Minsk Metro

The Minsk Metro (Belarusian: Мінскае метро, Russian: Минское метро) is a rapid-transit system that serves the capital of Belarus, Minsk. Opened in 1984, it presently consists of 2 lines and 25 stations totaling 30.3 kilometres. In 2005 it carried 800 thousand passengers per day.

Lines and stations

Line plan

History

Traktornyi Zavod - a typical late Soviet composition

During the 1950s-1970s the population of the city soared over a million and designs for a rapid transit system were initially put up during the late 1960s. Construction began on 16 June 1977, and the system was opened to the public on 30 June 1984, becoming the ninth metro system in the Soviet Union. The original eight station section has since expanded into a two-line 25 station network with 30.3 kilometres of track.

Belarusian National Motifs on Ploshchad Yakuba Kolasa

Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union the construction of Minsk metro continued uninterrupted throughout the 1990s (as opposed to other ex-Soviet Metros like Yerevan and Samara, which were halted due to a complete lack of funding). Some experts attribute it to the slow reform of the Soviet planned economy in Belarus, which turned out to be beneficial for the metro expansion. Currently, station launch dates are ahead of original schedule. Like the final phase of the Avtozavodskaya Line originally planned for 2006, was opened in late 2005, and in a similar way for the northern extension of the Moskovskaya Line originally scheduled for 2008, opened in November 2007.

Operational characteristics

Kamennaya Gorka - with its "high-tech" design

The city is located on an almost level surface and on very dry soils. As a result, although all of the Minsk Metro stations are under the surface, there are no deep-level stations that are found in most of ex-Soviet cities. Out of the current 25 stations 16 are pillar-spans and 9 are of vaulted type. Like most of the Soviet metro systems, all of the stations are vividly decorated. Some (notably, Nyamiha/Nemiga) exhibit Belarusian national motifs, others focus on more Soviet socialist themes. Although recent years saw more priority on high-tech decorations.

Expansion plans

At presently there are several projects, only one of which is under construction, the southwestern three-station extension of the Moskovskaya line to the new residential distrcits. A further station might be added afterwards. Avtozavodskaya Line can potentially receive an extension on both of its ends, but the major project after 2010 will be a third line.

See also

• List of rapid transit systems

External links

• Site by Andrey Kharchevk
• Official city of Minsk Urban transport
• Popular site
• Another Popular site
• Urbanrail.net information

Coordinates: 53°53′41″N, 27°32′53″E