Project Profile: Vostochny Railway Station (VRS), Moscow

The Vostochny Railway Station is a critical multimodal transport hub developed by Russian Railways to decongest the central Kurskaya-Kalanchevskaya railway artery. The project integrates long-distance and high-speed rail with the Moscow Central Circle (MCC) and Sokolnicheskaya metro line, enhancing network capacity and passenger throughput. This profile outlines the technical specifications and strategic impact of this essential infrastructure asset.

Technical Specifications

The Vostochny Railway Station was engineered as a comprehensive transit-oriented development. The facility comprises a 4,200 m² modern passenger terminal and two primary platforms designed to accommodate varying train heights. It primarily serves to divert long-distance and high-speed services, including the Strizh and Lastochka fleets, away from the heavily congested Kursky Railway Terminal. This rerouting was a strategic prerequisite for the successful implementation of the future Moscow Central Diameters (MCD) D4 line, which requires dedicated track paths through the city center.

A core design feature is the station’s seamless integration architecture. A covered gallery directly connects the main terminal to the Moscow Central Circle’s Lokomotiv station and the Cherkizovskaya station of the Sokolnicheskaya metro line (Line 1). This integration minimizes transfer times and exposure to external elements, creating a unified transport complex. The station is equipped with modern passenger amenities, including a 200-seat waiting hall with USB charging ports, a business lounge, automated ticketing and payment systems, and full accessibility infrastructure, including multiple elevators and escalators for passengers with reduced mobility.

Key Takeaways

• Network Decongestion: By absorbing approximately 48 pairs of long-distance trains daily, VRS has significantly increased the train-handling capacity of the Kurskaya-Kalanchevskaya line, improving service reliability across Moscow’s central rail network.
• Multimodal Integration: The station functions as a best-practice model for a multimodal hub, providing direct, weather-protected transfers between long-distance rail, the MCC, the Moscow Metro, and surface transit, drastically reducing journey times.
• Enhanced Regional Connectivity: VRS improves access to over 100 regional destinations and provides rapid MCC connections to Moscow’s major airports, including Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky, bolstering the city’s role as a national transportation nexus.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the main purpose of Vostochny Railway Station?
The main purpose of Vostochny Railway Station is to relieve congestion on Moscow’s central railway lines, particularly the Kursky terminal, by serving as a new hub for long-distance and high-speed trains. It also creates a modern, integrated transport hub connecting rail with the city’s metro and MCC systems.

How does Vostochny Station connect to Moscow’s airports?
Vostochny Station provides fast airport connections via the integrated Moscow Central Circle (MCC). Passengers can take the MCC to Okruzhnaya for Sheremetyevo Airport, Verkhnie Kotly for Domodedovo Airport, and Andronovka for Zhukovsky Airport. Access to Vnukovo Airport is also available through the connected metro system.