Think Railways

Moscow and Beijing metros have signed an agreement on cooperation and partnership. The document was signed by Head of the Moscow Metro Dmitry Pegov and Vice President of the Beijing Transport Authority Chen Xilin, during the meeting celebrating the 80^th anniversary of Moscow Metro, the largest urban public transport system in Russia.

The agreement aims to improve passenger service quality and provides for joint technical studies and experience and information sharing. Cooperation will cover areas such as operational safety, equipment and facility maintenance, energy efficiency, and business management. “This is strategic cooperation in terms of technical assistance, experience sharing, delegations, and visits between the two metros,” stated Pegov.

In addition, plans are in place for cooperation in decorating public transport spaces, as well as conducting joint cultural events and other activities for the benefit of Moscow and Beijing metro passengers.

The Moscow Metro opened on 15 May 1935. It currently operates 12 lines of 327.5 kilometres of tracks, and 196 stations. Over 8.5 million passengers ride the metro each day on average. Over its 80 year history, the Moscow Metro has transported over 145 billion passengers.

According to Sergey Sobyanin, the Moscow Mayor, the city plans to build a new ring line and extend radial lines. In addition, the metro is being integrated with surface and rail transit. The Moscow Ring Railway is being renovated and will become an additional interchange hub. Dozens of transit hubs are being designed which will provide comfortable transfers between different modes of transport.

Vice President of the Transport Authority of Beijing Chen Xilin thanked the mayors of Moscow and Beijing for their support. “For 20 years now, the two cities have worked together in various spheres, including urban transport, which is a key driver of urban development,” Chen Xilin said.

Subway opened on 1 October 1969. Currently, it operates 465 kilometres of tracks, 17 lines, and 270 stations for over 8 million passengers a day.