Yerevan Metro

System Yerevan is the capital of the former Soviet republic of Armenia and has 1.2 million inhabitants. Initially construction of a partly underground rapid tram was planned. But meanwhile population figures had risen and the decision was taken to build a full metro network. Yerevan's metro line was inaugurated in 1981 and extended towards the south until 1986. Ten years later a branch opened to the surface station Charbakh , which is operated as a separate shuttle service. The main line is underground from Baregamutyun to Zoravar Andranik and after Gortsaranayin , so only Sassountsi David and Gortsaranayin stations lie above ground. The metro was not damaged during the heavy 1988 earthquake. The total length of the line is 12.1 km with 10 stations. Trains in service are of the 81-717 series also running in Moscow and other ex-Soviet cities. Stations have 100 m long platforms for 5-car-trains, although only 3-car-trains are currently used. History 08-03-1981 - Baregamutyun ("Friendship" - Russian Druzhba ) - Marshal Baghramyan (formerly called Saralandji ) - Yeritasardakan ("Youth") - Sassountsi David (main railway station) 26-12-1981 - Hanrapetutyan Hraparak ("Republic Square" - formerly Lenin Hraparak "Lenin Sq.") added 11-07-1983 - Sassountsi David - Gortsaranayin ("Factory")26-12-1985 - Gortsaranayin - Shengavit 01-01-1987 - Shengavit - Gareguin Njdehi Hraparak (formerly Spandaryan Hraparak ) 02-12-1989 - Zoravar Andranik (formerly Hoktemberyan ) added 26-12-1996 - Charbakh Projects The first line is being extended towards the northwest. These new stations will have side platforms, which is very uncommon for ex-Soviet style metro systems. Construction is finished as far as the Razdan river, which will be crossed on a bridge. Due to lack of funding, no completion dates are known. A second line is planned to run from the city centre to Yeraz . Further projects include: - an extension of this second line northeast and south via Sassountsi David or Hanrapetutyan Hraparak ; - the first line further northwest - a third line east - west crossing the first line at Yeritasardakan . Photos Impressions On 25th June 2014, Craig Moore reports from Yerevan: I must confess that I thought I would be underwhelmed by the Yerevan metro, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a very small metro and, as such, it is not surprising that the system doesn’t have a huge presence in the city. Totems outside stations tend to get lost in the urban environment and there are actually two logos (a blue M, and a blue and white swirly logo). The station at Hanrapetutyan Hraparak is approx. 250mtrs from the Square itself and is hidden in a piazza with a small ‘slit’ like entrance. Once inside, the stations are of the simple Soviet type. Cassa’s distribute small orange plastic tokens (100 Dram per journey - €0.17). The stations are not deep but are robust with late Soviet architectural style, vaulted with island platforms. Signs are in Armenian and Cyrillic but there is very little information on platforms, or directional information. One thing of interest is that stations only have one entrance/exit and the closed end has a grand motif or mirrors to give an elongated view. Trains are formed by two carriages and are a mix of modernised and old stock. Side seating and no map or information. With five minute headways it doesn’t take long to explore the entire 15km system. Speeds are pretty slow and the trains rock quite a bit - when you come to the surface before Sassountsi David, you realise just how slow and rocky! This stretch of the network is interesting though, with the ornate tower of the railway station to the east as you head south. The shuttle service from Shengavit is fun. The train makes a sharp left hand turn as it leaves the portal and then goes to single track a good while before the single platform terminus at Charbakh. Two trains operate the shuttle and there is a delay at the signals when the platform is occupied. The shuttle runs from both p