Metro of San Petersburgo

Metros in Russia: Saint Petersburg Metro

In 1810, the idea of a subway train began to develop, but King Alexander I found the idea to be ludicrous especially since the proposal meant digging under the Neva River.

Metro construction became a reality, after numerous studies and proposals, especially related to the city’s geological characteristics (a large amount of underground water and ground instability). The Saint Petersburg Metro is the steepest metro system in the world.

The average depth is 60 meters (196.9 feet). Some sections reach 110 meters (360.9 feet), an extraordinary engineering feat when considering not only the delays due to ground conditions but also the delayed process due to political relations and the outbreak of the Second World War. Delays were generated for over a decade.

The subway’s first phase began in 1941. Operations didn’t begin until 1955, however. According to historians, 5 major milestones were reached on what is now a mega project:

• 1. XIX: The first proposals for a city subway system began to take shape.
• 2. XXstrong>: Work began in 1941 but was suspended with the start of the Second World War. Work resumed in 1946 and work on several sections progressed.
• 3. 1955: The first line, from Kirosovo to Vyborgskaya station, was opened in 1955.
• 4. Soviet Period: Construction advanced under the Stalin’s specifications.
• 5. Post-Soviet Era: Work took on a more modern style during this age.

Saint Petersburg

Lines and stations

The Saint Petersburg Metro system currently has 5 lines and 69 stations that total 118.6 kilometers (73.7 miles). There is a sixth line under construction with an expected opening in 2020. Over 2.3 million people, including residents and tourists, ride in the system’s more than 1600 train cars daily. 16,000 people are also employed in its various sectors.

Each line is identified by a number and color, so that residents and tourists can easily complete their trips

Line 1 Kírovsko-Výborgskaya:

Opened in 1955, this is the system’s oldest line. It has 19 stations. The length is 29.65 km (18.42 mi) and the total trip duration is about 47 minutes. The route is from Avtovo to Lesnaya station.

• Line color: Red
• Line number: 1
• Line name: Kírovsko-Výborgskaya
• Number of stations: 19
• Line length: 29.65 kilometers (18.42 miles)
• Total trip duration: 47 minutes
• Schedule: 5.45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Stations: Devyatkino, Vladimirskaya, Grazhdansky Prospekt, Pushkinskaya, Akademicheskaya, Tekhnologichesky Institut, Politekhnicheskaya, Baltiyskaya, Ploschad Muzhestva, Narvskaya, Lesnaya, Kirovsky Zavod, Vyborgskaya, Avtovo, Ploshchad Lenina, Leninsky Prospekt, Chernyshevskaya, Prospekt Veteranov, Ploshchad Vosstaniya

Line 2 Moskovsko-Petrográdskaya:

Saint Petersburg’s second line opened in 1961. The most recent construction was in 2006 and connected the stations, Prospekt Prosveshcheniya and Parnas. The line is 30.1 kilometers (18.70 miles). There are 18 stations located throughout the city from Tekhnologicheskiy to Parnas and the total trip takes about 47 minutes.

• Line color: Blue
• Line number: 2
• Line name: Moskovsko-Petrográdskaya 
• Number of stations: 18
• Line lenght: 30.1 kilometers (18.70 miles)
• Total trip duration: 32 minutes
• Schedule: 5.45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Stations: Parnas, Sennaya Ploshchad, Prospekt Prosvescheniya, Tekhnologichesky Institut, Ozerki, Frunzenskaya, Udelnaya, Moskovskiye Vorota, Pionerskaya, Elektrosila, Chornaya Rechka, Park Pobedy, Petrogradskaya, Moskovskaya, Gorkovskaya, Zvyozdnaya, Nevsky Prospekt, Kupchino

Line 3 Nevsko-Vasileóstrovskaya:

The third line began to operate in 1967. Its most recent station opened in 1984. The line runs from Vasileostrovskaya to Rybatskoye and 10 stations make up a total length of 27.6 kilometers (17.1 miles). The total trip duration is about 32 minutes.

• Line color: Green
• Line number: 3
• Line name: Nevsko-Vasileóstrovskaya
• Number of stations: 10
• Line length: 27.6 kilometers (17.1 miles)
• Total trip duration: 32 minutes
• Schedule: 5.45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Stations: Primorskaya, Yelizarovskaya, Vasileostrovskaya , Lomonosovskaya, Gostiny Dvor, Proletarskaya, Mayakovskaya, Obukhovo, Ploshchad Alexandra Nevskogo 1, Rybatskoye

Sportivnaya (Saint Petersburg Metro)

Line 4 Pravoberézhnaya

Line 4 began operating in 1985 and its newest station opened in 2009. It takes about 19 minutes to travel the 8 stations that make up its 11 kilometers (6.9 miles).

• Line color: Orange
• Line number: 4
• Line name: Pravoberézhnaya
• Number of stations: 8
• Line length: 11.21 kilometers (6.9 miles)
• Total trip duration: 19 minutes
• Schedule: 5.45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Stations: Teatralnaya, Novocherkasskaya, Spasskaya, Ladozhskaya, Dostoyevskaya, Prospekt Bolshevikov, Ligovsky Prospekt, Ulitsa Dybenko, Ploshchad Alexandra Nevskogo 2, Kudrovo

Line 5 Frúnzensko-Primórskaya:

Inaugurated in 2008, this line is the most contemporary. The most recent station opened in 2012. It is made up of 12 stations covering a length of 20.04 kilometers (12.5 miles) and the average trip takes about 30 minutes.

• Line color: Purple
• Line number: 5
• Line name: Frúnzensko-Primórskaya
• Number of stations: 12
• Line length: 20.04 kilometers (12.5 miles)
• Total trip duration: 30 minutes
• Schedule: 5.45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Stations: Komendantsky Prospekt, Sadovaya, Staraya Derevnya, Zvenigorodskaya, Krestovsky Ostrov, Obvodny Kanal, Chkalovskaya, Volkovskaya, Sportivnaya, Bukharestskaya, Admiralteyskaya, Mezhdunarodnaya

Line 6

Line 6 is named Krasnosel’sko-Kalininskaya. It is undergoing construction from the southwest to northeast. This new line is expected to be operating by 2020.

Schedule and frequency

The metro begins operating at 5:45 a.m. and runs until 1:00 a.m. On holidays, such as New Year’s, the schedule is extended to 2:00 a.m., though it remained open until 3:00 a.m. during the 2018 World Cup.

The train frequency is every 2 to 3 minutes. During peak hours, the time is reduced to every 95 seconds.

Peak ridership on the Saint Petersburg Metro is recorded between 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The details for night time special schedules are included below.

The night time schedule consists of the hours, 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. and is only enacted on special holidays:

• New Year’s Eve (from December 31-January 1)
• Orthodox Christmas (January 6-7)
• Easter
• May 1-2
• May 9-10
• The "Night of the Museums"
• "City Day" celebration
• "Scarlet Sails" celebration

The night time schedule has some fee restrictions, detailed below:

• Smart card and online payments cannot be completed from 3:00 a.m. to the time of station closing.
• Tokens can only be purchased during this time and stations are only accessible by passengers with travel tokens or passes.

Night time trains are available on Line 5 from April 30 to November 15, when the bridges over the Neva River are raised.

Trains run between Admiralteyskaya and Sportivnaya stations from 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Passengers can access Sportivnaya station from both lobbies.

Only tokens can be used to pay for night time trips. The train frequency is every 20 minutes.

There are some lobby entrance and exit restrictions on holidays including:

• Lobby 1 of Prospekt Veteranov (exit to Dachniy Prospekt);
• Lobby 2 of Leninskiy Prospekt (exit to Bulvar Novatorov);
• Entrance 2 of Ploschad Lenina (exit to Ulitsa Lebedeva);
• Lobby 1 of Devyatkino
• Lobby 1 of Moskovskaya (exit to Altayskaya Ulitsa);
• Lobby 2 of Nevskiy Prospekt (exit to Griboedova Canal);
• Entrance of Tekhnologicheskiy Institut 1;
• Entrance of Ploschad Alexandra Nevskogo 2 (exit to Chernoretskiy Pereulok);
• Dostoyevskaya Entrance;
• Spasskaya Lobby.

Saint Petersburg

Connections

Connections to other lines:

The stations with connections to other lines are named after the lines that they cross. There are at least 7 transfer points:

• Connections to Line 1 and Líne 2: At stations Tekhnologichesky Institut 1 (Line 1) - Tekhnologichesky Institut 2 (Line 2)
• Connections to Line 1 and Line 3: At stations Plochad Vosstania (Line 1) - Mayakoskaya (Line 3)
• Connections to Line 1 and Line 4: At stations Vladimirskaya (Line 1) - Dostoyevskaya (Line 4)
• Connections to Line 1 and Line 5: At stations Pushkinskaya (Line 1) - Zvenigorodskaya (Line 5)
• Connections to Line 2 and Line 3: At stations Nevsky Prospekt (Line 2) - Gostiny Dvor (Line 3)
• Connections to Line 2, Line 4 Line 5: At stations Sennaya Ploschad (Line 2) - Spasska (Line 4) - Sadovaya (Line 5)
• Connections to Line 3 and Line 4: At stations Ploshad Aleksandra Nevskogo 1 (Line 3) - Ploshad Aleksandra Nevskogo 2 (Line 4)

Connections to other systems:

Saint Petersburg’s integrated, and interconnected transportation system make it possible to transfer to various train stations and ports:

The following metro stations connect to train stations:

• Ploshad metro station Lenina (Line 1): Finlyandksy Vokzal train station.
• Plochad Vosstania metro station/ Mayakovskaya: Moscovsky Vokzal train station.
• Pushkinskaya metro station / Zvenigorodskaya: Vitebskyky Vokzal train station
• Baltiskaya metro station (Line 1): Baltisky Vokzal train station.
• Ladozhskaya metro station (Line 4): Ladozhskiy Vokzal.E train station.
• Devyatkino metro station (Line 1): Devyatkino train station.
• Obukhovo metro station (Line 3): Obukhovo train station.
• Rybatskoe metro station (Line 3): Rybatskoe train station.
• Kupchino metro station (Line 3): Kupchino train station.
• Udelnaya metro station (Line 2): Udelnaya train station.
• Staraya Derevnya metro station (Line 5): Staraya Derevnya train station.

 The following stations connect to the ports:

• Primorskaya metro station (Line 3): Morskoy Vokzal maritime port.
• Proletarskaya metro station (Line 3): Rechnoy Vokzal river port.

Prices, tickets and passes

Various payment methods are available on the Saint Petersburg Metro. The emblematic tokens, (known as zheton), single tickets, magnetic rechargeable cards and the prepaid cards for frequent travelers can be obtained at ticket offices and the stations’ automated machines.

Tokens and tickets:

Single use token: The price of a single metro trip - RUB 45 (USD 0.65).

The baggage fee is RUB 45 (USD 0.65), which can be purchased with a token or electronic card within the card’s validation period.

TRANSPORT PASSES:

All transport passes are available on the Saint Petersburg metro:

• Monthly transport pass (tram, trolleybus, bus, metro) - RUB 2900 (USD 42.08)
• Monthly bus pass for school students - RUB 515 (USD) 7.47
• Monthly bus pass for higher education students: RUB 1035 (USD 15.02)
• Standard personal bus pass - RUB 576 (USD 8.36)

 Metro TravelCard:

• Pass for 10 trips within a 7-day period – RUB 355 (USD 5.15)
• Pass for 20 trips within a 15-day period – RUB 680 (USD 9.87)
• Pass for 40 trips within a 30-day period – RUB 1300 (USD 18.86)
• Pass for 70 trips within a 90-day period - RUB 45 (USD 0.65) per trip. Total price for a 70-trip pass - RUB 3150 (USD 45.71)

 Public transport passes:

• Monthly tram pass - RUB 1555 (USD 22.56)
• Monthly trolleybus pass - RUB 1555 (USD 22.56)
• Monthly bus pass - RUB 1555 (USD 22.56)
• Combined Monthly pass (tram, trolleybus) - RUB 1840 (USD 26.70)
• Combined Monthly pass (tram, bus) - RUB 1840 (USD 26.70)
• Combined Monthly pass (trolleybus, bus) - RUB 1840 (USD 26.70)
• Combined Monthly pass (tram, trolleybus, bus) - RUB 1955 (USD 28.37)
• Monthly bus pass for school students - RUB 340 (USD 4.93)
• Combined pass (tram, trolleybus, bus) for 10 trips - RUB 310 (USD 4.50)
• Combined monthly pass (tram, trolleybus, bus) for students - RUB 485 (7.04)

The standard electronic ticket gives riders the option to take continuous trips as long as there is a remaining balance on the card to cover the costs.

• 1-10 trips during the calendar year for RUB 36.00 (USD 0.52) per trip.
• 11-20 trips during a calendar month for RUB 35.00 (USD 0.51) per trip.
• 21-30 trips during a calendar month for RUB 34.00 (USD (0.49) per trip.
• 31-40 trips during a calendar year for RUB 33.00 (USD 0.48 per trip.
• 41 trips or more during a calendar year for RUB 32.00 (USD 0.46) per trip.

Metro Parking

The Saint Petersburg Metro system offers parking service to its riders. There are tickets that offer parking and two trips per day. A ticket may be obtained after parking and a separate ticket purchase is not required.

Parking is available at the following stations:

• Line 1 : Leninskiy Prospekt, Kirovskiy Zavod Politekhnicheskaya, Grazhdanskiy Prospekt
• Line 2 : Prospekt Prosvescheniya, Pionerskaya, Parnas, Kupchino
• Line 3 : Ploschad Alexandra Nevskogo, Obukhovo
• Line 4 : Ladozhskaya
• Line 5 : Volkovskaya

Parking Schedule

For vehicles entering from 6:01 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Free for passengers that change to public transportation. They must always exit the parking area before 11:59 p.m. the same day.

Rules, advice and warnings

• When transporting baggage, be sure that it is properly packed and that it is no larger than 121 x 200 cm (47.6 x 78.7 in) to avoid disturbing other passengers.
• Access to escalators should be made through the turnstiles with revolving gears. The leaf turnstiles are designated for passengers with paper travel passes, passengers with luggage, and passengers with children under the age of seven. Additionally, handicapped passengers, pregnant women and the elderly have priority.
• Children, under the age of seven, ride for free. Documentation must be provided to confirm their age.
• Pets must be transported in appropriate carrying containers or crates. Containers and crates must not exceed 120 cm (42.2 in) in length, width or height). Animals must not have uncontrolled access to the metro.
• Photos may only be taken in authorized areas and they must be taken without the flash.
• Certified guide dogs (with a muzzle and a special ID), that accompany vision impaired riders, are permitted on board, free of charge.

Notable facts

Like the Moscow Metro, the Saint Petersburg Metro is known as “underground palaces” or “palaces of the people”. This was conceived by Stalin, so that the common people could enjoy the same elegance and luxuriance in which the tsars lived. Stalin died two years prior to the opening of the Saint Petersburg Metro.

The Saint Petersburg Metro is not only a palace of the people, it is also a museum filled with history and elegance. Line 1 is characterized by its marble walls, majestic columns, reliefs, and mosaics that pay homage to Stalin.

This is exemplified at the Avtovo station, where the following inscription can be found: “Eternal glory to the brave defenders of Leningrad”. There is a statue of Pushkin at Pushkinskaya station. There are industrial-themed reliefs at Kirovskiy Zavod. Striking marble and mosaics are present at Baltiyskaya and the bronze decor at Narvskaya alludes to Stalin.

The most striking station is Admiralteyskaya, which contains massive marine-themed mosaics. It can be found on Line 5, which is the system’s most recent line.

Future expansions

The following includes the development plans for the Saint Petersburg Metro:

December 2018 - Line 5, new stations:

• Prospekt Slavy
• Dunayskaya
• Shushary

March 2018 - Line 3, new stations:

• Novokrestovskaya
• Begovaya

December 2019 - Line 4, new stations:

• Teatral′naya
• Gorniy instituto

December 2022 - Line 6, new stations:

• Yugo-Zapadnaya
• Putilovskaya

Connection to the airport

The closest airport from the city center is the Saint Petersburg Pulkovo Airport. The distance is 17 kilometers (10.6 miles). One of the most economical ways to travel to and from the airport is by metro and bus.

A connection to the airport can be made at Moskovskaya, which offers the following transportation options:

Bus route 39 Pulkovo 1 can be taken to reach the domestic flight terminal. Bus route 13 Pulkovo 2 can be taken to reach the international flight terminal.

This trip can also be taken in a taxi or a minivan, known as “marshutka”, depending on one’s budget and desired comfort level when traveling. The route from the station to the airport is approximately 20 minutes. The ticket price is between 30 and 40 rubles, keeping in mind that luggage is charged separately.

Images and media

Sightseeing via metro

The Saint Petersburg Metro is a large museum, within itself. Visitors have the option of 60 or 90-minute guided tours, that are included in the price of the ticket and led by local guides.

Guided tours are a great opportunity to learn the history of the Soviet Union while mainly traveling along the stations, Ploshchad Vosstaniya, Avtovo, Kirovskiy Zavod and Admiralteyskaya.

The metro also facilitates trips to the city’s major tourist sites:

• To reach the Church of the Savior on Blood, Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral, the Russian Museum, the Mikhailovsky Theatre, or the Gostiny Dvor shopping center, one can get off at the stations, Nevsky Prospekt / Gostiny Dvor on lines 2 and 3 respectively.
• To reach the Hermitage Museum, or the Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, one can go to Admiralty.Admiralteiskaya station (Line 5).
• To reach Vasilyevsky Island, one can take the metro to Vasileostrovskaya station (Line 3).