Minsk Metro

Minsk Metro Мінскі метрапалітэн Minski myetrapaliten Минский метрополитен Minskiy metropoliten
Info
Owner	state ownership
Locale	Minsk
Transit type	Rapid transit
Number of lines	2
Number of stations	25
Operation
Began operation	1984
Operator(s)	"Minsky Metropoliten"
Number of vehicles	243
Technical
System map

Belarusian National Motifs on Ploshchad Yakuba Kolasa

The Minsk Metro (Belarusian: Мінскае метро, Russian: Минский метрополитен) is a rapid-transit system that serves Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Opened in 1984, it presently consists of 2 lines and 25 stations totaling 30.3 kilometres. In 2005 it carried 800,000 passengers per day.^{[citation needed]}

Lines and stations

#	Name	Opened	Length	Stations
1	Moskovskaya (Московская)	1984	12.2 km	11
2	Avtozavodskaya (Автозаводская)	1990	18.1 km	14
	Total		30.3 km	25

History

Pushkinskaya - a typical Soviet station

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.

Despite the dissolution 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. For example, the final phase of the Avtozavodskaya Line, originally planned for 2006, was opened in late 2005, and similarly the northern extension of the Moskovskaya Line, originally scheduled for 2008, opened on 7 November 2007.^[1]

Timeline

Date	Opening
1984-06-26	Institut Kul'tury – Moskovskaya
1986-12-30	Moskovskaya – Vostok
1990-12-31	Traktorniy Zavod – Frunzenskaya
1995-07-03	Frunzenskaya – Pushkinskaya
1997-11-07	Traktorniy Zavod – Avtozavodskaya
2001-09-05	Avtozavodskaya – Mogilyovskaya
2005-11-07	Pushkinskaya – Kamennaya Gorka
2007-11-07	Vostok – Uruchye

Operational characteristics

Uruchye - one of the recently opened stations

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 the 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

Proposed expansion plan, including a third line

At present, there are several projects, only one of which is under construction, the southwestern three-station extension of the Moskovskaya line to the new residential districts in the south-west of the city. A further station may be added afterwards. Avtozavodskaya Line can potentially receive an extension on both of its ends.

However, the major project after 2010 will be a third line running from the south to the north-east of the city via the centre, creating 2 new transfer points to the existing lines. The construction of the third line is expected to start in 2011; the first stage of the line is expected to open in 2017. This would follow a northern contour parallel to Moskovskaya, and relieve the extensive congestion build up, and then extend south of the city.

A fourth line is not expected to be built before 2015. It will connect south-eastern parts of the city with the north-western residential areas.

Incidents

1999 stampede

Main article: Niamiha disaster

On 30 May 1999, a sudden thunderstorm caused a large crowd, from a nearby rock concert, to seek shelter at the Niamiga station. The limited size of the subways leading into the ticket hall and the wet pavement caused a human crush. 53 people died.

2011 explosion

Main article: 2011 Minsk Metro bombing

The Oktyabrskaya station was the site of an explosion on 11 April 2011.

See also

• Minsk Tramway
• List of rapid transit systems

External links

• The site of the Minsk subway Minsk-Metro.NET
• Minsk Metro lines on Google Maps
• Photos of Minsk, Belarus on GOMINSK.ORG
• Site by Andrey Kharchevk
• Official city of Minsk Urban transport
• Popular site
• Another Popular site
• Urbanrail.net information
• Network map
• Minsk Metro Track Map

References

1. ^ "City News in Brief". Railway Gazette International. 11 December 2007. http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/city-news-in-brief-2.html. 

Coordinates: 53°53′41″N 27°32′53″E / 53.89472°N 27.54806°E / 53.89472; 27.54806