Last update: March 19, 2024 02:00

Newsroom logo

Baku Metro Set for Major Upgrade and Expansion

By Nargiz Mammadli June 9, 2020

None

The Baku Metro network consists of three main lines - red, green and purple, which in total measure 36 kilometers (over 22 mi). Passing along 25 stations, the lines cover all the main boroughs in the city, including the settlements on the outskirts of the city and the historic Old City district, as well as the industrial areas. / Baku Metro

Baku Metro will soon add new Russian-made coaches to its fleet. The cutting-edge trainsets, currently under trial inspections, are expected to be in service from next month.

Bakhtiyar Mammadov, a spokesperson for Baku Metro, said the order, supplied by a Russian rolling stock manufacturer, comprises four trains and twenty railway carriages.

"They meet modern standards and will be tested and put into operation soon. The new trains will replace the old trains that are close to completing their service life. The new trains will be launched in about a month and a half," Mammadov explained, adding that the timeframe is defined based on the finalization of the old-fashioned trains' service capabilities, according to Banker.az.

Baku Metro procured the new fourth-generation railroad passenger cars from one of Russia's leading transport machine-building company Metrowagonmash. The trains are designed for a direct connection between carriages without partitions between the coaches, which increases the capacity of the car by 15 percent, ensuring equal distribution of passengers along the train. Standing passengers are offered expanded comfort with multi-purpose zones. Carriages have also special areas for large-size loads, children and passengers using a wheelchair.

The thermal and noise insulation of the cars has been improved providing more efficient air conditioning and ventilation. Automatic air purification of the air conditioning system provides additional protection against viruses and bacteria within the cars, especially during the peak travel times when passenger cars are congested. The air conditioning system has been developed taking into account the technical conditions of the Baku Metro and adapted to local climatic conditions which is able to work effectively during all four seasons.

The driver's cab, which has been expanded, is equipped with technical means and intelligent support systems that monitor the vigilance of the driver. The train also has a diagnostic system that collects, stores and transmits information to the driver's monitor.

Currently, Baku Metro has 11 top-notch trains of fifty-five passenger carriages, not including the four newly purchased trainsets. A major upgrade of the capital city's metro fleet kicked off in 2015 when Metrowagonmash and French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom supplied three five-car trains to Azerbaijan. The Russian company has been a reliable supplier for Azerbaijan since 1967 when the Baku Metro opened up during Azerbaijan’s time as part of the USSR. There are 280 cars that were produced by Metrowagonmash in the depots of the Baku Metro. 

The Baku Metro network consists of three main lines - red, green and purple, which in total measure 36 kilometers (over 22 mi). Passing along 25 stations, the lines cover all the main boroughs in the city, including the settlements on the outskirts of the city and the historic Old City district, as well as the industrial areas.

Being the most popular means of mass transportation in the city, Baku’s metro is used by 600,000 people per day, according to data provided by the Azerbaijani government. Under a plan unveiled by state-sponsored Conceptual Development Schedule, Baku Metro will be expanded to 76 stations across five different lines spanning 119 km (74 mi) by 2030. In addition, a total of 1,100 metro cars will be replaced with new top-notch coaches by 2028.