Moscow Metro

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro, which spans almost the entire Russian capital, is one of the world's most heavily used metro systems. It is well known for its stations, which often are called "the people's palaces", for their elegant designs and lavish and profuse use of marble, mosaics, sculptures and chandeliers. These metro stations display the best of Soviet architecture and design and contain beautiful examples of socialist realist art. 
Although plans proposing the construction of an underground train system in Moscow were drawn up in 1902 and again in 1912, the outbreak of WWI, and later the revolution, delayed the start of the project for many years. The first line, the Sokolnicheskaya Line, was finally and ceremoniously inaugurated on 15th May 1935, boasting just 13 stations. Today the Metro system has grown into an enormous network of 11 lines and over 185 stations, with new stations opening every year.  The Moscow Metro is the world's second most heavily used rapid transit system after Tokyo's twin subway.