| Minsk Metro Мінскі метрапалітэн Minski myetrapaliten Минский метрополитен Minskiy metropoliten |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||
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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.
Contents |
| # | 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 |
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 those of 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]
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
The Oktyabrskaya station was the site of an explosion on 11 April 2011.
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