The Moscow Underground transit system was inaugurated in the year 1935. The system was established as the first ever underground railway transit system in the Soviet Union. When it was opened, the Moscow Underground had a single route which measured 11 kilometres and was made up of 13 stations. Over the years, the underground railway has been improved upon and now the Moscow Underground has as many as 182 stations while the length of the route lines measures a whopping 301.2 kilometres.
Most of the transit system is located underground and the deepest of these parts is located around 60 meters under the ground.
More about the Moscow Metro System
The Moscow Metro System is owned and administered by the state. The original single line of the underground train route has been expanded upon and now the underground has 12 different lines.
According to statistics, on a daily basis as many as 6.6 million passengers use the Moscow Metro every single day. While the traffic is somewhat reduced on the weekends, during the working week, the Moscow Underground is known to carry as many as 7 million passengers each day.
Most of the route lines and the stations of the Moscow Metro have been built below the ground. Only a handful of stations and lines have been constructed above the ground. The Filyovskaya Line is unique in the aspect that the route has most of its rail lines built above the ground.
Working of the Moscow Underground System
The Moscow Metro system is opened each morning at 5:30 AM and the lines are kept in operation till late into the night. The closing time of the metro stations is 1:30 AM in the night. The decision to keep the metro closed over night is a as a result of the need to follow daily maintenance and upkeep activities to keep the metro system in optimum working order.
Using the Moscow Metro
Visitors can use the Moscow Metro during their holiday for maximum convenience. The Moscow Underground is the simplest, straightforward and reliable means of transport, especially for newcomers who might otherwise have trouble finding their way around the city. Purchase a city map and a metro map so that you can recognize the differently coloured metro lines and stations and their corresponding locations. All you need to purchase is a Metro Smart Card from a cashier in the metro stations and you’re good to go.