Moscow Big Circle, The World’s Longest Circle Subway Line Opened

A new line has been added to the Moscow Subway, which opened in 1935 as the Soviet Union’s first underground system. Designed to relieve traffic congestion in Koltsevaya and to reduce traffic congestion in Moscow in general, the new circle subway line was opened on March 1 in the heart of the city. The new Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line, known as the “Big Circle,” which aims to expand and modernize the subway network in Moscow, is 70 kilometers long and has 31 stations and 3 electric depots.

Big Circle Line, which won the title of the world’s longest circular metro line by surpassing the Beijing Metro’s Line 10, opened its first section in 2018. Savyolovskaya station, which opened that year and was 65 meters below the surface, was recorded as one of the deepest stations. In 2021, a new 20 km-long section of the Big Circle was commissioned, and as of March 1, 2023, it was fully operational. The new line passes through 34 districts, home to 3.3 million people, representing 30% of Moscow’s population. Thereby, 1.2 million people living in the city now have a subway station within walking distance. It has provided new transportation links between neighborhoods, saving time up to 45 minutes a day.

47 connections to other lines

The unique architecture and advanced engineering solutions of the new circle subway line ensured seamless integration of the new circle subway line into the city’s infrastructure. Transit from the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line, which integrates all existing and potential lines of the Moscow Subway, to other means of transportation is also possible. With Big Circle Line, residents of Moscow will be able to use 47 connections to other lines and directions that allow passengers to save up to 45 minutes daily.

Biometric payment is possible

All high-tech services of the Moscow Subway are also available to passengers of the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line. The subway’s ticketing system was awarded “the smartest in the world” in 2020 and 2021 in the prestigious international Transport Ticketing Awards. Each turnstile on the line accepts travel and debit cards, and two turnstiles in each lobby accept biometric payments.

Trains operating on the Big Circle Line are remarkable with their technical equipment and the comfort they offer. The train has wide doors to pass between the wagons. The train has air conditioners for the purification of air and USB sockets for charging electronic devices. Screens provide information to passengers, while improved sound insulation and adaptive lighting systems that change color according to the time of day make travel comfortable.