Metro of Volgograd

Metros in Russia: The Volgograd Metro (Tramway)

Volgograd is a city located in the southwestern region of the Russian Federation, and has 1,021,200 inhabitants distributed throughout more than 500 square kilometers. It is a region with a low population density. It was previously known as Stalingrad, specifically between the 1920s and the 1950s. It was not until 1961 that it got its current name.

The territory is an important industrial center, where railroads from all over Russia meet together in its vicinity. The most important industries in here are oil refining, the production of steel and aluminum, as well as the chemical industry.

During World War II, this city became famous worldwide for hosting one of the worst battles between Germans and Soviets, culminating with the victory of the latter. At the end of the war, Volgograd became the important industrial metropolis that it is today.

And so, just like it would be expected, the city’s economic development brought improvements to the city’s mobility. One of these improvements that stands out is the construction of a system of light rail that offers underground journeys, known as the Volgograd Metro.

Its opening took place in 1984, after 8 years in construction. It transits by 8 important zones in the city, going through Volgograd’s downtown until reaching the north of the city. All of the trains that operate in its two currently available lines were designed and built in local factories, a curious fact that is quite interesting. Currently, over 10 million users travel through this system each year.

Lines and stations

The Volgograd Metro or Volgograd Tramway is a light rail system with subway elements. It currently has 22 stations, and its network is 17.3 kilometers long. From these stops, only six are located underground, adapted to the worldwide subway standards. These six stations represent 7.1 kilometers of the entire system. The rest of the stops are located at surface-level, and are very similar to tramway stops. This is due because of the nature of the terrain where the trains transit, where underground stations are more appropriate. Also, thanks to the underground path, traffic is avoided since there are no other means of transportation that transit in here. Therefore, the trains can move at faster speeds.

The system is in charge of giving service to the adjacent neighborhoods to the north of Volgograd, connecting them downtown through its only line. However, this line has two routes. The trains drive at a speed of 25.3 km/h. In average, the trains can travel the entire network from end to end in 32 minutes. In general, the trains reach the platforms with a frequency of 10 minutes.

It is important to note that, in the course from Yel’shanka station to Stadion Monolit, the vehicles can only open their doors from one side. Meanwhile, the trains that transit the Stadion Monolit-Traktornyy Zavod are able to open their doors from both sides. This is the reason why the authorities needed to divide the railway into two. The Volgograd Metro stations will be shown below:

Stations

• Tractor Factory (Тракторный завод)
• Bakery Works (Хлебозавод)
• Water-sediment (Автоцентр)
• Ilich Hospital (Больница Ильича)
• Barrikady Factory (Баррикады)
• 31st School (Гимназия № 14)
• Monolith Stadium (Стадион «Монолит»)
• Red October Steel Factory (Завод «Красный Октябрь»)
• 39th Guards Rifle Division Street (Улица 39-й Гвардейской Дивизии)
• Revival Square (Площадь Возрождения)
• Sports Palace (Дворец спорта)
• Mamayev Kurgan (Мамаев курган)
• Central Stadium (Центральный стадион)
• Central Rest and Culture Park (Центральный парк культуры и отдыха)
• Europa City Mall (ТРК «Европа-сити Молл»)
• Lenin Square (Площадь Ленина)
• Komsomol street (Комсомольская)
• Pioneers (Пионерская)
• Chekists Square (Площадь Чекистов)
• Labour Unions (Профсоюзная)
• Theatre for Young Spectators (ТЮЗ «Театр Юного Зрителя»)
• Yel’shanka (Ельшанка)

Additionally, there are currently other six stops under construction in the north.

Schedule, calendar, and timetables

The Volgograd Metro generally works from 5:55 am, once the first train of the Yel’shanka station departs, until midnight, when the last vehicle arrives at the Tractor Factory stop. The train frequency varies from five to 7 minutes during off-peak hours, and varies between two and four minutes during peak hours. Between the afternoon and the evening, the train frequency changes, varying between 7 and 20 minutes. The complete route can be traveled in 35 minutes. Delays are uncommon, so you can plan your own schedule without worrying that the metro would arrive late.

Prices, tickets, and cards

The price for a trip in any of the light railway trains that are part of the Volgograd Metro is of 25 rubles (0.42 USD.) Although, if you take one of the routes where only the surface level tramways operate, the fare is reduced to 20 rubles (0.34 USD.) The passengers can pay the fee with traditional tickets, as well as with the transportation card. The latter can be a very convenient option for people who stay for a long time in the city and frequently use the metro. Both are available in the ticket booths that are adjacent to the turnstiles, as well as in the ticket vending machines, which are called Metroelektrotrans.

In case of acquiring the transportation cards, called “Wave,” you will have access to many different subscriptions that could be very attractive. Each payment option will be explained below:

• Universal: It is the default plan that the user acquires when they obtain one of these cards. It works as an electronic coin purse for the passenger, since it can be refilled as many times as needed, and it is not limited to just one type of transportation. It gives the passenger the option to use the card in tramways, buses, light railway trains, as well as in trolleybuses, as long as you have enough cash loaded into it. The price for each trip will be deducted from the card’s credit, and it can be used by many people within the same station. To get access to this basic subscription, you will only need fill out a form in any of the customer service offices, which are available in the Volgograd Metro stations.
• Unlimited for 60 minutes: This is the second subscription that the passengers have thanks to the Wave card. With it, they can travel unlimitedly by using any of the means of public transportation in Volgograd (light railway, tramways, buses, and trolleybuses) during 60 minutes from the moment that the payment was done. During this period of time, the user can through all of the possible routes available in the city. If you already have balance available in your card, but you also added the Unlimited for 60 Minutes subscription, during the following 60 minutes the remaining balance in your card will stay intact. Only the buyer will be able to use the card with this subscription, unlike the first subscription, which could be used by any number of people that used the same card.
• Unlimited: with this subscription, passengers can have unlimited rides for a whole month in one of the public transportation systems available in the city. In other words, you will be able to choose whether to use the light rail, tramway, bus, or trolleybus within 30 days from the moment of purchase. Unlike the other previous two ones, this subscription does not include the use of more than one means of transportation, or in other words, you will be able to use only one transportation service. Passengers will only need to pay a fixed monthly fee. The card will be of exclusive use of only one person.
• Limited: It is a personalized subscription that is adapted to the user’s needs. You will need to indicate the number of rides that you will do during the month, specifying the means of transportation that you will use, whether it is the light rail, tramway, bus, or trolleybus. Then, a monthly fare will be placed, with a limit of journeys that you yourself will choose. In case of requiring additional trips, you can pay the basic price for the transportation system. The card will only be usable by one passenger at a time.

Besides the basic Wave card, which is green and includes the previously mentioned subscriptions, other cards with different colors are available for specific users. These cards offer reduced prices. The different cards will be shown below:

• Reduced fare card: This card is only offered to people that are entitled to acquire tickets for people on welfare. The Volgograd social code establishes the list of people that fulfill the requirements to obtain welfare. However, the city’s authorities do not allow for this card to offer unlimited rides. It can only be used with the universal basic subscription, which will include a discount depending on the means of transportation used. Also, this card can only be used as long as the user brings their documents showing their ID and address. This card cannot be used by another person other than the buyer.
• Student card: This card is only given to those students enrolled in an educational institute in Volgograd, with the requirement of proof of enrollment. In the card, the unlimited ride subscription is not included. A discount will be offered to the student using this card for each ride. Also, the user will require to show a student ID from their school to prove their identity.
• College student card: The current card is only given to students in higher education schools, technical institutes, or vocational schools, as long as they show their proof of enrollment. The subscription of unlimited rides is excluded from this card. This card offers a price reduction compared to the regular tickets or the Wave card for the user’s rides. It can only be used by the person who purchased it, alongside their ID.

Rules in Volgogrado metro

• It is prohibited to litter the trains and stations in the Volgograd Metro system.
• You cannot consume food within the Volgograd Metro’s facilities. Also, you cannot drink any kind of beverage either, including water.
• It is prohibited by the metro’s authorities to put your feet on the train’s seats, since it is considered a rude and unhygienic habit.
• You cannot use the emergency-only equipment outside of an actual threat. In case of using them for amusement purposes, you will be fined by the Volgograd Metro’s authorities.
• Whenever you want to use a ticket to pay for your trip within the system, said ticket should be in a perfect state. If it is too deteriorated, you will not be able to use it. In case that you destroy your own ticket within the facilities, you may be fined.
• The Volgograd Metro’s personnel is willing to help you in anything you may need. However, you will always have to treat them with respect.
• Whenever you bring bags or luggage, you need to make sure that they do not obstruct other users walking by. Otherwise, you may be denied access to the facilities.
• Backpacks should be put in front of you or to one of your sides, with the purpose of not bothering other passengers on the trains or the stations of the Volgograd Metro.
• All pets are banned from entering within the metro’s vicinity. The only exception to this rule are guide dogs, which are important for their users to move freely in the city.
• You cannot smoke within the trains nor the stations of the Volgograd Metro.
• It is prohibited to carry flammable materials or fireworks without previous authorization within the metro’s facilities. To bring these materials, you will require a special permit.
• All of the system’s passengers should keep an appropriate distance from the yellow line in the platforms. The security staff is authorized to intervene in case that you get too close to the trains’ tracks or any other kind of irresponsible behavior.
• The users should only walk while they remain within the Volgograd Metro’s facilities. In case that you run, you will need to prove that you did it out of an emergency. Otherwise, you will be fined.
• People under the influence of alcohol will not have access to the metro’s facilities.
• Also, the ingestion of alcohol will not be tolerated in the stations nor the trains of the system. If you disobey, you will be immediately fined.
• Small children should always be in the company of their legal guardians.
• To use any device that emits sound, you will have to use headphones, since the noise would bother other users, and you may get fined.
• You cannot play musical instruments in the stations and trains of the Volgograd Metro, unless you have previous authorization by the people in charge of the system.
• Users are banned from selling merchandise in either the stations or trains of the system. You will be expelled from the facilities in case that you do.

Volgogrado Tram

Fun facts

• The deepest Volgograd Metro station is Labour Unions, while the smallest station is Pioneers.
• All of the Volgograd Metro stations have an excellent cellphone coverage thanks to partnerships between the transportation companies and cellphone companies.
• At Chekists Square station there is an exit that does not go anywhere. The users can get close to it, but this exit is blocked.
• The Volgograd Metro is only considered a metro by international standards because it has five underground stations.
• All of its stations were built with the capacity of being expanded.

Future expansions

The Volgograd Metro’s authorities have plans to expand the system, including a third section that would add 7 kilometers to the current network. However, there has not been a lot of information about this work, even though there were plans to finish it by 2018 and that there were over 400 million rubles allocated to begin the project.

However, the authorities have given information about the construction of additional stations of this third route, although there are no beginning nor ending dates for the construction of the project.

• Novosibirsk (Новосибирская): This would be the name of the first station of the third line. Its inauguration date is still undefined.
• Agrarian University (Аграрный университет): This is the second station of the third route, which will be near the Volgograd Agrarian University.
• Tormosinovskaya (Тормосиновская): It is also planned to be built for the third route, although there are no more details known about it.
• Panfilovskaya (Панфиловская): It is one of the planned stations for the third route, but its opening date is unknown.
• Cement girders (Купоросная балка): It is another stop for the third route, although there are not any more additional details about its inauguration date.
• State University (Госуниверситет): This would be the last station belonging to the third route of the Volgograd Metro.

Safety

The Volgograd Metro’s facilities have a closed-circuit camera system that guarantees the safety of its passengers. Also, there is qualified personnel that are aware at all times to intervene in case of emergency. There is also a specialized unit that monitors any suspicious behavior, which are responsible of identifying individuals that may be potentially dangerous to other passengers. Likewise, the K-9 units are alert at the stations. All of these measures come from a special plan followed by the city’s authorities to prevent terrorist attacks, one of the citizens’ main fears.

Connection to the airport

The Volgograd Metro does not have a direct connection with the Volgograd International Airport. In other words, no train reaches directly to the airport, since there are no stations there. However, by using other means of public transportation that connect to the railway system, the user will be able to reach the airport without a hassle.

To do it, you will need to find a station, board the metro heading towards Komsomol Street and, once there, get off and go to the surface. Outside, you will need to walk 120 meters towards the Dom Tekhniki tramway stop, where you will travel through 13 stations until reaching the Kosmonavtov St. terminal. Once you end this journey, which generally lasts around 19 minutes, you will need to disembark the vehicle to board a bus from the line 6K. The bus stop allows transfers with the tramway.

Once you are in the bus, you will travel for 48 minutes and 20 stops before reaching your destination, the Aeroport terminal, which is just in front of the airport. The entire journey between the Komsomol Street Metro Station and the Volgograd International Airport lasts around two hours.

Meanwhile, if you want to go from the airport to downtown Volgograd by using public transportation, you will need to follow these steps. First, outside of the airport, you will find the Aeroport bus stop, in which many lines that travel towards the entire city transit. Once there, you will have to wait for a 6K route bus, although you could use other public transportation services that also have downtown Volgograd as a destination. Later, once you are inside the vehicle, you will travel through 20 stops until you reach the tramway station of Kosmonavtov St, where you will have to board a train that heads towards Dom Tekhniki. From there, you will be able to reach the metro’s Komsomol Street terminal.

Nearby attractions

At Mamayev Kurgan station, Volgograd’s visitors can witness the impressive Mamayev Kurgan Hill, the place where the famous The Motherland Calls statue lies, or, like the literal Russian translation calls it, The Motherland Calls! It is a beautiful monument that commemorates the epic battle that took place in the city that was known during World War II as Stalingrad. The creators of such a majestic work were the engineer Nikolai Nikitin and the sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich, inaugurating it on 1967. It is currently recognized as the tallest statue in the world, with 87 meters in height. Although similar statues of taller dimensions may be built, The Motherland Calls statue will still be greater due to its complexity and symbolism.

Meanwhile, at Lenin Square stop lies the famous Volgograd State Panoramic Museum Stalingrad Battle, a museum where details about the famous battle at Stalingrad are told. Within its facilities, the visitors will find tanks from the war, tools used during combat, weapons and uniforms from those patriotic heroes that defended their country during the Nazi invasion. The place is full of history and offers guides that speak English to talk to foreigners. Not only will you be able to enjoy the exhibits on the inside of the building, but you will also be able to go outside and watch planes, samples of convoys, as well as vehicles that were used during battle.