Sergei Sobyanin: 10 more BCL stations are planned to open soon

The opening of a large section of the metro Big Circle Line (Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line) (BCL) for passengers is planned for the beginning of November. Sergei Sobyanin told about this in his interview with Channel One.

"In the coming months, we will be opening for passengers the stations that we are testing in today. These are 10 new stations more, including the Novatorskaya, where we are now. Thus, all 10 stations will be opened simultaneously. When will this happen? Most likely, in early November. In November, or maybe a little earlier, " Moscow Mayor pointed out.

He added that opening 10 stations at the same time is a technically very difficult operation. There has never been such a thing in the history of the Moscow Metro.

The technical launch of several sections of the BCL took place this month when three stations were checked on September 11, three more on September 16 and the last four were tested on September 18.

During the technical start-up, a train without passengers runs along the section. In this way, automation, telemechanics and traffic control are checked, as well as the electric traction network and radio communication. After the tests, specialists eliminate the malfunctions found and carry out additional settings.

The total length of the BCL section, which is planned to be opened for passengers, is 20 kilometers. The following stations are the following ones: Mnevniki, Kuntsevskaya, Davydkovo, Aminevskaya, Michurinsky Prospekt, Prospekt Vernadskogo, Novatorskaya, Vorontsovskaya, Zyuzino, Kahovskaya.

It is planned to complete the construction of the Big Circle Line fully by the end of next year or at the beginning of 2023.

“A third of the BCL stations that we need to complete and launch by the end of next year still remain. Maybe we will move on to the first quarter of 2023", Sergei Sobyanin said.

The Big Circle Line is the world's largest metro construction project. The BCL length will be 70 kilometers, it will have 31 stations and three electric depots, including the existing section between Kakhovskaya and Kashirskaya stations. The BCL can become the longest circle metro line in the world, overtaking the current leader, the second circle line of the Beijing metro.