Project Profile: Moscow Metro’s Big Circle Line (BCL)

The Big Circle Line (BCL) is a landmark metro infrastructure project that fundamentally reconfigured Moscow’s urban transit architecture. As the world’s longest metro circle line, it establishes a new orbital transport corridor that integrates all existing and future radial metro lines far from the city center. This profile details the technical specifications and strategic impact of this fully operational system.

Project Fact Sheet

Technical Specifications

The BCL’s design prioritizes operational efficiency and high-capacity throughput. The line is serviced exclusively by the advanced 81-775/776/777 ‘Moskva-2020’ series rolling stock. These eight-carriage articulated trains feature walk-through gangways, wider 1.6-meter doorways for accelerated passenger exchange, and an enhanced passenger capacity of approximately 2,200 people. Onboard systems include interactive route displays, USB charging ports, and automated air disinfection systems, setting a new standard for passenger comfort and safety.

A core engineering achievement of the BCL is its comprehensive integration into Moscow’s multi-modal transport network. The line provides 23 interchange points to existing radial metro lines, two interchanges with the Moscow Central Circle (MCC), and seven interchanges with the Moscow Central Diameters (MCD) suburban rail lines. This intricate network of interchanges was constructed to minimize passenger transfer times and significantly decongest historic city-center hubs like the Koltsevaya Line (Line 5).

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Decongestion: By creating an outer orbital ring, the BCL diverts significant passenger flow from the historically overburdened central metro stations and the original Koltsevaya Line, reducing journey times by an average of 35-45 minutes for many cross-city routes.
• Catalyst for Polycentric Development: The line improves transport accessibility for 34 districts of Moscow, effectively connecting disparate areas of the city without requiring travel through the center. This enhances the economic viability of outer districts and supports Moscow’s strategy for polycentric urban development.
• Infrastructure Integration Benchmark: The BCL serves as a global benchmark for integrating a new high-capacity metro line with a complex, pre-existing network of urban and suburban rail systems, maximizing network effects and overall system efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When did the Big Circle Line fully open?

The Big Circle Line (BCL) of the Moscow Metro was fully completed and launched for passenger service on March 1, 2023. This event marked the completion of the entire 70-kilometer ring, making it the longest metro circle line in the world.

Who built the Big Circle Line?

The primary entity responsible for the BCL’s construction was Mosinzhproekt, which acted as the general designer and general contractor for the project. The company managed the complex engineering, tunneling, and station construction across all phases of the line’s development on behalf of the Moscow City Government.