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Kyiv (Kiev), the capital of Ukraine is a city with more than 1500 year history. Now its metro system is a typical ex-Soviet three line system (total length 59.9 km) with all lines meeting in the city centre forming a triangle. Older stations in the city centre were built in the underground palace style similar to Moscow's metro. The network is entirely underground on the right bank of the river Dnipro (Dnieper) with two bridge-crossing of the river and one at-grade stretch of Line 1 on the left bank.

Apart from the Metro there are two fast tram lines which runs from Ploscha Peremohy (near Railway Station - Vokzal'na) to the western suburbs (Okruzhna Doroha, 9.1km, 1977). Although designed on the median of a motorway separated from most of level crossings, the line after around 20 years of exploitation requires capital reconstruction. Recently priority was given for upgrading the line to the modern LRT standards instead of replacement of the line by shallow underground metro. Works had to start in 2004 but were delayed. A second 5.2km fast tram line was built between 1993 and 2000. It runs from Prospekt Vatutina station to Vulytsia Miloslavskaya station in the district of Troeschyna on the north of left-bank part of the city. Now, due to low traffic, the line is served by a usual tram route with large intervals. Initially it was planned to reach Livoberezhna metro station. By the recent plans it will be upgraded to surface metro standards (Livoberezhna Line). Find more details about this fast tram line here.

In 1960 the first part of the first line opened between Vokzal'na (Central Station) and Dnipro. The latter station with side platforms is situated on the bridge over the motorway along the bank of the Dnieper river. After this station, eastbound, the line crosses the river on a Metro-bridge and continues on the surface.

6 Nov 1960: Vokzal'na - Dnipro (5.2 km)
5 Nov 1963: Vokzal'na - Zavod "Bil'shovyk" (now Shuliavs'ka) (3.3 km)
5 Nov 1965: Dnipro - Darnytsia (incl. metro bridge, 4.2 km)
4 Oct 1968: Darnytsia - Komsomol's'ka (now Chernihivs'ka) (1.3 km)
5 Nov 1971: Zavod "Bil'shovyk" - Sviatoshyn (4.2 km)
4 Dec 1979: Komsomol's'ka - Pioners'ka (now Lisova) (1.2 km)
7 Nov 1987: Teatral'na station (formerly Lenins'ka) added
24 May 2003: Sviatoshyn - Akademmistechko (3.3 km)

Although it had been planned to build one more station in the west, a transfer to Novobilychi commuter rail station, no plans for extention of this line are foreseen before year 2020.

2005 © Alexei Bobko: Akademmistechko, Sviatoshyn, Khreschatyk, Darnytsia (More and larger photos)

The second line was opened in 1976 between Ploscha Kalinina (later Ploscha Zhovtnevoi Revoliutsii now Maidan Nezalezhnosti, transfer to Khreschatyk station) and Chervona Ploscha (now Kontraktova Ploscha). Between 1980 and 1984 the line was extended on both ends and is now 13 km long and has 12 stations:

17 Dec 1976: Ploscha Kalinina (now Maidan Nezalezhnosti) - Chervona Ploscha (now Kontraktova Ploscha) (2.3 km)
1980: Chervona Ploscha - Prospekt Korniichuka (now Obolon') (4.4 km)
19 Dec 1981: Ploscha Zhovtnevoi Revoliutsii - Respublikans'kyi Stadion (2.1 km)
6 Nov 1982: Prospekt Korniichuka - Heroiv Dnipra (2.2 km)
30 Dec 1984: Respublikans'kyi Stadion - Dzerzhyns'ka (now Lybids'ka) (2.3 km)

2005 © Alexei Bobko: Obolon', Poshtova Ploscha, Pl. Lva Tolstoho, Palats Ukraina (More and larger photos)

 Projects

The recently adopted plan of the development of Kyiv metro foresees doubling the number of metro stations during next 15 years. This plan includes construction of 21 station on existing lines and 22 stations on two new lines

Now the Kurenivs'ko-Chervonoarmiys'ka line is being extended some 7 km further south-west to the Exhibition centre (Vystavkovyi Tsentr) and the hippodrome (Ipodrom). Construction started in 2002 for completion in May 2009 up to Vasyl'kivs'ka and to Ipodrom in 2012. Later this line will eventually reach Teremky residential district with two branches and a depot.

On the Syrets'ko-Pechers'ka line, after Chervony Khutir the line will turn north-west and reach station Darnyts'kyi vokzal at a new railway station being built there and further to Brovars'kyi Prospekt, where large metro transfer knot on the left bank will be organized. Other extention of this line - toward north-west to reach Mostyts'ka and Vynogradar with one more depot for this line.

Since late 2004 a new two-level motorway-metro Podil's'kyi bridge is built over the Dnieper River to connect Central railway station (Vokzal'na) with residential zones on the north of the left-bank part of Kyiv. This line using this bridge, Podil's'ko-Voskresens'ka, will cross all existing lines (Line 1 at Vokzal'naya, Line 3 at Lukyanivs'ka, Line 2 at Tarasa Shevchenka). On the left bank of the Dnieper a branch toward Troeschyna along the corridor used now by fast tram #2 can be taken by this line until the construction of the Livoberezhna line south to Brovars'kyi Prospekt station.

Kiev (Kyiv), the capital of Ukraine, is situated on the river Dnipro and has about 2.6 million inhabitants.

- OPERATION

The Kiev Metro runs from 6:00 until 24:00. First trains leave at 5:50 from the terminus of the line, and last trains leave the city centre at 0:20.

Trains run every 1.5-2 min during peak hours, and every 3-5 min at other times, depending on the line.

- FARES

Single fare (1 token) - 1.70 hryvnia

See older tokens

Open on Mondays, Fridays - 10:00-13:00, on Wednesdays - 14:00-17:00

Address: Prospekt Peremogy 35, Tel 238-4494