Metro system: Inside Moscow subway lines with over 250 stations

Established in 1935, the Metro serves approximately over seven million Moscow City residents who manoeuvre to and from work on a daily basis.

With a maximum speed of 50km/hr, the subway is the most convenient and commonly used public transport with an affordable fare of at least 60 Roubles (Sh94) for a one-time ride.  

The ticketing system is also very efficient. It is designed to use a magnetic card, which has two kinds – the social card and the unlimited card, acting as a ticket for the passengers.

The unlimited cards can be used for a month, three months or even one year. The social cards are specifically designed for students, special people in society and senior citizens.

If a passage has a magnetic card, they will pay 50 Roubles (Sh78) per trip, and when one rides on the metro more than one time during a period of 90 minutes, they pay only 25 Roubles (Sh29) for the second ride, while the third one and after, will be for free.

In order to enjoy the free rides, if one pays with the card one, they need to wait for seven minutes before being able to use the card again.

To purchase a ticket or load the magnetic smart card, residents use vending machines available in every station and can pay using a credit card or via their phones, and the amount is loaded into the magnetic card. 

The stations are 258, with the additional 31 others of the Moscow Central Circle (MCC) which connects to all the other lines. 

Once inside any of the stations, one can change lines within the subways, with a waiting period of an interval of one to two minutes at every given station. 

The 325.4 km underground railway system operates until 1:00 am every morning and resumes at 5:30 am. 

Nikita Kozlov, an employee at one of the metro stations, says during the four-hour break, the stations are thoroughly cleaned, including the elevators, seats of the 'metro' and its maintenance.

"Hygiene is essential as so many people use the metro on a daily basis. Normally, minutes before the metro stops, you'd see some of the workers already cleaning the area," Kozlov said.   

The magnificent metro has 17 lines which are represented by different colors. Most city residents board it by memorizing the colors, and in most instances, refer to their residential areas by a metro station nearby.

“When asked where my apartment is located, I automatically refer people to the nearest metro station, or the line I use,” Galina Volkov, Maryina Roscha District resident said.

The color lines are green, blue, red, purple, orange, maroon, light blue, 'deep blue', brown, yellow, Mustard, and grey. All have different locations and unique entry points, beautified with different arts, in some instances, representing the city, pieces from the Museum, while others have symbolic monuments.

One can stay on the red line and work or study on the blue line. To get to their daily destination, they change the lines inside the stations, and there is no need to get out until you get to your destination. 

With all the lines, once inside the Metro, residents can easily connect to the next line in any of the boarded stations, as it is easy to navigate, following well-labelled banners all over the station.

Tebogo Mokoto, a Botswana national who visited Russia for the first time in July, says he only experienced confusion at the station during his first week. But when he fully studied the Metro, according to lines and stations, it has been the best experience so far.

“I mean, the Metro does not only act as a means of public transport but also a touristic site here in Russia. When you fully understand how it works, you will really enjoy the station and move around the city on your own,” he noted.