On August 17, Moscow proudly presents the third Moscow Center Diameter (MCD-3), which marks a significant advance in the field of urban mobility not only in Russia but also globally. The development underscores the city’s commitment to providing commuters with efficient, sustainable and modern transportation.
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The newly launched Moscow Center Diameter
Inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, the MCD is a landmark project in the world of passenger transport. It was established with the aim of creating a surface metro system that would seamlessly connect the vast Moscow city agglomeration. Just two years after its founding, MCD saw the commissioning of its first two-diameter section, a testament to its success. Since this milestone, the MCD has served more than 600 million passengers, reflecting its undeniable importance and efficiency.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin attend the inauguration of the Moscow Center Diameter
MCD-3 is connecting regions, enhancing the commute experience
The newly opened MCD-3 is a huge 85-kilometer railway linking the northwest and southeast of Moscow. The line already has 38 operating stations, and 3 more stations are expected soon – Mitkovo, Malino and Rizhskaya. Serving an impressive 3.5 million inhabitants, MCD-3 connects 24 districts within Moscow and another 4 districts in Moscow’s surrounding area.
One of the distinctive features of MCD-3 is its integration with 21 transport links, including the famous Grand Ring and the Moscow Central Circular (MCC). This synergy is expected to reduce congestion on the 3 existing subway lines by up to 15%. In addition, the successful operation of MCD-3 is expected to significantly reduce road traffic, which is expected to remove nearly 7,000 vehicles per day. The move is in line with Moscow’s green environmental vision, which aims to reduce harmful emissions by up to 36,000 tons per year.
To enhance the overall travel experience for commuters, the MCD-3 has dramatically increased its daily passenger capacity from 900,000 to a staggering 1.9 million. This ensures passengers enjoy a more comfortable and spacious commute even during peak hours. In addition, with a 1.5-fold increase in service frequency, passengers only need to experience a minimum of 5.5 minutes of train waiting time during peak passenger flow periods. Increased efficiency is complemented by substantial reductions in transportation costs, which can be as much as 3.5 times lower for the average commuter.
Moscow is a vision of the future, dedicated to optimizing the travel experience
The Mitkovskaya connection line has been completely refurbished, further enhancing its technical prowess. This move successfully connected the previously isolated railway line without causing any disruption to existing traffic. To further improve passenger experience, the MCD-3 line will be operated by a fleet of 11 Ivolga trains and 19 EP2D trains. In addition, traditional suburban lines will soon be modernized, with plans to replace aging trains by 2024. This move will ensure that all long-distance suburbs have 100% modern rolling stock. Currently, MCD is already proud to operate entirely on new trains.
Moscow’s ambitions do not stop there. The city envisages a series of future projects, focusing on the introduction of the MCD-5 diameter section, increasing connectivity between Moscow and its neighboring major cities.
