Tbilisi Metro

Tbilisi Metro. The Tbilisi Metro is a rapid transit system serving Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia (country), with connections to nearby cities like Mtskheta and Rustavi. It is operated by the Tbilisi Transport Company, a state-owned company responsible for the city's public transportation, including Tbilisi Bus and Tbilisi Taxi. The metro system is an essential part of the city's infrastructure, with many stations located near famous landmarks like the Narikala Fortress, Sameba Cathedral, and Rustaveli Avenue.

History

The construction of the Tbilisi Metro began in 1952, during the Soviet era, with the first line opening on January 11, 1966, under the leadership of Nikita Khrushchev and the supervision of the Ministry of Transport of the Soviet Union. The system was designed by Metrostroy, a Soviet company specializing in metro construction, with the help of engineers from Leningrad Metro and Moscow Metro. The initial line had six stations, including Didube, Gotsiridze, and Ploshchad Lenina, now known as Freedom Square (Tbilisi). Over the years, the metro has undergone several expansions, with new lines and stations added, including the Saburtalo Line and the Guramishvili station, named after the famous Georgian writer Davit Guramishvili.

Lines and Stations

The Tbilisi Metro consists of two lines, the Akheteli–Varketili Line and the Saburtalo Line, with a total of 23 stations, including Station Square (Tbilisi), Marjanishvili, and Liberty Square (Tbilisi). The stations are designed in a unique Soviet architecture style, with elements of Georgian architecture, and feature works by famous Georgian artists like Lado Gudiashvili and Elene Akhvlediani. Many stations are located near important landmarks, such as the Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, and the Georgian National Museum, which houses a collection of artifacts from the ancient Georgian kingdom of Colchis.

Rolling Stock

The Tbilisi Metro uses a fleet of Metrowagonmash trains, which were manufactured in Mytishchi, Russia, with the help of engineers from Transmashholding and Russian Railways. The trains are designed to operate in the challenging Georgian climate, with temperatures ranging from -20°C to 40°C, and are equipped with advanced Siemens signaling systems, similar to those used in the Berlin U-Bahn and Munich U-Bahn. The metro also uses Alstom trains, which were purchased in 2018, with the help of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Development Bank.

Operations

The Tbilisi Metro operates from 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM, with trains running at intervals of 2-10 minutes, depending on the time of day and the line, similar to the Paris Métro and London Underground. The metro is an essential part of the city's public transportation system, with over 115 million passengers per year, and is integrated with the Tbilisi Bus and Tbilisi Taxi systems, which are operated by the Tbilisi Transport Company. The metro is also connected to the Georgian Railway network, which provides access to other cities in Georgia (country), such as Kutaisi and Batumi.

Future Plans

The Tbilisi Metro is undergoing significant expansion and modernization, with plans to add new lines and stations, including the University Station, which will serve the Tbilisi State University and the Georgian Technical University. The city is also planning to introduce a new contactless payment system, similar to the Oyster card used in the London Underground, and to upgrade the signaling systems to European Train Control System standards, with the help of experts from Deutsche Bahn and SNCF. The expansion plans are being implemented with the help of international organizations, such as the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, and are expected to improve the efficiency and reliability of the metro system, making it a model for other cities in the Caucasus region, such as Baku and Yerevan.