Kiev Metro Map

52 metro stations, 70 kilometers – this is how metro, the most convenient form of transport In Kiev, evolved in 57 years. On November 6, 1960, the first car went from Khreshchatyk station.  Back in 1960, there were only five metro stations in Kiev metro. Ghosts, mutant rats and evil spirit – that is only a small part of what people imagined about Kiev metro.

Kyiv Metro Map

Even a foreign tourist cannot get lost in Kiev metro – there are only three main metro lines and maps in the trains are translated into English.

Let’s talk about the history of creation of Kiev Metro – how it all was happening.

History of Kiev Metro

Kiev metro is one of the sights of the city thanks to its two distinctive features – its depth and aesthetics. Because of the hilly surface of Kiev, the metro had to be built very deep. It is interesting that on the right bank of Dnieper, Kiev metro runs exclusively underground, and on the left – both underground and on the ground. One of the deepest metro stations in the world – “Arsenal’na”, as well as the deepest metro line in the world – the Svyatoshins’ko-Brovars’ka line, is also located in Kiev. Imagine, Svyatoshins’ko-Brovars’ka line is located at 105.5 meters from the surface. Within a year, more than 500 million people use Kiev Metro; it is the most popular type of public transport in the city.

One of the sketches of Dnipro metro station

The history of the Kiev metro started back in 1884, when for the first time in the history of the Russian Empire the option of building underground tunnel for rail transport was considered. It was suggested to build it from the modern Kiev River Port, via Postal Square, and to the Railway Station. Deputies of the City Council rejected the project, was natural – at that time, it did not look like Kiev expects any transport problems, and such innovative construction was a frighteningly new thing. The next time the question of the construction of underground railway in Kiev was raised in 1916 and in 1918; in both cases, it was rejected.

The question of construction of Kiev metro is seriously considered again only on June 9, 1936, when the Presidium of the Kyiv City Council examines the thesis of the student of the Moscow Institute of Transport Engineers, which was called “The Project of the Kiev Metro”. Having officially announced the intention to build a metro in Kiev, the city council starts receiving a lot of letters from various engineers and organizations ready to help with construction; the student from Moscow receives a bonus of 1,000 rubles. The preparatory work for the construction of the metro in the city begins in 1938, but the process is soon interrupted by the World War II.

Invitation for the ceremony of opening Kiev metro

Immediately after the end of the war, a full-scale renovation of Kiev begins; in the same 1945 it was decided to build a metro in the city. We can say that it was done again, but this time it was more decisive. In 1945, they plan and confirm three metro lines we still have today – Svyatoshins’ko-Brovars’ka, Kurenivs’ko-Stalinka (Demievka today) and Syrets-Pechersk. They decided to start with Svyatoshins’ko-Brovars’ka line, which soon becomes a red line of Kiev metro.

Construction of the first station of Kiev Metro – Dnipro station

The construction of the metro begins in 1949, and it begins the way it should – first they make the tunnels. The first tunnel between the Dnipro and Arsenal’na stations was made in 1951; the last among the first generation of Kiev metro tunnels before the launch of Kiev Metro was made in 195. That was the tunnel between modern Vokzal’na and Universytet station. By 1958, tunnels, rails and escalators for the first five stations of the Kiev metro – Dnipro, Arsenal’na, Khreshchatyk, Universytet and Vokzal’na – had already been completely ready. In 1959, work on design of the first five stations of Kiev metro began. A year earlier, a competition was announced and the best of the 80 projects selected. And so, on November 6, 1960, the first section of the newly constructed Kiev metro was launched: from the Dnipro metro station to Vokzal’na station. Its length was 5.2 kilometers.

 

First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ukrainian SSR cuts a ribbon for the opening of Kiev Metro

The first passengers of Kiev Metro

Dnipro metro station in Kyiv

This station is considered a “pioneer” of Kiev Metro – it was the station to launch the first car back in 1960 and the first Kiev depot. Today, interestingly, this is the most unpopular Kiev metro station: the passenger flow does not reach 3000 people per day. Another interesting fact is that the Dnipro station has the longest platform in the city – 124 meters against the standard 100; six cars can stop here, but not one other station of this line will accept such a long train.

Building the ramp for Dnipro metro station

The construction of the station is almost finished…

…And this is Dnipro station during the first months of its work

 The cashier desks of Dnipro metro station, same time

Fine sculptures “Mir” and “Trud” along the sides of Dnipro metro station

Arsenalna metro station in Kiev

Perhaps, one of the most famous Kiev metro stations. Firstly, its depth is 105.5 meters and it is the deepest metro station in Europe. Secondly, not everyone knows this, but the lobby of Arsenal’na metro station was landed to a depth of 105 meters in a solid state! That is, the lobby was already constructed on the ground, and it was lowered underground in the form of a “glass” directly from the surface. It took four months to lower this platform under the ground. Due to its incredible depth, the station has two escalators, and you will go down very slowly)

 It will take 4 month to lower the solid lobby of Arsenal’na metro station

 The construction of entrance and lobby of Arsenal’na metro station

 One of the first trains that stops on the station

One of the sketches of lower lobby or Arsenal’na metro station – beginning of 1950s

 

One more sketch…

…Finally, this is the sketch that was chosen.

Khreshchatyk metro station in Kiev

One of the first 5 stations of Kiev Metro, named because of its location directly on Khreshchatyk Street. Today it is one of the most famous and popular metro stations.

The beginning of Khreshchatyk metro station construction

Construction of the lobby of metro station

Mounting excavators

One of the sketches of lower lobby of Khreshchatyk metro station, 1952

Finish work on selected design of lower lobby

 

First days of station operation after its opening

Entrance to Khreshchatyk metro station one year after its opening

Universytet metro station in Kyiv

One of the first five stations of Kiev Metro was named from the nearby National University. Initially, the name “Universitetska” was planned, but after certain discussions it got a laconic name – Universytet. Despite the fact that the interior of the station’s lobby is not more expensive than of its neighboring stations, it is the Universytet metro station that has become a landmark in the interior of Kiev metro; that isthanks to a more complex composition from aesthetic and design point of view. Initially, at the end of the lobby of the station there was the monumental statue of Lenin; it was dismantled in early 1990s.

Construction of the upper lobby of Universytet metro station

 One of sketches of lower lobby of Universytet metro station

 Finishing the interior of the station

Lower lobby in ready state

 Universytet metro station in operation

Upper lobby and cashier desks first years after the opening of the station

Vokzal’na metro station in Kiev

Vokzal’na became the last of the first five stations of Kiev metro, but at the same time it served the “gates” into the city. Despite the fact that the station was not originally special from the aesthetic side, like some other lobbies, it has its own interesting interior solution. The peculiarity of the station is a number of chased brass medallions that successively reflect the history of Ukraine. Of course, most of them are themes like “Peasant uprising”, the struggle “For the power of the Soviets”; however, all the stories have a part of history and aesthetic load.

 First stages of Vokzal’na metro station construction

One of the sketches of lower lobby of Vokzal’na metro station

Finished lobby of the station

First visitors of the station

 

 Interesting perspective

Entrance to the station not long before its opening

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