New Metro opened in Kazan

[Dmitri]

I'm glad to inform you that a new Metro system has opened yesterday, 27.08.2005, in Kazan. Currently it has 7.7 km of track with 5 stations.

[zman]

Sadly, after only one day in service, their trains now look like this ;D:

[Dmitri]

zman said:

Sadly, after only one day in service, their trains now look like this ;D

No, not that bad ... here is the first photo gallery: www.rosmetrostroy.ru/openkazan.htm (more later - watch this space ).

[Colin]

Nice pictures - very different to our system!

I'm wondering though, how are the trains powered, as there is nothing obvious?

[compsci]

It almost looks like one of the running rails has a slot in it. Some sort of collector touching a conductor inside the rail perhaps?

[Dmitri]

colin said:

I'm wondering though, how are the trains powered, as there is nothing obvious?

Standard xUSSR system: 3^rd rail with bottom contact, 825 V DC. The current rail is close to the platform, so you need to stay on the edge and look down to see it (here is an outdoor picture where current rail is seen more clearly: www.metro.ru/cars/all/08.jpg).

[Deleted]

Wow, everything is so clean!

[igelkotten]

Oooohhhhh! What a cute widdle one!!! ;D

Nice to see that the Metro is inaugurated! They have been working on it for quite a while now, haven't they?

What rolling stock are they using? It looks like some kind of 81-720 version, is that correct? If so, are they using the russian thyristor control package, or have they actually realised the proposals to fit the 81-720 with an ONIX drive?

I'll give an extra toot on my train whistle tonight for Kazan!

[Dmitri]

igelkotten said:

They have been working on it for quite a while now, haven't they?

IIRC about 5 years.

What rolling stock are they using? It looks like some kind of 81-720 version, is that correct? If so, are they using the russian thyristor control package, or have they actually realised the proposals to fit the 81-720 with an ONIX drive?

They are 81-553.3/554.3/555.3 (DM/NDM/T) cars built is St. Petersburg by "Metrovagonmash", traction package is from "Skoda". Currently, 4-car trains are used, formed as DM-NDM-T-DM. More photos of the trains: vagon.metro.ru/types/81-553_3.html and kazantransport.by.ru/metro/gal-trai.htm

I'll give an extra toot on my train whistle tonight for Kazan!

Thanks .

BTW, here are captions for the photo gallery (photos by Andrey Surikov):

1) a lonely "M" letter above the entrance to the "Kremlyovskaya" station with Kazan Kremlin serving as the background;
2) entrance from the Kremlin side;
3) entrance from the Bulak side - not decorated yet;
4) "Kremlyovskaya" station - first train is ready to depart;
5) the first service train departed at 14:45;
6) "Kremlyovskaya" station;
7) first train has arrived at "Gorki" station;
8) illuminate "Gorki" station sign - looks superb;
9) some more work is needed;
10) interval clocks weren't envisaged, and even usual clocks aren't present on all stations;
11) track wall scheme;
12) station master assistant, "Gorki" station;
13) "Gorki" station.

And even more:

"Kremlyovskaya" station gallery: www.livejournal.com/users/to_the_future/115892.html#cutid1
ventilation shafts: www.livejournal.com/users/to_the_future/116070.html#cutid1
"Ametyevo" station: without.ru/amet2.jpg.

---

A bit of trivia: Kazan celebrates its 1000^th anniversary this year.

[Dmitri]

jim said:

Wow, everything is so clean!

'Cause our fellow punters haven't brought in any rubbish yet ;D.

7 more photos on www.rosmetrostroy.ru/openkazan.htm - "Sukonnaya Sloboda" station (14th through 20th). Signs are in two languages - Russian and Tatar.

[igelkotten]

dmitri said:

They are 81-553.3/554.3/555.3 (DM/NDM/T) cars built is St. Petersburg by "Metrovagonmash", traction package is from "Skoda". Currently, 4-car trains are used, formed as DM-NDM-T-DM. More photos of the trains: vagon.metro.ru/types/81-553_3.html and kazantransport.by.ru/metro/gal-trai.htm

Thanks for the interesting links!

Looking at this interesting photo of the bogies:
kazantransport.by.ru:81/metro/ra04.jpg

, it seems as if they have (again!) avoided any form of air suspension, and only use coil springs and yaw dampers. Is this correct? Do you happen to know if the axles are flexibly mounted in the bogieframes, or if it is a stiff mounting?

[q8]

Hedgehog what is your opnion on air suspension on railway vehicles?

I personally still prefer the old leaf and coil springs. The ride was 'firm' but not uncomfortable.

The 'rubber ball' was/is similar. Air bags I definitely don't like. They are like riding on a pogo stick on a trampoline.

[Colin]

dmitri said:

Standard xUSSR system: 3^rd rail with bottom contact, 825 V DC. The current rail is close to the platform, so you need to stay on the edge and look down to see it

Right on the edge of the platform - safe then!! ;D

[Dmitri]

igelkotten said:

it seems as if they have (again!) avoided any form of air suspension, and only use coil springs and yaw dampers. Is this correct? Do you happen to know if the axles are flexibly mounted in the bogieframes, or if it is a stiff mounting?

AFAIK bogies are of standard design: two-stage suspension using coil springs. We have air suspension on "Yauza" and "Skif" trains, and I'd say I didn't like it: the ride is stiff, and you can feel every joint with your feet...

[Dmitri]

colin said:

Right on the edge of the platform - safe then!! ;D

It has an insulating (wooden or plastic) cover strong enough to be used as seat. And standing on the edge of the platform isn't a good practice anyway .


Some more photos at www.rosmetrostroy.ru/openkazan.htm:
21-26: "Ploschad Gabdully Tukaya" ("Gabdulla Tukay Square").

[greatplum]

Gosh, that looks like an impressive system...

[igelkotten]

dmitri said:

AFAIK bogies are of standard design: two-stage suspension using coil springs. We have air suspension on "Yauza" and "Skif" trains, and I'd say I didn't like it: the ride is stiff, and you can feel every joint with your feet...

You're weird!

The thing I am curious about is how you maintain the car floor at a reasonable level to the platform, irrespective of loading.

[Dmitri]

igelkotten said:

You're weird!

You should have known that .

The thing I am curious about is how you maintain the car floor at a reasonable level to the platform, irrespective of loading.

I must admit I don't know...

BTW, photo gallery (www.rosmetrostroy.ru/openkazan.htm) is now complete, with photos of "Ametyevo" station added. Here are captions for all the photos:

1) a lonely "M" letter above the entrance to the "Kremlyovskaya" station with Kazan Kremlin serving as the background;
2) entrance from the Kremlin side;
3) entrance from the Bulak side - not decorated yet;
4) "Kremlyovskaya" station - first train is ready to depart;
5) the first service train departed at 14:45;
6) "Kremlyovskaya" station;
7) first train has arrived at "Gorki" station;
8) illuminate "Gorki" station sign - looks superb;
9) some more work is needed;
10) interval clocks weren't envisaged, and even usual clocks aren't present on all stations;
11) track wall scheme;
12) station master assistant, "Gorki" station;
13) "Gorki" station;
14) "Sukonnaya slobolda" station entrance;
15) "Sukonnaya slobolda" station;
16) "Sukonnaya slobolda" station;
17) "Sukonnaya slobolda" station - track wall;
18) all signs are in two languages - this one in Tatar;
19) cast iron mouldings;
20) light signs;
21) "Sukonnaya slobolda" station;
22) "Ploschad Gabdully Tukaya" ("Gabdulla Tukay Square") station;
23) "Ploschad Gabdully Tukaya" station;
24) all mosaics on the station are different;
25) "Ploschad Gabdully Tukaya" written in Tatar;
26) "Vodyanaya" mosaic;
27) "Ploschad Gabdully Tukaya" entrance in evening 27.08;
28) "Ametyevo" station - general view;
29) "Ametyevo" station - plarform;
30) "Ametyevo" station;
31) current rail hasn't been covered yet;
32) a train departs towards the "Gorki" station";
33) style resembles "Vorobyovy gory";
34) main line;
35) doorway to the upper level passage;
36) passage.

BTW, a construction of northbound and southbound extensions is planned to commence shortly.