Published on: 2026-09-05
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin opened the new Moscow city railway station (MGV) Serp i Molot on City Day on the fourth Moscow Central Diameter (MCD-4). The event became a landmark for the country’s transportation system. Serp i Molot is now the 90th Moscow city railway station.
“We opened one line after another with you, one diameter after another. Over recent years, more than three billion journeys have been made by rail transport that was newly opened and reconstructed. Such astronomical figures. But it is very important not only to build the rails and launch the trains, it is very important to make comfortable transfers from one type of transport to another so that passengers who use this transport are comfortable. And over these years, we have built 90 Moscow city stations, which, by the number of passengers passing through them, are absolutely comparable to large federal stations,” said the Mayor of Moscow.
The Serp i Molot railway platform was built in the mid-1930s. For decades, it was one of the main entry points to Moscow for workers of the Serp i Molot factory and other industrial enterprises located in this area. In recent decades, these workers have been replaced by employees of numerous offices and service sector enterprises. In 2023, the station became part of the MCD-4.
City Station Sickle and Hammer
“Serp i Molot is one of the largest transport hubs in the east of Moscow. In addition to MCD-4, it connects the Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya and Kalininskaya metro lines, routes of ground passenger transport, and tram. Back in 2010, it was used by 20 thousand people a day; today — already 70 thousand,” wrote the Mayor of Moscow on his channel in
Source: Sergey Sobyanin’s channel in the messenger “Max”
Several factors influenced the increase in the number of passengers. These include the launch of the “Ivolga” and other comfortable trains, a decrease in the average fare (almost threefold—from 292 to 102 rubles), as well as convenient payment and navigation systems. While in 2010 the “Sickle and Hammer” transport hub (metro, railway, and surface transport) was used by 20 thousand people per day, today the number of passengers has grown to 70 thousand daily.
At the same time, Serp i Molot station still did not meet modern standards for the quality of Moscow’s transport infrastructure. It had narrow platforms without canopies, a cramped ticket pavilion, and an inconvenient pedestrian bridge.
In this regard, by the decision of Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin and the General Director — Chairman of the Board of JSC “Russian Railways” Oleg Belozerov, a new station Serp i Molot was built. It became a full-fledged Moscow city station with an area of over 7.3 thousand square meters.
As part of the MGV Serp i Molot, they built:
— two modern platforms. They are equipped with canopies along the entire length (276 meters), which protect passengers from sun and precipitation, information boards, benches, and SOS stands;
— passenger concourse and new station building (about three thousand square meters). Its appearance refers to the ‘Sickle and Hammer’ factory, after which the railway station was named: white pylons on the facades, stained glass glazing, and brickwork. Inside, an art object in the form of a foundry ladle was placed;
— the southern passenger vestibule (pavilion) with turnstiles, ticket offices, restrooms, it is also equipped with a dynamic navigation system.
A barrier-free environment was created at the station to make it convenient for elderly people, mothers with strollers, and passengers with physical disabilities to use. It includes escalators and elevators.
Transfers in three minutes
During the work, the underground pedestrian crossing was reconstructed and extended. It will help passengers cross the railway tracks comfortably and safely.
The square and Gzhelsky Lane adjacent to the station were landscaped, and the lane was turned into a pedestrian area.
In addition, a new stop was made for ground city passenger transport. Currently, the transport hub is served by 10 bus and electric bus routes, as well as four tram routes, including the new route No. 2 “Kursky Railway Station” — “3rd Vladimirskaya Street.”
Thanks to the new infrastructure, the transfer time between the Serp and Molot MCD-4 station and the “Rimskaya” metro station on the Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya line and “Ploshchad Ilyicha” station on the Kalininskaya line has been reduced fivefold — from 15 to three minutes.
The opening of the MRH Serp i Molot has made travel to Moscow more comfortable for residents of cities in the Moscow and Vladimir regions such as Reutov, Balashikha, Kupavna, Elektrogli, Pavlovsky Posad, Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Pokrov, and Petushki, as well as the adjacent areas with a population of about two million people.
In addition, transport services were improved for more than 200,000 residents of Lefortovo and Tagansky districts. They received additional options for comfortable travel on rail transport.
“Soon there will be a direct connection of the MGW Serp and Molot with the Ivanovskoe district. To achieve this, we are extending the tram line along Enthusiasts Highway to the MKAD. We plan to complete construction this year,” Sergey Sobyanin wrote on his channel.
Source: Sergey Sobyanin’s channel in the messenger “Max”
Moscow city train stations — a new standard for the capital and regions
Today on the MCD, Moscow Central Circle (MCC), Paveletsky and Yaroslavsky directions of the Moscow Railway, 90 Moscow city stations have been opened over the past 10 years. Among them, 57 were opened on the first, second, third, and fourth Moscow Central Diameters, 31 on the MCC, and two on the Yaroslavsky and Paveletsky directions (Rostokino and Verkhniye Kotly). Modern city stations are used by more than 60 percent of all passengers of the MCD and MCC.
By 2035, it is planned to increase the number of such facilities to 125. In addition, the number of MCD stations will increase to 144.
City railway stations set a new standard and level of comfort for rail transport not only for Moscow but for all of Russia.
Each MGV is a full-fledged transport hub with heated passageways, escalators, elevators, canopies over the platforms, and accompanying services.
Moscow city stations provide convenient transfers, connect territories on both sides of the railway, and become points of development for adjacent districts. Within a 500-meter radius of new transport hubs, the number of cash registers increases on average sixfold. This indicates the development of small businesses, the service sector, trade, and the creation of new jobs.
Development of the Central Transport Hub
All 90 Moscow city railway stations were created over the past 10 years as part of the extensive development of the Central Transport Hub (CTH), the largest in the country. It unites 11 subjects of the Russian Federation: Moscow, the Moscow region, and neighboring regions — totaling more than 31.6 million people. The CTH accounts for nearly 75 percent of all suburban railway transportation in Russia (3.1 million passengers per day).
The development of the Central Transport Hub (CTH) is being carried out within the framework of a joint program by the Government of Russia, the Government of Moscow, and JSC “Russian Railways”, planned until 2035. Its goal is the qualitative improvement of rail communication between the regions of the Central Transport Hub, as well as a significant improvement of connectivity within the regions. The program is implemented as part of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”. More information about Russia’s national projects and the capital’s contribution can be found at special page.
The transformation story of CTU began almost 10 years ago, when the President of Russia Vladimir Putin and the Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin, together with JSC “Russian Railways,” launched the Moscow Central Circle. In 2019 and 2023, four Moscow Central Diameters started operation.
Today, the Moscow Central Diameters (MCD) encompass 303 kilometers of tracks and 138 stations. Thanks to them, there is a direct and fast connection between dozens of districts of the capital and the urban districts. Unified Moscow transport fares apply on the MCD, with free transfers to the metro and MCC, and a regulated train schedule is maintained.
The development of the Moscow Central Diameters continues. New stations are being built and existing ones reconstructed for them, modern Moscow city terminals are being created, and track infrastructure is being improved. The project has set standards for the entire country. Thanks to a comprehensive approach — from fares and transfers to rolling stock and station architecture — a new model of urban mobility has been formed, which will define the development of Russian cities for years to come.
Key results of the development of the MCD:
— a multiple increase in the number of passengers: today MCD trains carry 1.7 million people per day. In seven years since the launch of the diameters, the total passenger traffic within Moscow has increased 30 times, and two billion trips have been made on all four diameters;
— intracity mobility: the share of intracity trips on the MCD routes has grown since 2010 and reaches 500 thousand per day. There are dozens of transfer points on the Moscow Central Diameters lines. This allows passengers to make free transfers to the metro and MCC;
— increase in traffic frequency: electric trains during peak hours have started running 1.5 times more often, and the minimum intervals between trains have been reduced to 5.5 minutes.
Modern comfortable trains
In 2010, the rolling stock fleet of the Central Transport Hub was primarily composed of outdated electric trains. They were hot in summer and cold in winter, the seats were uncomfortable, and there was no navigation or sound insulation.
Between 2011 and 2026, 496 new trains were purchased, including a complete update of the trains on the Moscow Central Diameters in 2025. The rate of rolling stock renewal in the Central Transport Hub is the highest in the world.
The new trains are equipped with climate control and air purification systems, have clear navigation and media screens. Ergonomic seats and charging ports for gadgets are installed in the carriages. The trains run smoothly, and the noise level in the cars has decreased by 35 percent.
The capacity of the new trains has increased by 1.5 times. Thanks to modern seats, passengers have access to much more personal space than in the old trains. The flagship model of the Central Transport Hub is the “Ivolga.” Its production is 97 percent localized in Russia. The new trains are purchased under lifecycle contracts and long-term service maintenance for 40 years.
Thanks to the development of the Centralized Traffic Control system, a colossal order has been ensured for the domestic industry. Government of Moscow accounts for about 90 percent of orders for electric trains for all Russian transport engineering. More than a thousand enterprises and 120 thousand workers across the country are involved in the production of suburban trains and trams, with a localization level reaching 97 percent.
The further development plans of CTU are related to the renewal of the rolling stock. They include the purchase of about 100 trains from 2027 to 2030: 55 for the Yaroslavl direction, and 45 for the CTU. From 2031 to 2035, about 73 trains will be purchased: 43 for the Paveletskoye direction and 30 for the CTU.
As a result, the trains on the Yaroslavl and Paveletsky routes will be completely updated. In addition, modern trains will be purchased for routes connecting Moscow with nearby regions.
For trains traveling from the regions to the capital and back, a regular schedule will be introduced (every 30–60 minutes). Trains will depart every half hour to an hour throughout the day. Currently, trains run to Moscow once every three hours. Waiting time will be reduced by more than three times, making it easier for passengers to plan their trips.
Thanks to the project implementation, the carrying capacity will increase by 2.5 times — from 204 to 500 thousand passenger seats per day.
As part of the first phase, the project will be implemented by 2030 in the Yaroslavl, Kaluga, Tula, Vladimir, and Smolensk regions. In the regions of the second phase—Tver, Kostroma, Ivanovo, and Ryazan regions—it will be implemented by 2035.
Key figures
|
Indicator |
Value |
|
Moscow City Station Sickle and Hammer — its rank among Moscow and region’s MGS |
90th |
|
Total passenger traffic of the “Sickle and Hammer” transport hub in 2026 |
More than 70 thousand passengers per day |
|
Growth in passenger traffic at the “Sickle and Hammer” hub since 2010 |
3.5 times |
|
Residents of the Lefortovo and Tagansky districts with direct access to the Moscow River embankment |
More than 200,000 people |
|
Station square |
More than 7.3 thousand square meters |
|
Transfer time from the MCD to the metro |
A fivefold reduction: from 15 to three minutes |
|
Trips made on all four MCDs since launch |
Two billion |
|
Intracity trips on the MCD per day |
Up to 500 thousand (a 30-fold increase since 2010) |
|
New trainsets purchased for 2011–2026 |
496 compositions |
|
Localization of the “Ivolga” train |
100 percent |
|
Rolling stock update on the MCD |
100 percent (completed in 2025) |
|
Lifecycle contracts for trains |
40 years |
|
Enterprises and workers involved in production for CTU |
More than a thousand enterprises and 120 thousand people |
To find out how the capital has changed over the past years, what initiatives aimed at making citizens’ lives even more comfortable are currently being implemented, and what awaits Moscow and its residents in the near future, you can explore the large-scale
special project on the portal mos.ru, dedicated to the development of key sectors of Moscow. These include transport, industry, healthcare, education, sports, and the construction sector. The project “Transport” It will be of interest to everyone who wants to learn about the main stages of development in this field, support for electric transport, and the development of the route network. In recent years, Moscow’s public transport has become more comfortable and environmentally friendly, travel time across the city has been significantly reduced, and infrastructure for private electric vehicles has appeared.
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