The speed on some Moscow tram routes has been increased by 15 – 20 per cent since the control over the network has been transferred to Moscow Metro, the Deputy Mayor for Transport Maxim Liksutov announced.
In the future, the Metro company plans to implement its most stringent standards and requirements in the operation of the tramway transport.
“Metro professionals are now working to ensure that the tram infrastructure meets the most stringent requirements, and that the repair time is reduced. We have already been able to significantly reduce the repair time, and we have started traffic on six sections where work was previously underway. In the future, within a few years, we will try to avoid long-term closure of tram lines during major repairs and replacement of tracks,” Maxim Liksutov explained.
In order to prevent complete shutdowns on the routes during the repair of Moscow tram lines, such methods as the creation of additional tram infrastructure nearby and the construction of temporary tram tracks will be used.
In December 2020, the city’s authorities announced the decision to transfer the management of the tram system to Moscow Metro, which will determine the integration of the entire transport system.
Moscow Metro has been managing city’s tram infrastructure since the beginning of 2021. The single management and standards aim at increasing speed, improving maintenance, reducing disruptions and cutting maintenance costs.
Following the decision, it was expected to increase the speed along the tram network, to provide the needed investment for the modernisation of the infrastructure and to integrate the management.
The Moscow tram is 121 old and starting 2011, the system has been rapidly reviving by the opening of the closed routes and the construction of new tram connections. Currently, the length of Moscow tram network is almost 420 km of single tracks. On a weekday more than 620 trams run on 40 routes, transporting 700,000 passengers daily. By 2023, the authorities will replace the existing tram fleet with new and low-floor trams.
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