USSR BUILDS BIG, CLEAN RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEMS

Rail transit is prospering in the Soviet Union. Five major cities have modern subways, and planners expect to double this number by the year 2000. A total of 26,000 streetcars are in use on streets of 110 cities. About 3 billion passengers ride long distance trains each year, and another 2.7 billion ride commuter trains. The 87 mile Moscow subway, and the four in other cities, are much alike. Most stations are at least 100 feet below the street. Although this eliminates utility relocation, it requires high speed escalators. Station platforms are wide and well lighted. The fare on the subway is about six cents in U.S. money. All subway systems use five foot gage, use 825 volt direct current, and have an underrunning third rail. Moscow subway carries 5 million passengers on a weekday, and has 86 stations. Even smaller cities have subways, Kiev has only 1.5 million population. The subways prosper because the Soviet government has chosen not to emphasize automobiles. The Russians are continuing to develop streetcar technology.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07362064
• Corporate Authors:

  Cahners Publishing Company, Incorporated

  5 South Wabash Avenue
  Chicago, IL  United States  60603
• Authors:
  • Demore, H W
• Publication Date: 1972-7

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: 3 p.
• Serial:
  • Modern Railroads
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: K-III Press, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0736-2064

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Rapid transit; Streetcars; Technology
• Geographic Terms: Russia (Federation)
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00039899
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Modern Railroads
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 2 1973 12:00AM