to work seamlessly.

"No barrier — quick, straight off the train onto your bus or your connecting service."

What's the catch?

Firstly, if you're hoping to get a seat for your journey the odds are against you.

Sydney's metro trains and its station platforms have both been designed for standing — although there is one row of seats running up and down each side of the carriage beneath the windows for those who manage to snag them.

It means that if you're not getting on at one of the first stops on the new line, you're likely to be hanging onto the handrail unless someone gives up their seat for you.

And with a speed of up to 100 km/h, this can make for a hair-raising ride at times.

Transport network expert Mathew Hounsell said while many metros around the world are designed to cram in maximum passengers by limiting seats, the idea of standing may be enough to put off those commuters who tend to be travelling longer distances.

"That is one of the problems with the current design," he said.

"The consultants tended to focus on Asian cities which are much more compact, but no-one wants to stand for half-an-hour or an hour on a fast moving metro.

"So the real question is whether or not people think, 'I don't like this, I can't stand for this long, I'll just go back to the car'."

Mr Hounsell also believes the metro's calculations of an almost 40,000 people per hour maximum capacity are unrealistic because "Australians just won't put up" with crammed, peak-hour conditions seen in cities like Tokyo, where metros can resemble tins of sardines.

"The metro's estimate is assuming six people per square metre which is not feasible, it's only about four. So what you are really looking at is two-thirds of that."

Secondly, if something goes wrong on a driverless train, it's a whole new ball game.

In mid-July, a system-wide outage on the existing Metro Northwest line saw about 100 passengers stuck in tunnels for two hours on a Saturday morning.

It's one of the factors that Transport Minister Jo Haylen raised when explaining why the opening of the new line was initially delayed after it failed to gain the green light from the national rail safety regulator in time.

Mr Hounsell warns similar outages are inevitable and they could be compounded if the announcement system in the carriages also went down during an outage.

"The worst-case scenario is people trapped under the harbour in the metro with no staff waiting for a dedicated fire crew who have been trained — and there's only a small number of them — to get from Central to Barangaroo to get access to those people under the harbour," he said.

"If there is a major incident on the metro, there's a problem there because there is no-one to help. The heavy rail is a very different scenario because you've got two people on every train to direct people."

But Mr Lawson said plans were in place to deal with any scenario.

"Part of the work we've been doing ... has been to practice those emergency drills which you hope will never happen, but you want the confidence that our control centre, our teams on the ground and the emergency services know how to respond and are confident in dealing with a train that breaks down in the tunnel or another emergency scenario."

But is it built for the future?

The construction of this major project has been incredibly expensive and complex — with five tunnel boring machines working around the clock and nearly 3 million tonnes of materials excavated from tunnels and stations.

Retro-fitting a new metro line beneath a built-up city like Sydney was particularly challenging — for example machines working on Gadigal station near Town Hall had to weave their way through underground utilities and were working just metres above the Cross City Tunnel.

Sydney Metro executives and experts like Mr Hounsell agree that the line will really come into its own once the next stage — from Sydenham to Bankstown in the south-west — comes online.

But in order to do that, the existing century-old Bankstown line and its stations need to be converted to handle driverless trains — and last year the government delivered the news that it would require the T3 line to be shut down for 12 months, forcing thousands of commuters onto buses.

"The opening of the section to Bankstown will be huge," Mr Hounsell said.

"We can't really underestimate just how big of a change to the city a fast, frequent metro will be because that area is much more dense than the north-west [of Sydney]."

The entire metro concept in NSW is also predicated on the trade-off of massively boosting density around the new metro stations, with plans to deliver tens of thousands of new homes.

So while the latest stretch of the metro is widely anticipated to begin operating with plenty of spare capacity and the ability to ramp up to more frequent services, Mr Hounsell said there will eventually be a tipping point in the future as more and more people move to live around metro stations.

"At some point every metro fills up," he said.

"The transport system is always changing and as people move from the roads to the metro, the roads will get better so people will think, 'Oh you know what, the roads are faster, so I'll move back to the roads'.

"There's this constant push-and-pull where the public transport network sets the speed of the road system."

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Abandoned waterpark once the largest of its kind may soon be destroyed

An abandoned waterpark once the UK’s largest one indoors could soon be demolished after lying empty for four years.

Wet ‘n’ Wild in North Shields was the country’s largest indoor waterpark when it opened in 1993.

For nearly 30 years, it was a home for happy memories made by families winding along the lazy river, or flying down the Kamikaze water slide.

With Britain’s biggest water slide at the time – the 165-metre Black Hole – it became a go-to spot for children’s birthday parties and family days out.

It even became the scene of a new Guinness title, setting the first individual world record for flume riding down its Tornado corkscrew double twister in 2001.

But the park had problems, according to local media reports.

Its ‘largest indoor waterpark’ crown was stolen by Blackpool’s Sandcastle Waterpark, which is even bigger with 18 slides.

Financial difficulties saw it close in 2013, before Serco snapped it up, investing £1.1million in refurbishing the reception, café, children’s play area and the boiler.

That couldn’t keep the park afloat for more than a few more years though.

Wet ‘n’ Wild closed its doors in 2020 after entering administration, The Northern Echo reported.

Hopes for a grand reopening surged after the park was sold to an unnamed buyer this June, ChronicleLive reported.

A spokesperson for Serco Leisure said: ‘We’ve agreed to sell the site and have exchanged contracts with a purchaser with a view to completing the transaction in August.’

Those hopes have now been dashed by plans to demolish the building entirely.

A planning application has been submitted by Bloom Developments Ltd to North Tyneside Council, seeking permission to demolish ‘building formerly known as Wet ‘n’ Wild including external slides’.

Related Video

It could take just eight weeks from start to finish if approved, developers claims.

The application said: ‘Property has recurrent breaking and entering with increasing anti-social behaviour. Demolition will enable future development.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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Ukraine war latest: Putin bombs Zelenskyy's home town on day of mourning

A Russian missile has struck Volodymyr Zelenskyy's home town of Kryvyi Rih today as it was observing an official day of mourning for an attack that killed four people yesterday.

Wednesday 28 August 2024 16:11, UK

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• Russian missile hits Zelenskyy's home town during day of mourning
• Flights stopped at Russian airport for 'safety reasons'
• Ukraine 'trying to break into' new Russian region
• Russian nuclear reactor 'extremely exposed' under 'normal roof'
• Watch: Who are Ukraine's secret resistance?
• Your questions answered: Can Ukraine advance further inside Russia?
• Reporting by Mark Wyatt

Russian forces are making significant advances in the direction of the key mining city of Pokrovsk.

Moscow sees taking control of the city as an important stepping stone to annexing the entire Donbas region.

Just to the west of the city is its coal mine, which is the only place in Ukraine that produces high-quality coking coal, critical for the steel industry and war effort.

Pokrovsk also lies on a key road used by the Ukrainian military to supply other embattled outposts. 

During the first year of the war, the city was considered the safest place in the Donbas, with the frontline then 30 miles away.

Now, Russian advances mean that, at the current rate, there are strong fears that the city could fall in the coming weeks.

Ukrainian officials have given residents two weeks to evacuate, with lives bundled into suitcases and people placed on trains heading away from the region.

How can Ukraine hold the city?

Kyiv had hoped that its surprise invasion of the Kursk region of Russia would divert troops away from Pokrovsk.

But, speaking yesterday, Ukraine's top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said Moscow had understood its aims and had continued to focus its efforts on Pokrovsk.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukraine would "further strengthen" its forces in the region after warning the situation was "difficult".

But, if Kyiv's forces can hold out, time could be on their side.

Analysts have pointed out that it will be difficult for Vladimir Putin to maintain momentum during the winter months, so he has around 10-12 weeks to achieve his objectives before the winter weather settles in.

An oil depot in Russia's western region of Kirov has been attacked by Ukrainian drones, sources have told the Kyiv Independent . 

Russian air defenses shot down two drones today while three others "fell" and started a fire near the Zenit oil facility, according to reports.

Sources say the attack caused a fire at two oil tanks.

No casualties have been reported.

"The target is located more than 1,200km (745 miles) away from Ukraine's border," a source told the news outlet.

"The Zenit oil depot is a facility of the enemy military-industrial complex and provides fuel to the Russian occupation forces."

Sky News cannot verify these claims.

The deputy director of the CIA says it will be difficult for Russia to regain the territory it has lost to Ukraine in the Kursk region.

Speaking at the intelligence and national security summit in Washington, David Cohen said the significance of the Kursk invasion "remains to be seen".

While Kyiv has said it has no intention of annexing the area it has captured, Ukrainian troops are building defensive lines and it appears that they intend to retain "some of that territory for some period of time," Mr Cohen said.

"We can be certain that Putin will mount a counteroffensive to try to reclaim that territory," he added. 

"I think our expectation is that that will be a difficult fight for the Russians."

He also said that Mr Putin will have to "deal with reverberations back in his own society" over the loss of Russian territory.

Ukraine has claimed the capture of 100 settlements in the Kursk region, while Russian forces continue to inch forward in the eastern Donetsk region.

Moscow has dismissed Volodymyr Zelenskyy's suggestion that Kyiv will submit a plan to Washington on how to end the war.

Ukraine's president said yesterday that the invasion would end with dialogue, but that Kyiv needed to be in a strong position for this.

He said he would present a plan to Joe Biden and his two potential successors, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

Responding to this, the Kremlin said Moscow would carry on fighting.

"This is not the first time that we have heard such statements from representatives of the Kyiv regime," Dmitry Peskov said.

"We are aware of the nature of this Kyiv regime. We are continuing our special military operation and will achieve all of our goals."

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is trying to take the fight to Russia after Moscow has spent much of the summer on the front foot, military analyst Sean Bell  says.

Ukraine launched an invasion of Russia's Kursk region at the start of the month and has managed to keep hold of the territory and capture nearly 600 Russian troops.

Speaking on Sky News, Mr Bell says Ukraine's president is trying to make Russians "feel the full impact" of the war by taking the fight to them.

"What is his plan? Clearly it will be secret. We don't know. But as a military guy, momentum is everything in war," Mr Bell says.

"And this summer, Russia is on the front foot. It's pushing Ukraine back, and Ukraine is just having to react. 

"What President Zelenskyy clearly is trying to do is to take the fight to Russia, make Russian people feel the full impact of a war."

Mr Bell says the "only way" for that to materialise is with support from the West.

Europe will face higher gas prices unless Ukraine agrees to extend a deal on Russian gas transit through the country, the Kremlin has said.

Ukraine has some of the largest gas transmission systems in the world but says it has no plans for a new transit deal with Moscow.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that if a deal was not extended, Russia could find alternative routes, such as the planned Turkish gas hub.

"There are [other] routes, but, of course, such decisions by the Ukrainian side will cause serious damage to the interests of European consumers, those who still want to buy more guaranteed, more affordable... Russian gas," Mr Peskov told reporters.

The agreement runs out at the end of the year, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirming yesterday that he had no plans to extend the deal.

"No one will extend the agreement with Russia, this is a done deal," he said.

"As for the transit of gas from other companies, if the request of some of our European colleagues continues, we will consider their requests."

Sir Keir Starmer and Olaf Scholz have said the UK and Germany's support for Ukraine remains "unyielding".

Speaking at a joint news conference in Berlin, the prime minister said Ukraine was not just fighting to defend itself from Russian aggression but also "for all the people across Europe".

Mr Scholz, the German chancellor, said both countries would continue to lend "financial, economic, political and military support" for "as long as this is necessary".

Ukraine has been enjoying more success with its drone operations in Russia as it goes after Moscow's oil facilities, military analyst Sean Bell   says.

Speaking on Sky News, Mr Bell highlighted two separate Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refining and storage facilities in the Rostov region.

Russian Telegram channels reported that three oil tanks were on fire at a depot in the Kamensky district after two drones fell on the area overnight (see our 6.21 post).

Meanwhile, fires from Ukraine's previous strike on an oil depot on 18 August are still burning.

"Over the last few weeks we've been covering this, Ukraine's success with their drones seems to be increasing," Mr Bell says.

"President Zelenskyy has claimed that Ukraine has actually developed a new long-range drone. We don't know anything about it, but the results seem to be playing out on the battlefield."

He added: "They seem to be targeting a lot of Russian oil facilities, not just the refining facilities, but the storage facilities as well. 

"Why are they doing that? Because Russia generates huge revenues by exporting that oil. Therefore, by damaging the facilities, you reduce the revenues, which reduces Russia's ability to fund the war."

Five people were wounded in addition to those that died as a Russian missile struck a hotel. It was part of two days of heavy bombardment from Moscow.

Another strike today struck civilian infrastructure, wounding four people, an official said.

“When Kryvyi Rih is in mourning, the enemy attacks again. And it once again aims at civilians," the region's governor, Serhii Lysak, said. 

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