as a Moscow citizen i can tell you that 99% of us do not realize the beauty & comfort of our metro system. Mostly people use metro to commute 2-3 times a day, so they just take it for granted. 15 years ago I was always surprised by those crowds of tourists going on metro tours at 6a.m. But then I went to Paris, London, NY and of course used metro there. That's when realized how clean, cheap, beaiutiful, quick, and historical our metro is. It's not only about beauty & comfort, it's also about millions of private stories of architects, builders, mosaicists who worked in hazardous conditions and in very dark and scaring times. I am grateful to them. And I hope millions of tourists will have ability and desire to come visit Russia as soon as we come back to normal. We love guests and tourists)))
there are many other metro systems which are better- most of the modern ones like Seol and Dubai but also London's metro is the oldest metro on the planet and works 24/7 with a station almost on every other street in the city.Each metro systems has it's own pros and cons, Moscow metro is affordable and generally good looking, but that doesn't make it the best@@one_step_sideways
From the first time I visited Moscow in 2017, I fell in love with the beautiful, fast, efficient, cheap, and historical metro. Each and every year they add new stations and rings (he only mentions 1 in the video, but now there are effectively 3). Public transportation is beyond efficient, the suburban trains have effectively been integrated into the metro system, in fact, you can use a troika (the russian transportation card) to ride the metro, trains, buses, monorail system, and trams/ trolleys that run through the city all with one convenient card (plus, it only charges you once every 90 minutes). The current global political situation is of course unfortunate, but ever since I moved to Moscow from the US I have just kept falling in love it. Hopefully when this crisis is over, relations will be restored and people can once again see this beautiful piece of art and achievement. I pray that someday in the future, the US will see what I have seen and move away from a automobile-monopoly transportation system and finally invest heavily into public transportation (and high speed rail). Moscow has proved it can be cheap, beautiful, efficient, and profitable. Unfortunately, I doubt I will live to see that day...
I think the US is starting to move away already. I don't live there, but from what I've seen on the news they're making improvements to the rail (and CAHSR looks really promising!) It's kind of crazy that they're only just starting now though, here in Europe we've had public transportation for bordering on 250 years now, and Asia, Oceania, Africa and South America have all made massive developments in it too. It's weird the Americans have been avoiding it for so long.
@@stepanfedorov561 There is a government organisation called Amtrak which is a public rail service, and some private companies do the same thing. But they're not very good by European or Asian standards. The trains for me where I live (in Britain) come every 30 minutes, even between small cities, whilst they only have a few trains a day going between LA and Las Vegas, which are both massive cities.
I believe the Moscow subway system is massively subsidized by the government. They do this to show off the greatness of Moscow and Russia. I was there in 1986 and was totally Blown Away. Whatever other problems Moscow and Russia may have (and there are many) the subway system is undeniably gorgeous.
Great video! I rode this subway in 2005 and it looks even better in person. When you go up the very long escalator from the station at the lowest point your ears pop from the changing pressure. I'm surprised you didn't mention the subway riding dogs - they are homeless dogs who know how to navigate the subway to their destination (where they can get food, usually outside restaurants etc) and back to their sleeping spot each day. No one knows how they know where they are and when to get off. They don't bother anyone, they will lie under a seat quietly until they reach their stop.
that's pretty cool. would be interesting to know how they navigate. The not bothering people doesn't surprise me, I've recently started feeding wild cockatoos, who have a reputation for being "flying bolt cutter vandals" & they can be horrendous in the damage they do & problems they cause, but the 9 I have visiting are incredibly well behaved, although they do bring their friends, I had 22 at one stage & had to stop feeding till they got the message that that was too many & no, but even 9 is a lot in my small apartment courtyard, but they're just SO well behaved, it's amazing! They have clearly learnt that if they want a feed, there are certain human rules that must be followed, presumably the homeless dogs have learnt the same thing & go out of their way to ensure they fit in with human society's expectations of them, so as to keep their free rides & food coming. My cockies teach their young the rules too, presumably the dogs would be doing likewise. Amazing how some animals can adapt to a human world so well!
I spent a night riding the Moscow metro. On a train, off a train, just let it flow. Station after station of amazing architecture and Soviet history. Got off the same station I got on. 50c cost. Not only the best tourist thing I've done anywhere in my travels of 47 countries, the best value.
If you're in Moscow as a tourist (after the current war etc is sorted out), I strongly recommend you set aside 1-2 days to ride the metro and get off for a 5-10 min wander at every station. (But try to avoid the morning/evening rush.) It's truly unlike anything else. Eg: underground stained glass windows?!
That’s an excellent recommendation. If I were ever to take a world tour for specific architecture, my first pick would be cathedrals, and my second is the underground stations around the world. I have very little interest in travel, but I do love architecture, so both are in my wheel house.
I reckon I watch too much anime lol. When I first read your message I thought it read "war arch".. but this is real Life.. this war isn't an "arch" of a story.. or is it.??? Haha.. na.. it isn't.. or is it..?
I won't be spending a single penny in or on Russia until Putin is ejected from power. Just a personal choice, but I won't support the economy propping up a totalitarian of that nature. Boot Putin and quash the oligarchy, and I'll reconsider.
I live in Moscow and love metro system. Beautiful and effective. This days just opened БКЛ (big circle line). And it’s really big, 70 km in length, 31 new metro stations. Can’t wait to ride!
I visited Moscow in July 2017. I cannot express in words how utterly stunning and amazing the stations are. Beautiful, clean, well maintained. No vandalism or removal for displaying a previous regime. For all the negative press the USSR / Russia got, it was unbelievable to see. I sat in one having my lunch just to take in the sights. The only mark is the incredibly screaming noise the old metro trains make - every 90-sec - as they come into the station. Given the current situation, it is sad that I may not have the chance to go back there again.
It's not "negative press"...the metro was literally built by pseudo-slave labour under a regime that murdered millions of people. Imagine trying to act like it was just those "pesky Westerners trying to make Russia look bad"...Russia doesn't need help looking bad
Soviet regime is not previous, unfortunately. A lot of top Russian officials started their political career in the Soviet era. And they follow a lot of soviet principles in their policies
Glad to see a the Moscow Underground get a fair shake from Simon! I threw a like on here because he kept the Soviet hate to a minimum, sticking to facts, and showed no Russophobia, being interested in an end to war and resuming of normal relations. Thumbs up! Eventually go on a playlist.
Whoever writes this channel's script, and I'm not sure it's Simon, has a severe pro-US/UK bias, barely any critical sense directed towards this side of the Atlantic and all the venom for the Soviets. If this were a political channel idgaf, but it's not
The war is now going on in Palestine, where thousands of civilians are being killed, and Russia is conducting a special military operation to force Ukraine and the United States to peace on our borders! Do not confuse and substitute concepts!
There are also trains covering different topics: animals of Russia, history, art gallery, ww2, poetry, space, science, universitirs, etc etc... You simply take a ride in an art galleries. Amazing, educating and unique.
Moscow Metro’s Big Circle Line (70 km, 31 stations) becomes operational this week 🚇🚇It is the world’s longest circle line, surpassing the Beijing Metro‘s 57km-long Second Circle Line
The Metro line 2 and 3 in Budapest followed the design of the Moscow Metro (exclusive lines, timers that count down when the next arrives, stations can be used as nuclear shelter etc.). Also the escalators there are faster then the global average, which makes some tourists scared of stepping on them, while also making the ones in shopping centres feel painfully slow.
I noticed that when I visited Moscow in 1993. Escalators did look a little shabby at the time I remember, but they were certainly faster than the ones I'm used to in England. The shabbiness has gone however since 93, I suppose there was a lack of money in Russia at the time and right through the 90s after the fall of communism. So understandable.
I can see that simply commuting for work in a system with such beautiful stations, would make the commute a happier experience and set a better tone to my day, every day.
It's true! Unless you get south of the city fucked because half of an important line is closed for next half a year! (Like we got right now 😂) P.S. it's for a good cause of renovation, and we still got an adjacent line working, but you know, traffic is like double here now
@@kappega I'm curious, what's wheelchair access like with the stations? Your closing for half a year makes me think of stations near me, that think nothing of closing platform lifts for 3-6 months renovations, meaning no train access for anyone in a wheelchair for that whole time, all while being able to see able bodied people continuing to use the trains as normal. Very frustrating!
@@mehere8038 it varies between stations I think We have like 300 stations (including adjacent to metro train stations) so it's basically like center is mostly historic granite stations without proper wheelchair access (but improving), and outer regions are mostly good with it! Oh and also metro almost never closes for as long as it did now, I would think it's some dire situation with internal infrastructure, since like for 70 years actual trains were going without hiccups on our line!
@@kappega that makes sense :) The train to platform gap in the video looks really good (I tend to notice these things :)) so that would make adding accessibility much easier, but the granite & historial value would make it difficult to modify, so slow process is what tends to happen everywhere (developed world anyway) in situations like that, while new infrastructure tends to be built accessible to begin with - in most cases, not always. the 2 people on the platforms to assist with smooth boarding would help the process too, we've got a new line where I live that's fully automated, all fully accessible, at least in theory, but doesn't always work that way when no people are involved, for example not every disabled person can reach the card reader to pay & therefore grant access to the station, or in some cases even to leave the station, so the disabled person, if travelling alone, may be able to find a person to help to get in, but then be trapped inside the station at the other end. Anyway, thanks for that info, interesting to know Russia is on par with the west on that stuff, I really had no idea what it was like, so much appreciated :) & we don't get downtime on lines or stations like you are describing where I am either, only exception being for one line that was becoming the new & extended fully automated line. The line that had been in operation had to be closed for about 6-12 months for the upgrades. That was about 5 stations, with the new automated one being about 30 stations, including those original 5 stations. It had been really just a little link between 2 large stations on another line, but has now become a full length line of it's own (although it's only been built to carry single deck trains, not the usual double deck ones, which a lot of people are unhappy about, silly, short term move to save short term money), with plans to extend it even further/construction on that currently in progress. I don't think another close is needed to combined the 2. Other than that, we just get "railworks" regularly closing lines early Saturday morning until late Sunday night & buses running in the place of trains during that time & those railworks & closures will commonly go on for months, but trains are kept running during peak times
@@mehere8038 oh, cool, we got free replacement buses too! Stations never regularly close for weekends tho xd I'm sorry, I'm either blind (well, I kinda am at -7 sight) or you failed to mention where you are now?😅
Yes, the underground in Moscow is pretty amazing. The layout is one of the best I have ever seen. The best thing is that it is dirt cheap. One price you pay upon entry and you can take all the interchanges and get to your destination, then you exit. The ring and spoke system is extremely efficient. Color coding is about perfect.
1:35 nope. First proposals to build metro in Moscow started to appear as early as 1875, after that there were several projects made by different engeneers but they were denied by the city council. To add a little context main means of public transport in Moscow at the time were horse-drawn carriages of different types including so-called "konka" - basically a horse-drawn tram on wooden rails. And at the same time as metro projects started to appear different groups of engeneers were lobbying for construction of electric tram lines to replace "konka". These projects were denied for something around a decade(!) by the city council for various reasons but the main one was lack of funds for the project. So, are you telling me that in the middle of The First World War(which was somehow omitted from the narration) after much political turmoil and two revolutions(1905 and March 1917 when The Tzar abdicated from power), rampant inflation and mounting powerty Moscow city council found enough funds and material to build metro system and was ready to do it, but The Great October Revolution made the plan impossible somehow?) In Russian Empire at its dawn many things electric were supplied and made by German "Siemens" company, but at the time Russia and Germany were at war. Many factories in Russia were repurposed to aid in war effort and supply lines with idustrially capable countries were either complicated or broken entirely. Which company was supposed to and was capable enough to do it? Sorry, but I'm calling bullshit on this one(and on many more, actually). What I'm trying to say is this - unsubstantial implications for someting towards October Revolution, Communist Party and the Soviet Union nowdays are a routine, especially in the West. Don't mind them and prepare a large pinch of salt. The author trows a lot of such wrong cliches or skips on important information casually in passing, but it will take an essay to debunk or add something to them which is simply too much for the commentary section.
Adore our metro. In 2022 my daughters class was invited for a tour in Izmailovo locomotive facility, it was all around cool - the guide showed us everything - machines, workers, the oldest cars museum and finally we took a drive in the empty train, watching stations from the very crew cabin!
The Moscow Metro is truly amazing and amazing work of engineering. Also when Simon mentioned Lazar worked in a shoe factory, i can't help but remember this line: I'm a nuclear physicist. Before you were Commissioner, you worked in a shoe factory. Lazar: i did work in a shoe factory, and now I'm in charge. To the workers of the world!
After opening of the metro he became the chief of the soviet railways. Then, after one of the railway accident happened, he became the author of one of the great quotes: "Every accident has it's first and second names" meaning there is always a person responsable for any disaster.
Moscow Metro homes some of the most beautiful metro statiosn that give commuters sight worth gazing at and relieving some of their drain and fatigue. Kudos to the people who were involved in planning, approving, constructing and inaugurating such marvelous creations
I recently went there for new years and boy me and my friends were astonished to see the metro stations, each one distinct and had so much character, different themes and grand murals, yet the trains were fast and on time, Plus for like 4 dollars you get a day pass which completely eliminates any need of taxis or cars. Truly amazing
There’re actually countdowns to the next train arriving as well - added a couple of years ago. The count of seconds from the previous train departure is a technical info for the “drivers”.
Yes, the Soviets used the Moscow Underground as a showcase for the country. Stations have incredible artwork and murals that sought to celebrate Soviet workers. The designers really wanted the stations thenselves to be works of art. There's also the fact that, as the world saw in Kyiv, many of tye stations double as bomb shelters.
Moscow metro created in Lenin times , that showed to other word that Russia is alive and powerful after revolution and foreign intervention of US-Japanese troops
All undergrounds in Russia have similar desighn , Kiev metro system is one of them. All government buildings and statues created in Soviet times by materials from Russia like all buildings and factories, cause we were under sanctions all over the time without 90s, 2000s , 2010s. That way we spend a lot of money to science and to the future, thanks for sanctions
I was waiting for the mention of "Museum Trains", but no such luck. There are a couple of trains with the seats removed and windows closed up. Instead they display paintings (replicas to be exact) with descriptions and history behind them. Really cool. They only run during off-peak hours though, for obvious reasons.
@@olextech Good.. they asked for this attack, and now they got it.. there are videos from 2014 of Ukrainians screaming "death to Russians" .. and thats when you started murdering Russians in Donbass, right????
@@olextech Russians practically built the metros of all Ukrainian cities. Ukrainians are incapable of building such projects. They haven't built any from scratch since their independence.😅
There are unique and great metro stations outside of city centre, my favourites are Troparyovo with its giant metallic trees, Michurinsky Prospekt (8A) with a good view of the nearby park and Solntsevo, which has a strange bubbly design.
I grew up around Moscow and I absolutely love the metro system. I'm still in internal turmoil every time I have to take the metro in my city in Canada because of the sheer boredom and unreliability (and the fact I often have to follow up with a bus, ugh). Little correction though! The metro doesn't reach any of the Moscow airports. One airport station is under construction, but it's a minor, kind of a backup airport. There's rail connections to all airports though, they're just not part of the metro and not run by the same agency.
@@anna9072 Oh okay, you can still visit Moscow now.. the old metros are still running and it was preserved, they didnt try to modernize it.. and the new metros look like something out of the future, beyond amazing
I am from Moscow and yes metro here is the best public transport! It costs less than a 1€ and it works from 5:40 up till 1:00, trains come Every 2-3 minutes If you ever come to Moscow we even have excursions there because stations in the city center looks like a real work of art with various Soviet paintings, panels and stained glass windows
Visited Moscow in the late 90s and for me the underground is the first ting I think of when I think of Moscow. a video on the Moscow TV tower would also be great to see.
You need to mention that today there is no Stalin and no Lazar Kaganovich. Nobody gets imprisoned, let alone killed, just for delays in construction. Also Russia doesn’t have the economic might of the Soviet Union. Nonetheless, if we look at the numbers, they won’t be in favor of Stalin. Since 1936 till 2010, 176 stations were built. Today, Russia added 90 new underground stations and 60 open air stations to the metro system in the last decade. And if you look at quality and design of new stations, they are still the same high quality/high standard. Some of them are simply masterpiece of design and architecture. In contrast, nothing was built in supposedly democratic times of Yeltsin. So, what is the conclusion?
Как-то Вы Сталина к 2010 году умудрились подтянуть.)) С 2002 за 20 лет построили 59 станций. До 2002 было 182 станции. По Вашей методики это, как бы, Сталин строил.)
Почему вы забыли такое понятие, как прогресс? У человечества появились новые технологии, новая техника и тд. А при Сталине больше всего кирка и лопата. Я люблю советский народ, дружба всех народов это созидающая сила.
Definitely worth checking out the stations when in Moscow. There's even a train that has no seats! The walls have artworks on them so it's a moving art gallery!
@@PAPERMAsster there are actually several of those or may be they change the inside as it looks differently depending on the upcoming public holiday or some kind of important event like New Year for example.
It's striking how you casually throw in Western anti-Soviet propaganda. The most ridiculous is the story about Stalin's coffe cup... making the Soviet Union some kind of absurd dystopia, but it shows how Westerners would believe in any story that would paint the Soviets in absurd way. But also when you say that after the completion there were placed "propaganda posters" across the city... I mean, in the West you would call them simply advertisement posters. Otherwise it's a nice, informative and fair video, but the language I mentioned is such a jarring rhetorical contrast to what you show as objectively great, efficient, beautiful and thoughtfully designed public project.
Very true, I agree 100%. Also, the end comment about it being nice to see it one day... Russia is not closed for visitors today, youtube is full of videos from people visiting it these days.
the main propaganda lie is that the USSR allegedly built underground palaces at metro stations to show the world the superiority of the Soviet system...! But it's not true! Ignorant nonsense! Because the true history of the Moscow Metro begins with a state order to build an analogue of the American subway, without architectural and artistic excesses! Because in the mid-20s (XX century) Moscow was already a big city with a population of several million inhabitants, and therefore, the movement of urban transport began to suffocate in traffic jams... And, here begins an almost anecdotal part of the history of the Moscow metro: It turned out that at that time in the 20s of the XX century in the USSR: a) There was no production of cheap tiles for wall decoration at metro stations; b) There were no specialists working with cheap tiles. c) From the last tsarist period of history, in the USSR there were only specialists working with expensive stone material for finishing palace floors and palace walls... Also, from the previous tsarist period of history, the production of natural stone material for finishing floors and walls has been preserved. Therefore, the architects and builders of the Moscow Metro had to use only what they had: a) natural stone material and specialists with experience in the construction of palaces, fulfilling the task that the USSR government gave to the matrostroevites with the established deadlines for the execution of works...
@@natalie1913 Instead of writing nonsense on TH-cam, you should watch the documentary: The History of the Moscow Metro ("Советская империя" - метро) th-cam.com/video/EpC3qcBaG1Y/w-d-xo.html
Anyone who reads Lenin or Stalin will, to their surprise, find that both Lenin and Stalin were inspired and influenced by the American revolution against thr British Empire and greatly admired the industrialization and the industrial powerhouse of the World the US managed to become so quickly.
Still bummed that I didn’t get to go to Moscow last March. I had a business trip planned and had my Russian Visa issued. When the war broke out the rep from the company told me “Don’t come here”. It sucked. I really wanted to see Moscow.
Unfortunately, ordinary people have to put up with the actions of politicians. I would be glad to see you in Moscow, but unfortunately, this will most likely not happen soon. Maybe years will pass.
You can always go there, even now. The only problem you will have is you won't be able to use your bank cards in Russia, so come there with dollars (cash). You'll have to exchange them to roubles and pay everywhere in cash.
Theu made 2 full ass videogames set in the Moscow metro, and a third in the series about getting out of the metro and back into a post apocalyptic world. The Metro series is great!
FYI, both games are (loosely) based on the book trilogy Metro 2033, 2034 and 2035. First one is the best, the third one works as a meta commentary on todays russia. It's kinda sad how the author predicted behaviour of the russian population
@@darenzy yes... but also not really. Fallout is self-aware parody, even the first one (while more serious) is full of black humor and post-nuclear cliches. Metro on the other hand is a serious story, until 3rd part, where it actually and openly mocks russian society for beliving everything goverment says and buying every story to the point where more inteligent units are forced to leave country. It's not funny parody at all like in the Fallout, it's just a sad reality of modern russia disguised as post-apo world.
@@acidous You know, our liberals and those from whom they picked it up like to poke Orwell's 1984 at us... But the nuance is that Orwell was a communist and wrote about hypertrophied capitalism (that is, in fact, almost fascism). Despite the fact that we are capitalists now, which is not very good, but it is not hypertrophied with us. So, I did not watch the Kremlin's propaganda, moreover, this propaganda was not really there. Literally, our Russian propaganda is the most toothless propaganda on the planet... It's even a pity somehow. But, I looked at your Western propaganda, I looked at Ukrainian propaganda, I reminded myself what Ukrainians have been doing for the last 8-9 years, and before that in different years. And I realized that I am not on the way with those who want to humiliate and kill me on national, racial and linguistic grounds. And Glukhovsky is an ordinary traitor. Even from the first book and the game, everything was clear, but no one paid attention to it except the Communists. One TH-camr (he was deleted here not so long ago for nothing) said "Anti-Soviet - means Russophobe." Glukhovsky is an anti-Soviet.
@@TheAlien729 You underestimate power russian propaganda. Yeah, it's often dumb as heck, but they have multiple branches working in pararell, trying to reach different audiences. Everyone forgot how they financed alt-right parties across europe to spread their narrative, including biggest party in italy? Also, what Ukrainians did in the last 8-9 years that would be on the same level as russian leveling up critical infrastructure through entire with bombs? Also, could you remind us what happen 8-9 years ago? Wasn't it ANOTHER russian invasion, juest less obnoxious than the current one? Also, thank you for calling Glukhovsky a traitor. That explains a lot why you're trying to push narrative why invading another country with tanks and bombarding it's water suplies, hospitals, electrical grid, etc. Also, if "soviets" were such a good thing then half of eastern europe wouldn't run from them in 1991 when they finally had a chance.
The main thing they can also be proud of is how CLEAN the stations are. Go to brussels or paris and take the metro. The brussels metro functions well But everything is dirty, corners sometimes reek of piss, grafiti and cigarette butts. Authoritarianism is bad, but a bit more law enforcement and control to precent littering and vandalism would be nice
I was in Paris metro. We went to airport and drunk young man was walking behind me. He peed in the corner of the platform. It isn’t possible in Moscow 🙈 I don’t understand, because Paris has free toilet in the street
@@stepanfedorov561What does authoritarianism have to do with it?! This is a basic cultural issue! in Russia no one will urinate in a public place, unlike in France, where this is the norm.
I've actually requested this in the past. Plus, I was born in Moscow to parents who relied on this very system for significant parts of their life, and got to ride across much of it numerous times in the past when visiting the city, even though I don't live there anymore. I was fascinated by this metro system ever since first setting foot in it in the mid-to-late 1990's as a kid, and largely remember by heart the entire map of the Moscow metro as of how it looked in 2009, which was my last visit there to date. That said, I've known nothing at all about the secret line, as well as other details about its construction e.g the British engineers. Thanks so much for this one Simon, as it really is of personal significance for me!
Британцы никогда не принимали участия в строительстве метрополитена во времена СССР, и в современной России. Меня удивило такое заявление. Враньё. В Лондоне ужасное метро. Почему же их метростроители не построят лучшее метро?
Yes, the art is truly amazing and thematic, whether it be art deco mosaic ceilngs with pictures of industiarial development or bronze statues of popular heroes.
Also would be good to mention that even within the public system there are innumerable foot traffic tunnels meant for service, personnel, etc. which are closed to the public. As a teen I was a small (and quasi-legal) vendor in the center and when the metro cop (a separate standalone department with own jurisdiction) wanted a bribe, he lead me through a door in the wall and it was a narrow and ascending tunnel big enough for pedestrians and maybe floor sweeping machines. The bribe was small and we were left alone. And it was also well known that at one of the central stations there was an underground nuclear lab where they did small but real fission experiments.
I remember when the History channel showed things other than scripted reality shows. I think the show was hey called Cities of the Underworld. They showed the Moscow underground. It was amazing looking. One day I'll get to putter around Europe to see some of these things.
As an African living in Moscow for the last 10yrs, i can assure you everything is fine here, you will be welcomed with open arms here... Russians are not told to hate Westerners the way the West pushes Russophobia propaganda
1:37 When you talk about history and it comes to the October Revolution of 1917 and the Soviet period, you show this picture. However, this photograph was taken on July 4, 1917, and it depicts the execution of a demonstration of workers by government troops. There was not a single Bolshevik in the government at that moment, but they were among those who were shot at.
@@rubiconnn Yep they do look intimidating. The reason Moscow has deep station is because of multi-layered system. There are literally stations one on top of the other in some cases.
@@rubiconnn turn around & look back up instead then :P I'm actually in a wheelchair, so I haven't looked down an escalator in years, cause riding them in a wheelchair means the wheelchair always has to be facing towards the high end (so forwards to go up, but backwards to go down). Works for me in avoiding the fear of them too :))
I visited Moscow in 2012, and the metro made it so easy to get around! I will make a very American comment that it was not the easiest city to be a tourist while not speaking the language, even the airport didn’t have English everywhere. The escalators reminded me of those in Bethesda, Maryland’s subway. I will say that the random people we stopped for directions were all super kind and helpful, we had a paper map and even those who couldn’t speak with us understood what site/street we were looking for and helped. Plus I got to use my Hebrew when visiting the main synagogue, though the employees main question was “why would you come to Russia of all places to be a tourist?!” Solid question I guess, our only answer was “we wanted to visit somewhere not everyone does, and have good memories and stories about it!” And advice..do not wear transition lenses before entering Lenin’s tomb. You will not be able to see, and a guard will shriek at you to be quiet as you trip over a couple stairs.
the issue with English is still quite a thing in Moscow outside the most known tourist venues, you will not often get a chance to get a service person that will be able to keep up any kind of conversation with you even about their store and business, especially the more elderly people
@@PAPERMAsster the young people for sure knew a lot more, I understand the whole thing with it being forbidden under the iron curtain and all. We picked hotels just outside the center as they were 1/2 the cost, and it was March.. so not peak tourist season.
@@SharonHF no ma’am, if you really think that the English language were forbidden in the Union, then you clearly don’t understand at all. English lessons were the part of the program, every pupil studied it from grade 5 to 10 (or 11, the number of grades changed with time). There were linguistic institutes, that focus on studying languages, English included of course. So the main reason why the majority of Russian people can’t speak English in any appropriate level is simple lack of practice. Imagine that you studied Chinese in high school, but after that you continue living in your hometown in heart of USA, without any reason to practice it. How soon will you forget it?
"the ones occupied the Russian Federation" wtf that means? by Russian Federation? Then You are totally wrong. Russian Federation is an inheritor of the Soviet Union by all means. If you don't know Russian Federation is the inheritor of the Russian Empire also. By all the laws.
The St. Petersburg Metro is even more elaborate. I've ridden both. They were, kind of like the Autobahn system, propaganda pieces...but quite successful ones. The artistry and architecture of those two metro systems is, frankly, unparalleled.
Wowzas 😮 10:22 - 10:27 Puts NYC's 🗽 subway to shame. Maybe with the exception of Grand Central Station, I am a sucker for architecture and this is sublime!
i grew up riding the metro in moscow.... when we moved to the US I remember that one time my mom took us on the NYC subway... and I say one time because it never happened again....the experience was kinda shocking and we got the hell out of there real quick and i have not given it another try in 20 years... it was dark and dirty and smelled like piss... maybe it's changed since... but i never had a positive public transportation experience in the US... its always dirty and gross for some reason
Unfortunately nothing changed, it's still run down, but it does get you anywhere in the City. DC subway though is a bit better, but still nowhere near Moscow's subway system.
@@Obloms ya for as much as I personally rag on the MTA at least it is simple consistent and reliable Motherfucker maybe be the ugliest bitch available but she is always their and has damn good connections
Unfortunately I've only had the opportunity to visit the Moscow Metro through Glukhovsky's fantastic post-apocalyptic novels and the video game adaptations, Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light If they look anything approaching the shabby, run down and gunfire pocked yet obviously splendid glory that they did in the games then they must be amazing I'd love to see them
This is why I loved the metro video game franchise so much, the evolution of an entire nation in the Moscow underground in the aftermath of nuclear war was fascinating
Why wouldn’t the London Underground, New York Subway 🚇 & Washington, D.C. Metro 🚇 take a leaf 🍁 out of Moscow’s book 📕 in terms of architecture? Moscow Metro 🚇 is *STUNNING!.* The London, New York & D.C. subways 🚇 are CRIMINALLY *GREY AND *BLAND.**
Once again a proper cracker of a megaprojects! I’m a big fan of all of my blaze boi content but megaprojects hold a special late night place in my heart. I think a video about the Royal Navy and it’s insane size during the napoleonic war(how they bought and stole most of them) would go hard as hell. Keep being a legend
1:44 Wow, how much Minin and Pozharsky Square in Nizhny Novgorod has changed since that time! The university where I studied is located right behind the church (which is on the right of the screen), which was demolished and is not there now. In its place is now a monument to Minin. And on the left, near the Dmitrievskaya Tower, there is now a bus stop (at least it used to be like that) which I have been to hundreds of times.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 88 | คู่เอก "ป้อมเพชร vs อัสลามจอน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1ZqTVVbMgbo/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video! Head to keeps.com/Megaprojects to get 50% off your first Keeps order.
Ethan_hawk_d
Why is your name megaprojects 9649?
@@RK-cj4oc Think the number is given by YT, I have also such a number at my chanel, and I didn't add it.
Your chanel name is @user-wm8pu7ce4l
"Take control of your hair journey"
Was slave labor used on the Moscow Underground & were their deaths?
One of the most striking aspects is the lack of advertising on the stations. It's beautiful.
that’s thanks to the mayor of Moscow. It wasn’t the case 20 years ago.
But it's boring a bit) I would prefer that they would leave a little of advertising somewhere in passages, not on the platforms
@@06Harmonyno thanks.
@@06Harmony This is your mind on capitalism
@06Harmony Oh hell no 💀💀
as a Moscow citizen i can tell you that 99% of us do not realize the beauty & comfort of our metro system. Mostly people use metro to commute 2-3 times a day, so they just take it for granted. 15 years ago I was always surprised by those crowds of tourists going on metro tours at 6a.m. But then I went to Paris, London, NY and of course used metro there. That's when realized how clean, cheap, beaiutiful, quick, and historical our metro is. It's not only about beauty & comfort, it's also about millions of private stories of architects, builders, mosaicists who worked in hazardous conditions and in very dark and scaring times. I am grateful to them. And I hope millions of tourists will have ability and desire to come visit Russia as soon as we come back to normal. We love guests and tourists)))
speak for yourself, no one denies the Moscow Metro is the best in the world
@@one_step_sidewayshe is right, most moscow citizens DO NOT realise how good is it, even I was one of them
@@hookplay7229thats normal when you are used to something
there are many other metro systems which are better- most of the modern ones like Seol and Dubai but also London's metro is the oldest metro on the planet and works 24/7 with a station almost on every other street in the city.Each metro systems has it's own pros and cons, Moscow metro is affordable and generally good looking, but that doesn't make it the best@@one_step_sideways
@@hookplay7229В Москве несколько миллионов проживает.Вы знаете большинство москвичей и что они думают?;)
The Moscow metro had about 120 stations in 1991, when the USSR collapsed. In 2022 there is more than 230 stations.
около 400 станций
From the first time I visited Moscow in 2017, I fell in love with the beautiful, fast, efficient, cheap, and historical metro. Each and every year they add new stations and rings (he only mentions 1 in the video, but now there are effectively 3). Public transportation is beyond efficient, the suburban trains have effectively been integrated into the metro system, in fact, you can use a troika (the russian transportation card) to ride the metro, trains, buses, monorail system, and trams/ trolleys that run through the city all with one convenient card (plus, it only charges you once every 90 minutes). The current global political situation is of course unfortunate, but ever since I moved to Moscow from the US I have just kept falling in love it. Hopefully when this crisis is over, relations will be restored and people can once again see this beautiful piece of art and achievement. I pray that someday in the future, the US will see what I have seen and move away from a automobile-monopoly transportation system and finally invest heavily into public transportation (and high speed rail). Moscow has proved it can be cheap, beautiful, efficient, and profitable. Unfortunately, I doubt I will live to see that day...
I think the US is starting to move away already. I don't live there, but from what I've seen on the news they're making improvements to the rail (and CAHSR looks really promising!) It's kind of crazy that they're only just starting now though, here in Europe we've had public transportation for bordering on 250 years now, and Asia, Oceania, Africa and South America have all made massive developments in it too. It's weird the Americans have been avoiding it for so long.
@@moth5799 Is it true that there is no public rail transport in the US?
@@stepanfedorov561 There is a government organisation called Amtrak which is a public rail service, and some private companies do the same thing. But they're not very good by European or Asian standards.
The trains for me where I live (in Britain) come every 30 minutes, even between small cities, whilst they only have a few trains a day going between LA and Las Vegas, which are both massive cities.
@@stepanfedorov561
There is, but not many people use it.
I believe the Moscow subway system is massively subsidized by the government. They do this to show off the greatness of Moscow and Russia. I was there in 1986 and was totally Blown Away. Whatever other problems Moscow and Russia may have (and there are many) the subway system is undeniably gorgeous.
Great video! I rode this subway in 2005 and it looks even better in person. When you go up the very long escalator from the station at the lowest point your ears pop from the changing pressure. I'm surprised you didn't mention the subway riding dogs - they are homeless dogs who know how to navigate the subway to their destination (where they can get food, usually outside restaurants etc) and back to their sleeping spot each day. No one knows how they know where they are and when to get off. They don't bother anyone, they will lie under a seat quietly until they reach their stop.
That is adorable 🐶
Simon hates dogs
that's pretty cool. would be interesting to know how they navigate.
The not bothering people doesn't surprise me, I've recently started feeding wild cockatoos, who have a reputation for being "flying bolt cutter vandals" & they can be horrendous in the damage they do & problems they cause, but the 9 I have visiting are incredibly well behaved, although they do bring their friends, I had 22 at one stage & had to stop feeding till they got the message that that was too many & no, but even 9 is a lot in my small apartment courtyard, but they're just SO well behaved, it's amazing! They have clearly learnt that if they want a feed, there are certain human rules that must be followed, presumably the homeless dogs have learnt the same thing & go out of their way to ensure they fit in with human society's expectations of them, so as to keep their free rides & food coming. My cockies teach their young the rules too, presumably the dogs would be doing likewise. Amazing how some animals can adapt to a human world so well!
They have memorised the stops. They've been riding the subway for years.
They all disappeared ten or so years ago
Московское метро-это послание наших предков, что красота доступна всем. Его строили для людей труда, для простых людей.
I spent a night riding the Moscow metro. On a train, off a train, just let it flow. Station after station of amazing architecture and Soviet history. Got off the same station I got on. 50c cost.
Not only the best tourist thing I've done anywhere in my travels of 47 countries, the best value.
If you're in Moscow as a tourist (after the current war etc is sorted out), I strongly recommend you set aside 1-2 days to ride the metro and get off for a 5-10 min wander at every station. (But try to avoid the morning/evening rush.) It's truly unlike anything else. Eg: underground stained glass windows?!
That’s an excellent recommendation.
If I were ever to take a world tour for specific architecture, my first pick would be cathedrals, and my second is the underground stations around the world.
I have very little interest in travel, but I do love architecture, so both are in my wheel house.
I reckon I watch too much anime lol. When I first read your message I thought it read "war arch".. but this is real Life.. this war isn't an "arch" of a story.. or is it.??? Haha.. na.. it isn't.. or is it..?
@@SwaggerIsAVirtue it's gonna be ok(it isn't)
I won't be spending a single penny in or on Russia until Putin is ejected from power. Just a personal choice, but I won't support the economy propping up a totalitarian of that nature. Boot Putin and quash the oligarchy, and I'll reconsider.
🤣👎🏼
I live in Moscow and love metro system. Beautiful and effective. This days just opened БКЛ (big circle line). And it’s really big, 70 km in length, 31 new metro stations. Can’t wait to ride!
The biggest circle line in the world. 8 biggest in the world. No1-7 and 9-12 in china
@@carkawalakhatulistiwa No, it's not. The longest in Moscow.
I visited Moscow in July 2017. I cannot express in words how utterly stunning and amazing the stations are. Beautiful, clean, well maintained. No vandalism or removal for displaying a previous regime. For all the negative press the USSR / Russia got, it was unbelievable to see. I sat in one having my lunch just to take in the sights. The only mark is the incredibly screaming noise the old metro trains make - every 90-sec - as they come into the station. Given the current situation, it is sad that I may not have the chance to go back there again.
Most of the trains have already been replaced by new and modern ones. The best and newest trains travel on the ring line.
It's not "negative press"...the metro was literally built by pseudo-slave labour under a regime that murdered millions of people. Imagine trying to act like it was just those "pesky Westerners trying to make Russia look bad"...Russia doesn't need help looking bad
Yes, and just imagine that I may not have a chance to go back either within the next 10-15 years… but I was not a tourist. I lived there😢
Soviet regime is not previous, unfortunately. A lot of top Russian officials started their political career in the Soviet era. And they follow a lot of soviet principles in their policies
I don't think there are any travel restrictions on the Russian side as of now. So you can go any time you want.
Glad to see a the Moscow Underground get a fair shake from Simon! I threw a like on here because he kept the Soviet hate to a minimum, sticking to facts, and showed no Russophobia, being interested in an end to war and resuming of normal relations. Thumbs up! Eventually go on a playlist.
I felt the same way. If only all of us were able to look so fairly and openly at things.
Whoever writes this channel's script, and I'm not sure it's Simon, has a severe pro-US/UK bias, barely any critical sense directed towards this side of the Atlantic and all the venom for the Soviets. If this were a political channel idgaf, but it's not
The war is now going on in Palestine, where thousands of civilians are being killed, and Russia is conducting a special military operation to force Ukraine and the United States to peace on our borders! Do not confuse and substitute concepts!
As an American who grew up in tail end of the Soviet Union. The Moscow subway is both beautiful and surreal. Great seeing this here!!
Check out Tashkent metro also made by Soviets - my favourite
There are also trains covering different topics: animals of Russia, history, art gallery, ww2, poetry, space, science, universitirs, etc etc... You simply take a ride in an art galleries. Amazing, educating and unique.
I first visited Moscow in 1961. One of my first activities was to ride on the Metro. It set a high standard for urban transportation.
Now it is way better.
Where are you from? The reason of visiting Moscow that time?
Moscow Metro’s Big Circle Line (70 km, 31 stations) becomes operational this week 🚇🚇It is the world’s longest circle line, surpassing the Beijing Metro‘s 57km-long Second Circle Line
I live 5 minutes walk from a metro station next to the Moscow zoo. Beautiful system. I have been to many of the places in the video.
The Metro line 2 and 3 in Budapest followed the design of the Moscow Metro (exclusive lines, timers that count down when the next arrives, stations can be used as nuclear shelter etc.).
Also the escalators there are faster then the global average, which makes some tourists scared of stepping on them, while also making the ones in shopping centres feel painfully slow.
I noticed that when I visited Moscow in 1993. Escalators did look a little shabby at the time I remember, but they were certainly faster than the ones I'm used to in England. The shabbiness has gone however since 93, I suppose there was a lack of money in Russia at the time and right through the 90s after the fall of communism. So understandable.
I can see that simply commuting for work in a system with such beautiful stations, would make the commute a happier experience and set a better tone to my day, every day.
It's true! Unless you get south of the city fucked because half of an important line is closed for next half a year! (Like we got right now 😂)
P.S. it's for a good cause of renovation, and we still got an adjacent line working, but you know, traffic is like double here now
@@kappega I'm curious, what's wheelchair access like with the stations? Your closing for half a year makes me think of stations near me, that think nothing of closing platform lifts for 3-6 months renovations, meaning no train access for anyone in a wheelchair for that whole time, all while being able to see able bodied people continuing to use the trains as normal. Very frustrating!
@@mehere8038 it varies between stations I think
We have like 300 stations (including adjacent to metro train stations) so it's basically like center is mostly historic granite stations without proper wheelchair access (but improving), and outer regions are mostly good with it!
Oh and also metro almost never closes for as long as it did now, I would think it's some dire situation with internal infrastructure, since like for 70 years actual trains were going without hiccups on our line!
@@kappega that makes sense :) The train to platform gap in the video looks really good (I tend to notice these things :)) so that would make adding accessibility much easier, but the granite & historial value would make it difficult to modify, so slow process is what tends to happen everywhere (developed world anyway) in situations like that, while new infrastructure tends to be built accessible to begin with - in most cases, not always. the 2 people on the platforms to assist with smooth boarding would help the process too, we've got a new line where I live that's fully automated, all fully accessible, at least in theory, but doesn't always work that way when no people are involved, for example not every disabled person can reach the card reader to pay & therefore grant access to the station, or in some cases even to leave the station, so the disabled person, if travelling alone, may be able to find a person to help to get in, but then be trapped inside the station at the other end.
Anyway, thanks for that info, interesting to know Russia is on par with the west on that stuff, I really had no idea what it was like, so much appreciated :)
& we don't get downtime on lines or stations like you are describing where I am either, only exception being for one line that was becoming the new & extended fully automated line. The line that had been in operation had to be closed for about 6-12 months for the upgrades. That was about 5 stations, with the new automated one being about 30 stations, including those original 5 stations. It had been really just a little link between 2 large stations on another line, but has now become a full length line of it's own (although it's only been built to carry single deck trains, not the usual double deck ones, which a lot of people are unhappy about, silly, short term move to save short term money), with plans to extend it even further/construction on that currently in progress. I don't think another close is needed to combined the 2. Other than that, we just get "railworks" regularly closing lines early Saturday morning until late Sunday night & buses running in the place of trains during that time & those railworks & closures will commonly go on for months, but trains are kept running during peak times
@@mehere8038 oh, cool, we got free replacement buses too! Stations never regularly close for weekends tho xd
I'm sorry, I'm either blind (well, I kinda am at -7 sight) or you failed to mention where you are now?😅
Yes, the underground in Moscow is pretty amazing. The layout is one of the best I have ever seen. The best thing is that it is dirt cheap. One price you pay upon entry and you can take all the interchanges and get to your destination, then you exit. The ring and spoke system is extremely efficient. Color coding is about perfect.
1:35 nope. First proposals to build metro in Moscow started to appear as early as 1875, after that there were several projects made by different engeneers but they were denied by the city council. To add a little context main means of public transport in Moscow at the time were horse-drawn carriages of different types including so-called "konka" - basically a horse-drawn tram on wooden rails. And at the same time as metro projects started to appear different groups of engeneers were lobbying for construction of electric tram lines to replace "konka". These projects were denied for something around a decade(!) by the city council for various reasons but the main one was lack of funds for the project. So, are you telling me that in the middle of The First World War(which was somehow omitted from the narration) after much political turmoil and two revolutions(1905 and March 1917 when The Tzar abdicated from power), rampant inflation and mounting powerty Moscow city council found enough funds and material to build metro system and was ready to do it, but The Great October Revolution made the plan impossible somehow?) In Russian Empire at its dawn many things electric were supplied and made by German "Siemens" company, but at the time Russia and Germany were at war. Many factories in Russia were repurposed to aid in war effort and supply lines with idustrially capable countries were either complicated or broken entirely. Which company was supposed to and was capable enough to do it? Sorry, but I'm calling bullshit on this one(and on many more, actually).
What I'm trying to say is this - unsubstantial implications for someting towards October Revolution, Communist Party and the Soviet Union nowdays are a routine, especially in the West. Don't mind them and prepare a large pinch of salt. The author trows a lot of such wrong cliches or skips on important information casually in passing, but it will take an essay to debunk or add something to them which is simply too much for the commentary section.
Another denial of how evil the USSR was.
1:20 - Chapter 1 - Construction
7:45 - Chapter 2 - Mid roll ads
9:05 - Chapter 3 - Architecture & services
12:55 - Chapter 4 - The hidden underground
Adore our metro. In 2022 my daughters class was invited for a tour in Izmailovo locomotive facility, it was all around cool - the guide showed us everything - machines, workers, the oldest cars museum and finally we took a drive in the empty train, watching stations from the very crew cabin!
Notoriously clean and reliable. Both old and new staitions are impressive, each in its own way.
The Moscow Metro is truly amazing and amazing work of engineering. Also when Simon mentioned Lazar worked in a shoe factory, i can't help but remember this line: I'm a nuclear physicist. Before you were Commissioner, you worked in a shoe factory. Lazar: i did work in a shoe factory, and now I'm in charge. To the workers of the world!
After opening of the metro he became the chief of the soviet railways. Then, after one of the railway accident happened, he became the author of one of the great quotes: "Every accident has it's first and second names" meaning there is always a person responsable for any disaster.
This clearly is a testament to how much one can achieve if given the opportunity to do his best.
Moscow Metro homes some of the most beautiful metro statiosn that give commuters sight worth gazing at and relieving some of their drain and fatigue. Kudos to the people who were involved in planning, approving, constructing and inaugurating such marvelous creations
Visited in 2001. Will go back after the war, hopefully. Nice to see old friends again.
My favorite Metro! Unique, Beautiful and efficient
you dont' have to wait for more than one minute before the next train arrives
I recently went there for new years and boy me and my friends were astonished to see the metro stations, each one distinct and had so much character, different themes and grand murals, yet the trains were fast and on time, Plus for like 4 dollars you get a day pass which completely eliminates any need of taxis or cars. Truly amazing
For all the negative things about Russia/Soviet Union, their public transport system is second to none.
@@Chris-hx3om Only in Moscow
@@Михаил-л5и9й Не только
@@Chris-hx3om "negative things" 🙄
@@marakolenstein Yes, like oppression, war, communism.. How else would you like me to say it?
There’re actually countdowns to the next train arriving as well - added a couple of years ago. The count of seconds from the previous train departure is a technical info for the “drivers”.
Yes, the Soviets used the Moscow Underground as a showcase for the country. Stations have incredible artwork and murals that sought to celebrate Soviet workers. The designers really wanted the stations thenselves to be works of art. There's also the fact that, as the world saw in Kyiv, many of tye stations double as bomb shelters.
Moscow metro created in Lenin times , that showed to other word that Russia is alive and powerful after revolution and foreign intervention of US-Japanese troops
All undergrounds in Russia have similar desighn , Kiev metro system is one of them. All government buildings and statues created in Soviet times by materials from Russia like all buildings and factories, cause we were under sanctions all over the time without 90s, 2000s , 2010s. That way we spend a lot of money to science and to the future, thanks for sanctions
@@alanmalan3819 Lenin died in 1924.
The construction of the Moscow metro began in 1931.
Lenin has nothing to do with this.
Maybe the U.S. could use the New York metro as a showcase for the country.
@@jameshitselberger5845 U.S. used railway stations and cars like showcase that times. That was your mafian way to kill tram systems in your towns
I was waiting for the mention of "Museum Trains", but no such luck. There are a couple of trains with the seats removed and windows closed up. Instead they display paintings (replicas to be exact) with descriptions and history behind them. Really cool. They only run during off-peak hours though, for obvious reasons.
No not replicas, copies. An object is only a replica is it is created as a copy of the original *by* *the* *original* *creator.*
There are really so many things which could be mentioned, but is too many for just one 20-minutes video.
Akvarel is the only one with such layout. It runs all the time.
It was also used as bomb shelters during WWII. My grandma with my mom (a little girl at the time) used to hide there during Nazie air raids.
Right now people in Kyiv forced to use their metro stations as a shelters, hiding during Ruscist air attacks.
@@olextechJust like Germans in Berlin used to hide in Berlin metro in 1945. It's a payback time.
@@olextech Good.. they asked for this attack, and now they got it.. there are videos from 2014 of Ukrainians screaming "death to Russians" .. and thats when you started murdering Russians in Donbass, right????
same, but my grandma with my dad.
@@olextech Russians practically built the metros of all Ukrainian cities. Ukrainians are incapable of building such projects. They haven't built any from scratch since their independence.😅
There are unique and great metro stations outside of city centre, my favourites are Troparyovo with its giant metallic trees, Michurinsky Prospekt (8A) with a good view of the nearby park and Solntsevo, which has a strange bubbly design.
i love komsamolskaya, park pobedy, electrozavodskaya and arbatskaya. Kievskaya is also beautiful.
I grew up around Moscow and I absolutely love the metro system. I'm still in internal turmoil every time I have to take the metro in my city in Canada because of the sheer boredom and unreliability (and the fact I often have to follow up with a bus, ugh).
Little correction though! The metro doesn't reach any of the Moscow airports. One airport station is under construction, but it's a minor, kind of a backup airport. There's rail connections to all airports though, they're just not part of the metro and not run by the same agency.
В следующем году метро до аэропорта внуково протянут
@@thedarchik2607 если протянут до следующего года.
Vnukovo airport (VKO) will have a metro station by the end of this year 2023
@@thedarchik2607 ага, я написал. Одна станция сейчас строится у маленькому аеропорту. Всё же, её сейчас нет))
@Юрий & Ко я не жаловался, я просто сказал... В видео была ошибка, я её исправил, что ж вы все 🤣
I was in Moscow in 1984, I didn’t get to explore the underground as much as I would have liked but what I did see was magnificent.
Why didnt you explore it?? your family has too much cars??
@@TsarOfRuss I was with a tour, we had little time that wasn’t strictly controlled.
@@anna9072 Oh okay, you can still visit Moscow now.. the old metros are still running and it was preserved, they didnt try to modernize it.. and the new metros look like something out of the future, beyond amazing
I am from Moscow and yes metro here is the best public transport! It costs less than a 1€ and it works from 5:40 up till 1:00, trains come Every 2-3 minutes
If you ever come to Moscow we even have excursions there because stations in the city center looks like a real work of art with various Soviet paintings, panels and stained glass windows
Went to moscow in 2019 stayed in krasnye vorota, the stations are truly palatial.
Visited Moscow in the late 90s and for me the underground is the first ting I think of when I think of Moscow. a video on the Moscow TV tower would also be great to see.
You need to mention that today there is no Stalin and no Lazar Kaganovich. Nobody gets imprisoned, let alone killed, just for delays in construction. Also Russia doesn’t have the economic might of the Soviet Union. Nonetheless, if we look at the numbers, they won’t be in favor of Stalin. Since 1936 till 2010, 176 stations were built. Today, Russia added 90 new underground stations and 60 open air stations to the metro system in the last decade. And if you look at quality and design of new stations, they are still the same high quality/high standard. Some of them are simply masterpiece of design and architecture. In contrast, nothing was built in supposedly democratic times of Yeltsin.
So, what is the conclusion?
Как-то Вы Сталина к 2010 году умудрились подтянуть.)) С 2002 за 20 лет построили 59 станций. До 2002 было 182 станции. По Вашей методики это, как бы, Сталин строил.)
Почему вы забыли такое понятие, как прогресс? У человечества появились новые технологии, новая техника и тд. А при Сталине больше всего кирка и лопата. Я люблю советский народ, дружба всех народов это созидающая сила.
Каждая вещь и человек сделанная в СССР - произведение искусства, верх науки и инженерии. Как и сам СССР.
Слава пролетариату, товарищи! ❤️
Кринж
Настолько верх, что развалился. Есть примеры итальянских авто, которые прожили дольше, чем великий строй xD
Наше Метро это Мир!
Это Музей!!
Это лучшее что человечество делало под Землёй!!
I'm always fascinated by moscow Metro. The entire metro system is a piece of art.
Good thing Stalin had such good taste. Build Metro, defeat Hitler, build more Metro.
Now compare this: In New York the sub has been a gigantic No Go Zone, in Berlin they follow this bad example in some parts of the city.
Definitely worth checking out the stations when in Moscow. There's even a train that has no seats! The walls have artworks on them so it's a moving art gallery!
I don't like them because there's less sits😁
Is that train like some regular thing? I only remember encountering it once like 5 years ago and never after, so I thought it was some one-off event
@@PAPERMAsster i rode it last year, haven't seen it for a while. It's very cool though
@@PAPERMAsster I heard it's been running since 2007. But it's only a single train so catching one is like the lottery. Good luck!
@@PAPERMAsster there are actually several of those or may be they change the inside as it looks differently depending on the upcoming public holiday or some kind of important event like New Year for example.
It's striking how you casually throw in Western anti-Soviet propaganda. The most ridiculous is the story about Stalin's coffe cup... making the Soviet Union some kind of absurd dystopia, but it shows how Westerners would believe in any story that would paint the Soviets in absurd way. But also when you say that after the completion there were placed "propaganda posters" across the city... I mean, in the West you would call them simply advertisement posters. Otherwise it's a nice, informative and fair video, but the language I mentioned is such a jarring rhetorical contrast to what you show as objectively great, efficient, beautiful and thoughtfully designed public project.
Very true, I agree 100%. Also, the end comment about it being nice to see it one day... Russia is not closed for visitors today, youtube is full of videos from people visiting it these days.
the main propaganda lie is that the USSR allegedly built underground palaces at metro stations to show the world the superiority of the Soviet system...! But it's not true! Ignorant nonsense! Because the true history of the Moscow Metro begins with a state order to build an analogue of the American subway, without architectural and artistic excesses! Because in the mid-20s (XX century) Moscow was already a big city with a population of several million inhabitants, and therefore, the movement of urban transport began to suffocate in traffic jams... And, here begins an almost anecdotal part of the history of the Moscow metro: It turned out that at that time in the 20s of the XX century in the USSR: a) There was no production of cheap tiles for wall decoration at metro stations; b) There were no specialists working with cheap tiles. c) From the last tsarist period of history, in the USSR there were only specialists working with expensive stone material for finishing palace floors and palace walls... Also, from the previous tsarist period of history, the production of natural stone material for finishing floors and walls has been preserved. Therefore, the architects and builders of the Moscow Metro had to use only what they had: a) natural stone material and specialists with experience in the construction of palaces, fulfilling the task that the USSR government gave to the matrostroevites with the established deadlines for the execution of works...
@@rodjarrow6575Absurd, where did you get all this nonsense?!😂
@@natalie1913 Instead of writing nonsense on TH-cam, you should watch the documentary: The History of the Moscow Metro ("Советская империя" - метро) th-cam.com/video/EpC3qcBaG1Y/w-d-xo.html
Anyone who reads Lenin or Stalin will, to their surprise, find that both Lenin and Stalin were inspired and influenced by the American revolution against thr British Empire and greatly admired the industrialization and the industrial powerhouse of the World the US managed to become so quickly.
Saint Peterburgs Metro is also great too!
Still bummed that I didn’t get to go to Moscow last March. I had a business trip planned and had my Russian Visa issued. When the war broke out the rep from the company told me “Don’t come here”. It sucked. I really wanted to see Moscow.
Unfortunately, ordinary people have to put up with the actions of politicians. I would be glad to see you in Moscow, but unfortunately, this will most likely not happen soon. Maybe years will pass.
You can always go there, even now. The only problem you will have is you won't be able to use your bank cards in Russia, so come there with dollars (cash). You'll have to exchange them to roubles and pay everywhere in cash.
I ride every day on this metro to work and back, it really is beautifull and efficient transport system :)
It's sad that their is no old maps in the video. The modern scheme doesnt show how it's all started
Theu made 2 full ass videogames set in the Moscow metro, and a third in the series about getting out of the metro and back into a post apocalyptic world. The Metro series is great!
FYI, both games are (loosely) based on the book trilogy Metro 2033, 2034 and 2035. First one is the best, the third one works as a meta commentary on todays russia. It's kinda sad how the author predicted behaviour of the russian population
@@acidous Same could be said about Fallout games, right?
@@darenzy yes... but also not really. Fallout is self-aware parody, even the first one (while more serious) is full of black humor and post-nuclear cliches. Metro on the other hand is a serious story, until 3rd part, where it actually and openly mocks russian society for beliving everything goverment says and buying every story to the point where more inteligent units are forced to leave country. It's not funny parody at all like in the Fallout, it's just a sad reality of modern russia disguised as post-apo world.
@@acidous You know, our liberals and those from whom they picked it up like to poke Orwell's 1984 at us...
But the nuance is that Orwell was a communist and wrote about hypertrophied capitalism (that is, in fact, almost fascism).
Despite the fact that we are capitalists now, which is not very good, but it is not hypertrophied with us.
So, I did not watch the Kremlin's propaganda, moreover, this propaganda was not really there. Literally, our Russian propaganda is the most toothless propaganda on the planet... It's even a pity somehow.
But, I looked at your Western propaganda, I looked at Ukrainian propaganda, I reminded myself what Ukrainians have been doing for the last 8-9 years, and before that in different years.
And I realized that I am not on the way with those who want to humiliate and kill me on national, racial and linguistic grounds.
And Glukhovsky is an ordinary traitor. Even from the first book and the game, everything was clear, but no one paid attention to it except the Communists. One TH-camr (he was deleted here not so long ago for nothing) said "Anti-Soviet - means Russophobe." Glukhovsky is an anti-Soviet.
@@TheAlien729 You underestimate power russian propaganda. Yeah, it's often dumb as heck, but they have multiple branches working in pararell, trying to reach different audiences. Everyone forgot how they financed alt-right parties across europe to spread their narrative, including biggest party in italy?
Also, what Ukrainians did in the last 8-9 years that would be on the same level as russian leveling up critical infrastructure through entire with bombs? Also, could you remind us what happen 8-9 years ago? Wasn't it ANOTHER russian invasion, juest less obnoxious than the current one?
Also, thank you for calling Glukhovsky a traitor. That explains a lot why you're trying to push narrative why invading another country with tanks and bombarding it's water suplies, hospitals, electrical grid, etc. Also, if "soviets" were such a good thing then half of eastern europe wouldn't run from them in 1991 when they finally had a chance.
The main thing they can also be proud of is how CLEAN the stations are. Go to brussels or paris and take the metro. The brussels metro functions well
But everything is dirty, corners sometimes reek of piss, grafiti and cigarette butts. Authoritarianism is bad, but a bit more law enforcement and control to precent littering and vandalism would be nice
Why is this happening and no one cares about it?
I was in Paris metro. We went to airport and drunk young man was walking behind me. He peed in the corner of the platform. It isn’t possible in Moscow 🙈
I don’t understand, because Paris has free toilet in the street
@@stepanfedorov561What does authoritarianism have to do with it?!
This is a basic cultural issue! in Russia no one will urinate in a public place, unlike in France, where this is the norm.
MosMetro fully opened new BIG Circle Line in march01 2023 70km long, 20 transfers with other stations.
Free Wi-Fi has been available on all lines of the Moscow Metro since 2 December 2014.
I've actually requested this in the past. Plus, I was born in Moscow to parents who relied on this very system for significant parts of their life, and got to ride across much of it numerous times in the past when visiting the city, even though I don't live there anymore. I was fascinated by this metro system ever since first setting foot in it in the mid-to-late 1990's as a kid, and largely remember by heart the entire map of the Moscow metro as of how it looked in 2009, which was my last visit there to date. That said, I've known nothing at all about the secret line, as well as other details about its construction e.g the British engineers. Thanks so much for this one Simon, as it really is of personal significance for me!
Британцы никогда не принимали участия в строительстве метрополитена во времена СССР, и в современной России. Меня удивило такое заявление. Враньё. В Лондоне ужасное метро. Почему же их метростроители не построят лучшее метро?
too bad the murals weren't featured here....... some really amazing art is in some of these stations
Yes, the art is truly amazing and thematic, whether it be art deco mosaic ceilngs with pictures of industiarial development or bronze statues of popular heroes.
This video should be shown to people if they want to understand the things nobody seems to understand about the USSR and everything else in general
Also would be good to mention that even within the public system there are innumerable foot traffic tunnels meant for service, personnel, etc. which are closed to the public. As a teen I was a small (and quasi-legal) vendor in the center and when the metro cop (a separate standalone department with own jurisdiction) wanted a bribe, he lead me through a door in the wall and it was a narrow and ascending tunnel big enough for pedestrians and maybe floor sweeping machines. The bribe was small and we were left alone. And it was also well known that at one of the central stations there was an underground nuclear lab where they did small but real fission experiments.
I remember when the History channel showed things other than scripted reality shows. I think the show was hey called Cities of the Underworld. They showed the Moscow underground. It was amazing looking. One day I'll get to putter around Europe to see some of these things.
As an African living in Moscow for the last 10yrs, i can assure you everything is fine here, you will be welcomed with open arms here... Russians are not told to hate Westerners the way the West pushes Russophobia propaganda
1:37 When you talk about history and it comes to the October Revolution of 1917 and the Soviet period, you show this picture. However, this photograph was taken on July 4, 1917, and it depicts the execution of a demonstration of workers by government troops. There was not a single Bolshevik in the government at that moment, but they were among those who were shot at.
The subway I saw in Boston was basically rat sewers compared to this or St Pete or Kiev
I love the metro in Moscow. Ride it daily. See so many funny things
I rode on the Moscow subway thirty years ago, and I remember being impressed with the chandeliers and with the depth of some stations.
Those deep escalator tunnels scare me. I went down one in the Washington DC metro and I felt dizzy looking down the massive stairway lol
@@rubiconnn Yep they do look intimidating. The reason Moscow has deep station is because of multi-layered system. There are literally stations one on top of the other in some cases.
@@rubiconnn turn around & look back up instead then :P
I'm actually in a wheelchair, so I haven't looked down an escalator in years, cause riding them in a wheelchair means the wheelchair always has to be facing towards the high end (so forwards to go up, but backwards to go down). Works for me in avoiding the fear of them too :))
An old russian tradition: watch video of foreigners discussing russian things. I am watching this video while riding Solntsevo line.
Can't deny it, can't stop it either 😳
Yeah, most American cities aren't set up in a way to make mass public transport feasible.... and many of those that are, have totally rejected it.
They don’t have the option of gulag/slave labor
@@FREAKIN_BRYAN they did
Got to love automotive lobbyists. Jay walking wasnt originally a crime.
@@FREAKIN_BRYAN american propaganda🤮🤮🤮
Fast cars and freedom baby!
Some day I hope to visit those stations. They are fantastically beautiful, especially the ones on Stalin's "coffee circle".
Loved the content, I have been waiting for this. Thanks Man
Rode thhe Moscow subway in 2001....i was impressed even back then.
Good video, but very old map is used for video. Now we have two circle lines, and city railway was integrated with Metro in 2016.
Even though not as impressive and grande, it would be amazing to see a similar episode about the St. Petersburg metro.
Joke about St. Pete metro: it is so deep, you can sleep on the escalators
I visited Moscow in 2012, and the metro made it so easy to get around! I will make a very American comment that it was not the easiest city to be a tourist while not speaking the language, even the airport didn’t have English everywhere.
The escalators reminded me of those in Bethesda, Maryland’s subway.
I will say that the random people we stopped for directions were all super kind and helpful, we had a paper map and even those who couldn’t speak with us understood what site/street we were looking for and helped. Plus I got to use my Hebrew when visiting the main synagogue, though the employees main question was “why would you come to Russia of all places to be a tourist?!”
Solid question I guess, our only answer was “we wanted to visit somewhere not everyone does, and have good memories and stories about it!”
And advice..do not wear transition lenses before entering Lenin’s tomb. You will not be able to see, and a guard will shriek at you to be quiet as you trip over a couple stairs.
the issue with English is still quite a thing in Moscow outside the most known tourist venues, you will not often get a chance to get a service person that will be able to keep up any kind of conversation with you even about their store and business, especially the more elderly people
@@PAPERMAsster the young people for sure knew a lot more, I understand the whole thing with it being forbidden under the iron curtain and all. We picked hotels just outside the center as they were 1/2 the cost, and it was March.. so not peak tourist season.
@@SharonHF no ma’am, if you really think that the English language were forbidden in the Union, then you clearly don’t understand at all. English lessons were the part of the program, every pupil studied it from grade 5 to 10 (or 11, the number of grades changed with time). There were linguistic institutes, that focus on studying languages, English included of course.
So the main reason why the majority of Russian people can’t speak English in any appropriate level is simple lack of practice. Imagine that you studied Chinese in high school, but after that you continue living in your hometown in heart of USA, without any reason to practice it. How soon will you forget it?
@@SharonHF "omg people in a non-english country dont speak english, so scary for me im a poor tourist ong russia so evil!!!11"
@@DonDon45-i5h Ummm that’s totally not what I said. We had a wonderful visit, I’d go again in peaceful times.
My my!
Now that is some gorgeous architecture!
Wish we had that glitzy level of art in our Toronto subway! 😅
Best you get is Museum Stn🤣🤣
Awesome Simon!
Thank you for emphasizing the beauty of the system and the feelings of the Russian people for it.
"the ones occupied the Russian Federation" wtf that means? by Russian Federation? Then You are totally wrong. Russian Federation is an inheritor of the Soviet Union by all means. If you don't know Russian Federation is the inheritor of the Russian Empire also. By all the laws.
The St. Petersburg Metro is even more elaborate. I've ridden both. They were, kind of like the Autobahn system, propaganda pieces...but quite successful ones.
The artistry and architecture of those two metro systems is, frankly, unparalleled.
LOL it's not
I really enjoy all your content. It's really awesome and I would love to see a video about the Chinese rail network.
Every 90 seconds is crazy!
It's only on some busiest lines in rush hours.
No, it's not crazy, it's just not common: for exemple, 1 line in Paris has intervals of 85 seconds.
“A nuclear bunker looks exactly the same regardless of what side you’re on” gave me chills
It doesn't look good on the outside of the bunker 😂
Its okay, you can hide in NYC metro too.. America is always better, right??
I used the NYC subway for roughly 25 years and compared with Moscow's, it was a disgusting pit - a trip to hell.
Big circle line was opened yesterday!
Wowzas 😮
10:22 - 10:27
Puts NYC's 🗽 subway to shame.
Maybe with the exception of Grand Central Station, I am a sucker for architecture and this is sublime!
i grew up riding the metro in moscow.... when we moved to the US I remember that one time my mom took us on the NYC subway... and I say one time because it never happened again....the experience was kinda shocking and we got the hell out of there real quick and i have not given it another try in 20 years... it was dark and dirty and smelled like piss... maybe it's changed since... but i never had a positive public transportation experience in the US... its always dirty and gross for some reason
One Thing: demographics.
A certain... Clientele...
@@twiggledy5547 ya sadly most public transport is seen for the poor here
The amount of times ive seen homeless in the tunnels or chillin in stations
Unfortunately nothing changed, it's still run down, but it does get you anywhere in the City. DC subway though is a bit better, but still nowhere near Moscow's subway system.
@@Obloms ya for as much as I personally rag on the MTA at least it is simple consistent and reliable
Motherfucker maybe be the ugliest bitch available but she is always their and has damn good connections
Yeah, I liked DC's system. Boston's was nice, too.
You won't see any graffiti on the walls and trains of the Moscow Metro.🧑🎨
This subway is legendary!
Unfortunately I've only had the opportunity to visit the Moscow Metro through Glukhovsky's fantastic post-apocalyptic novels and the video game adaptations, Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light
If they look anything approaching the shabby, run down and gunfire pocked yet obviously splendid glory that they did in the games then they must be amazing
I'd love to see them
Вся Россия-это произведение искусства. Каждый дом-история и судьба. ♥️
The Tashkent metro stations are also amazing.
I'll love to see the Shanghai metro video.
Shockingly, if you build a pleasant and functional public transit system people actually use it.
I'm looking at you, Los Angeles.
This is why I loved the metro video game franchise so much, the evolution of an entire nation in the Moscow underground in the aftermath of nuclear war was fascinating
You should read the book, it’s so good
@@ekattri Metro 2034
Мда, возникновение целой фракции нацистов в Московском Метро могло родиться только в башке у Глуховского.
Once I figured out the Moscow underground I felt I’d won the crystal maze
I'm in the middle of playing the Metro game series and this uploads!? Hell yea
Why wouldn’t the London Underground, New York Subway 🚇 & Washington, D.C. Metro 🚇 take a leaf 🍁 out of Moscow’s book 📕 in terms of architecture? Moscow Metro 🚇 is *STUNNING!.* The London, New York & D.C. subways 🚇 are CRIMINALLY *GREY AND *BLAND.**
Yes! Please do a video on the Shanghai Metro. 😁
Once again a proper cracker of a megaprojects! I’m a big fan of all of my blaze boi content but megaprojects hold a special late night place in my heart. I think a video about the Royal Navy and it’s insane size during the napoleonic war(how they bought and stole most of them) would go hard as hell. Keep being a legend
Wow, enough with the racial slurs
@@BonShula ?
@@MrPossumeyes clearly Dreamless is not a legend 😂
@@quasarsavage Yeah, Dreamless seems mindless. But YT Comments section....
@@BonShula ***persons of colourlessness**** lmaoooo
Thank you for the content keep it up Simon 👍
Simon and lightbulbs are related. Ding.
Quite interesting. The stations are very elegant.
Shanghai Metro sounds like an excellent video!
1:44 Wow, how much Minin and Pozharsky Square in Nizhny Novgorod has changed since that time! The university where I studied is located right behind the church (which is on the right of the screen), which was demolished and is not there now. In its place is now a monument to Minin. And on the left, near the Dmitrievskaya Tower, there is now a bus stop (at least it used to be like that) which I have been to hundreds of times.