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1 Sep 2016 – Moscow Ring Railway (Line 14) reopens for passenger use. New line, 54 km, 31 stations. Nov 2014 – Line 7 extension from Zhulebino to Kotelniki. 2 km, 1 station. May 2014 – Line 7 Spartak intermediate station. 1 station. 2014 – Line 10: Maryina Rotscha-Petrovsko-Razumovskaya. 2014 – Line 1: Yugo-Zapadnaya-Salarevo. 4.5 km. 2014 – Line 2: Tekhnopark station. 27 Dec 2013 – Line 12 (L1) extension to Lesoparkovaya and Bitsevskiy Park. 5 km, 2 stations. 27 Dec 2013 – Western part of Line 8 from Park Pobedy (transfer to Line 3) to Delovoy Tsentr (transfer to Line 4 at Vystavochnaya). The gap between both parts of Line 8 will be filled later. 2.4 km, 2 stations. 9 Nov 2013 – Line 7 extension to Zhulebino via Lermontovsky Prospekt. 2 stations.
The metro opened in 1935. Many entrance buildings are just as architecturally spectacular as the stations below. Some stations are very deep and have been planned to serve as bomb shelters.
Photo [metro.ru]: Entrance building of Arbatskaya station on the first metro stretch from 1935.
Moscow's metro stations are a heritage of the socialist regime, originally intended to be 'palaces for the people'. With their marble-clad walls, chandelier lighting, and other precious interior, many indeed resemble palaces or cathedrals [metro.ru], [metrowalks.ru], [beeflowers].
Photo [cla.purdue.edu]: Central part of the platform of Komsomolskaya station built in 1952 on the circle line.
Many sculptures, reliefs and murals are found in the stations [metrosoyuza.net]. Besides Moscow, some other cities of the former Soviet Union have metro stations of similar grandeur. However, the ones in Moscow are the most numerous and the most spectacular. Fortunately, even the new stations opened in the 21st century are of good architectural quality.
Photo: The platform of Kropotkinskaya station built in 1935.
Tours of the metro system, guided by experts. For dates and reservation contact the tour operator or check their website.
44 of the metro stations are cultural heritage. Specialists of the agency prepared sightseeing and thematic tours, special routes based on historical facts and expert information. Find out how metro was constructed, visit sections of network closed for passengers (depot), learn the history, myths and legends of Moscow Metro. Tours in Russian, English and Chinese. Audio guide system provided. Address: Entrance hall of Vystavochnaya station of Filyovskaya line. Tickets: mosmetro.ru or voxxter.ru. Tour operator: Metrotour (joint project of Moscow Metro and the Museum of Moscow). Two-hour privately operated guided tour in English through all the must-see stations. Tour operator: Firebird Travel.
Try the following tour, recommended by residents or metro enthusiasts:
Ride the Ring Line and get off at every station to explore the highly decorated platforms and councourses. Don't miss Komsomolskaya station, one of the most lavish ones. Some entrance buildings are also worth noting, like Arbatskaya. Visit the Metro Museum.
Moscow Metro Museum. This small museum (330 square metres) charts the history of Moscow's subway system in models and statistics. Since 1967. Location: The museum was moved from its previous location at Sportivnaya metro station to Vystavochnaya metro station underneath a big shopping mall. Address: (?) Ulitsa Khamovnichesky Val 36, 3rd floor, Moscow 119048. Tel. (495) 622-78-33. At Vystavochnaya metro station. Hours (check before visiting): Temporarily closed for reconstruction. Reference: russianmuseums.info (official website).
Around Moscow there are suburban lines into nine directions. Three of them have four tracks, one has three tacks, with express trains skipping some stops of the suburban trains.
Line 4 (Filjovskaya, light blue) runs over a bridge across the Moscow river near Kievskaya station and provides a view of the grand buildings in the centre of the city. The bridge was built in 1938.
Isolated circle - Kol'tsevaya Line - 19.4 km - 12 stations - round trip 29 minutes - opened 1950 - completed 1954. Isolated circle - Moscow Central Circle, Line 14 - 54 km - 31 stations - round trip 84 minutes - opened 1908 - completed 10 Sep 2016 - Initially the freight and passenger Ring Railway, later used for freight only, rebuilt for passenger use again. Proposed ring - Line 11, part of line 1 - Large metro ring, approved in the 1960's. Proposed ring - Line 4 - outside line 5 as extension of line 4's Mezhdunarodnaya branch, under discussion.
"Ostorozhno, dveri zakryvayutsa – sleduyuschaya stantsiya [station name]" ("Mind the closing doors – next station is [station name]") (wav from voices.metro.ru).
Line 5 train arriving at and departing from Komsomolskaya station. Video by RapsakYT.
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Moscow
Moscow Metro Museum. This small museum (330 square metres) charts the history of Moscow's subway system in models and statistics. Since 1967. Location: The museum was moved from its previous location at Sportivnaya metro station to Vystavochnaya metro station underneath a big shopping mall. 
