Redesigned bus lines expected to carry 850,000 passengers

The new bus routes, under the city’s Magistral route network are expected to carry 850,000 passengers, according to Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor and Head of the Department for Transport and Road Infrastructure Development.

The new routes, said Mr Liksutov, will include nearly 400 comfortable Russian-built buses with access for mobility restricted passengers.

The new redesigned bus routes were launched on 8 October. Several dozen bus, trolleybus and tram routes will now take new more direct routes through the city centre. Mr Liksutov noted that bus services are now available in areas that have lacked it for twenty years. The introduction of the new system, he added, will cut service intervals in half.

“We studied these changes’ effect on existing traffic patterns of other transit. The interference will be negligible, while many people will get fast, safe and comfortable service,” said the Deputy Mayor.

According to Mr Liksutov, the next stage of the Magistral route network is planned for the summer of 2017. “New bus routes will be introduced, as well as designated bus lanes on some streets,” he said.

Mosgortrans Director General Yevgeny Mikhailov said the new routes will be used by 150,000 to 200,000 riders a day.

“Within the older part of the city,” said Mr Mikhailov, “a total of 39 routes have been redesigned. Seventeen main routes run at 5 to 10 minute intervals.” He pointed out the Lubyanka bus and trolleybus stop as a key point in the new system, saying that up to 10,000 passengers will use this stop daily.

The Magistral route network means a new network of public surface transit.  It is yconceived to optimise bus and tram routes, and to determine new designated transit lanes, cut service intervals, make transfers more convenient, and reduce overall transit times.

Find out more on the Magistral on www.mos.ru.