The increasingly urbanized population and the increasing need for transportation have made metros the prominent means of transportation. The new line added to the Moscow Metro, which was opened in 1935 as the first underground system of the Soviet Union, started to operate as of March 1. The longest circular metro line in the world has brought 1,2 million people living in the city to a metro station within walking distance.
A new line was added to the Moscow Metro, which opened in 1935 as the Soviet Union's first underground system. The new line, designed to relieve traffic congestion within the circular metro line Koltsevaya in the heart of the city and to reduce traffic congestion in Moscow in general, started operating as of March 1, 2023.
The longest circular metro line
While the Koltsevaya Line was built during the 1950-54 period, the new Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line, known as the "Big Circle", representing the longest circular metro line in the world, was also built in record time. Aiming to expand and modernize the metro network in Moscow, the new line is 70 kilometers long and has 31 stations and 3 electricity depots.
The first section of the line with 10 stations was opened in 2018, with several more sections commissioned in 2021. As of March 1, 2023, it started to work as a whole. Passing through 30 districts, which are home to 3,3 million people representing 34% of Moscow's population, the line brought 1,2 million people living in the city to a metro station within walking distance. By offering new transportation links between districts, it saved time up to 45 minutes a day.
It has 47 lines of connection
Its unique architecture and advanced engineering solutions ensured the seamless integration of the new circular metro line into the city's infrastructure. The Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line, which integrates all existing and possible lines of the Moscow Metro, can also be switched to other means of transportation. Alternative routes, including 47 connections to other lines, are created, allowing passengers to go from one point to another without transferring from the city center.
Biometric payments can be made
All high-tech services of the Moscow Metro are also offered to the passengers of the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line. The metro's ticketing system has been named the "smartest in the world" twice, in 2020 and 2021, as part of the prestigious international Transport Ticketing Awards. Each turnstile in the line accepts travel and debit cards, and two turnstiles in each lobby accept biometric payments.
Trains operating on the Big Circle Line draw attention with their comfort and technical equipment. The train, which has wide doors, can be passed between wagons. The train, which has air-purifying air conditioners, offers USB sockets for charging electronic devices. While the passengers are informed through the screens, improved sound insulation and adaptive lighting systems that change color according to the time of the day make the journey comfortable.