Retail Latin America: Moscow Metro System

2013/09/09

Moscow's Stunning Metro System Feels Like A Trip Back In Time

In 1935, the first part of Moscow's metro, or Moskovsky metropoliten, opened to the public. For nearly 80 years, the system has been ferrying visitors and locals around the Russian capital.

What's more impressive is that the system is still decorated with the work of the Soviet artists who created murals, mosaics, and stained glass panels to make spending time underground a more pleasant experience.

Riding the metro is Moscow isn't just a quick way to get around a city known for long, cold winters. It's like a trip back in time.

Construction of the system was started in the 1930s, under Stalin.

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

The above ground part of the Arbatskaya station, built in 1953, is more impressive than what you get in most cities: uncovered stairways that lead underground.

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

The stations double as air raid shelters, and most are deep underground.

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

You can still see signs of the Soviet Union, like the hammer and sickle in this ceiling panel.

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

And a mosaic of Vladimir Lenin in the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina station.

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

The Mayakovskaya station was built in 1938. Its ceiling rewards commuters who think to look up.

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Stained glass is an unusual touch for a system that's mostly underground.

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

It doesn't let in light, but it makes the Novoslobdodskaya station a prettier place to wait for a train.

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Stone columns are a nice change from the rusted steel you see in New York City.

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Visitors rub this statue of a dog in the Ploshchad Revolyutsil station. It's supposed to bring good luck.

REUTERS/Phil Noble

Naturally, there are practical features of Moscow's metro system, like this warning sign and map.

REUTERS/Phil Noble

The trains themselves are hardly different from what's seen around the world.

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Same goes for the interiors of the trains.

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Newsstands, a common sight in metro stations around the world, can be found in Moscow, too.

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

2013/08/07

The Moscow Metro System Is Just Incredible

If you want to provide public transportation to a booming city of 12 million people, you better have quite a metro for them.

Boasting 188 station stops and covering 195 miles of track, Moskcovsky metropliten, Moscow's metro system, is more than up to the task. On an average day, the system sees 7 million people get from place to place.

But just as noteworthy as its function is its fashion. The stations are simply beautiful, put together with careful design and planning to make them comfortable and attractive.

Don't be fooled by the ornate styling, though. Many stations were constructed to double as shelters for air raids or nuclear events. They're deep below the ground and they're built to last.

We wanted to take a look for ourselves and see what it's like to get around Moscow by subway.

To give you an idea of what we're dealing with, here's a map of the complete system.

Wikimedia

Follow the red M's around Moscow to find the metro stops.

Dylan Love

Welcome to Mayakovskaya, one of the most beautiful metro stations in Moscow.

Dylan Love

Here's the ground floor of the station. Soon we'll be very deep below it.

Dylan Love

Inside, everything is spotlessly clean and well-lit.

Dylan Love

I spent a lot of time admiring the decorated ceilings. There's more of them to come.

Dylan Love

You don't need to look up the whole time, though — there are plenty of decorative elements at eye level.

Dylan Love

Attendants are on hand to help if you need it. I decided to brave the machine instead.

Dylan Love

Let's buy a metro card and take a ride.

Dylan Love

Thank heaven for the English option.

Dylan Love

A single ride costs 30 RUB, or $1 US.

Dylan Love

You simply touch the card to a sensor on the turnstile and you're in!

Dylan Love

These escalators will take us down to the train platform.

Dylan Love

It's hard to illustrate just how long and steep these escalators are. The metro stations are converted bomb shelters, so they're DEEP underground.

Dylan Love

I caught this transit employee taking a nap in the booth at the bottom of the escalator.

Dylan Love

Now we've arrived at the train platform. Again: spacious and beautiful!

Dylan Love

Everywhere you look, it's clear that this place was designed with care and an eye for aesthetic appeal.

Dylan Love

The marble floors are gorgeous.

Dylan Love

The ceilings display intricate mosaics by an artist named Alexander Deyneka.

Dylan Love

The hammer and sickle, a reminder of bygone times under the Soviets.

Dylan Love

Some stations have themes for their art. Mayakovskaya's theme is "24 Hours in the Land of the Soviets."

Dylan Love

Our train's here! Let's get commuting.

Dylan Love

Aboard the train, it's no different from a New York City subway car. People head to and from work and run their errands around Moscow.

Dylan Love

I only took the train one stop. I don't really trust myself to keep track of where I am when I can't read or speak the language.

Dylan Love

For those who can read Cyrillic, however, there are signs everywhere to prevent you from getting lost.

Dylan Love

You can follow the arrows to make transfers to other train lines.

Dylan Love

This way leads us back to street level.

Dylan Love

It's quite a walk to get back to civilization.

Dylan Love

Again, the escalators are just unreal. They stretch long and tall.

Dylan Love

We're back to street level and out the door!

Dylan Love

There you have it – our Moscow metro experience!

Dylan Love

Let's keep exploring Moscow.

Dylan Love

2013/09/09

Moscow's Stunning Metro System Feels Like A Trip Back In Time

Construction of the system was started in the 1930s, under Stalin.

The above ground part of the Arbatskaya station, built in 1953, is more impressive than what you get in most cities: uncovered stairways that lead underground.

The stations double as air raid shelters, and most are deep underground.

You can still see signs of the Soviet Union, like the hammer and sickle in this ceiling panel.

And a mosaic of Vladimir Lenin in the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina station.

The Mayakovskaya station was built in 1938. Its ceiling rewards commuters who think to look up.

Stained glass is an unusual touch for a system that's mostly underground.

It doesn't let in light, but it makes the Novoslobdodskaya station a prettier place to wait for a train.

Stone columns are a nice change from the rusted steel you see in New York City.

Visitors rub this statue of a dog in the Ploshchad Revolyutsil station. It's supposed to bring good luck.

Naturally, there are practical features of Moscow's metro system, like this warning sign and map.

The trains themselves are hardly different from what's seen around the world.

Same goes for the interiors of the trains.

Newsstands, a common sight in metro stations around the world, can be found in Moscow, too.

2013/08/07

The Moscow Metro System Is Just Incredible

To give you an idea of what we're dealing with, here's a map of the complete system.

Follow the red M's around Moscow to find the metro stops.

Welcome to Mayakovskaya, one of the most beautiful metro stations in Moscow.

Here's the ground floor of the station. Soon we'll be very deep below it.

Inside, everything is spotlessly clean and well-lit.

I spent a lot of time admiring the decorated ceilings. There's more of them to come.

You don't need to look up the whole time, though — there are plenty of decorative elements at eye level.

Attendants are on hand to help if you need it. I decided to brave the machine instead.

Let's buy a metro card and take a ride.

Thank heaven for the English option.

A single ride costs 30 RUB, or $1 US.

You simply touch the card to a sensor on the turnstile and you're in!

These escalators will take us down to the train platform.

It's hard to illustrate just how long and steep these escalators are. The metro stations are converted bomb shelters, so they're DEEP underground.

I caught this transit employee taking a nap in the booth at the bottom of the escalator.

Now we've arrived at the train platform. Again: spacious and beautiful!

Everywhere you look, it's clear that this place was designed with care and an eye for aesthetic appeal.

The marble floors are gorgeous.

The ceilings display intricate mosaics by an artist named Alexander Deyneka.

The hammer and sickle, a reminder of bygone times under the Soviets.

Some stations have themes for their art. Mayakovskaya's theme is "24 Hours in the Land of the Soviets."

Our train's here! Let's get commuting.

Aboard the train, it's no different from a New York City subway car. People head to and from work and run their errands around Moscow.

I only took the train one stop. I don't really trust myself to keep track of where I am when I can't read or speak the language.

For those who can read Cyrillic, however, there are signs everywhere to prevent you from getting lost.

You can follow the arrows to make transfers to other train lines.

This way leads us back to street level.

It's quite a walk to get back to civilization.

Again, the escalators are just unreal. They stretch long and tall.

We're back to street level and out the door!

There you have it – our Moscow metro experience!

Let's keep exploring Moscow.

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