Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line

Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line ( _ru. Серпуховско-Тимирязевская линия) is a line of the Moscow Metro. Originally opened in 1983 it was extended throughout the 1980s and early 90s and again in the early 2000s. At present it is the longest line in Moscow with 41.5 km in length (all underground making it the world's longest rapid transit tunnel), and contains 25 stations.

History

The project of a north-south diameter was finalised in the 1971 Moscow General Development Plan, and construction began in the mid 1970s. The first stage, the southern Serpukhovsky radius, was opened in 1983. It was extended north through the centre in the late 1980s before extending north as the Timiryazevsky radius during the early 1990s. In 2002, it became the first Metro line to extend beyond the MKAD beltway. As of 2008, the line cuts the city of Moscow on a north-south axis. The northernmost station of the Metro, Altufyevo, belongs to this line. The line also contained the southernmost station of the Metro between 2000 and 2003 (consecutively Ulitsa Akademika Yangelya, Annino and Bulvar Dmitriya Donskogo), before the Butovskaya Light Metro Line was opened to extend the system further south.

Timeline

Transfers

Rolling stock

The line is served by the Varshavskoe (№ 8) and Vladykino (№ 14) depots. In 2005 it began a slow transition to eight carriage trains. As of November 2005, Vladykino completed its transition and presently has 43 eight-carriage trains assigned to them. Varshavskoe began later and completed its transition in March 2006 with 38 eight-carriage trains. The line received new 81-714/717 trains upon its opening in 1983. Due to its recent extensions various trains were added to its ever-growing stock, some surplus from other depots, others factory fresh 81-714.5/717.5 and 81-714.5M/717.5M. When the Butovskaya Light Metro Line opened, the Varshavskoe depot became home to the new three-carriage 81-740/741 "Rusich" (also known as "Skif") trains, 12 of which are currentely being used.

Recent events and future plans

Second exits at Petrovsko-Razumovskaya, Savyolovskaya and Timiryazevskaya are planned. However, in terms of extensions, the line is thought to be complete and no new building works are planned.