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.

[edit] Lines and stations

Line plan

[edit] 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. 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 in November 2007.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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 might 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.

The 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.

[edit] See also

• List of rapid transit systems

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Minsk Metro

• 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

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