Baku Metro
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| Baku Metro | |
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| Locale | Baku |
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| Transit type | Rapid transit |
| Began operation | 1967 |
| System length | 29.9 km (18.6 mi) |
| Number of lines | 2 |
| Number of stations | 20 |
Baku Metro (Azerbaijani: Bakı Metropoliteni, in 1967—1991 also Lenin adına Bakı Metropoliteni, Russian: Бакинский метрополитен имени В. И. Ленина - V. I. Lenin Baku Metro) is a rapid transit system serving Baku the capital of Azerbaijan. First opened in 1967, during the time of the Soviet Union, it has the features found in most other ex-Soviet systems, including very deep central stations, and exquisite decorations that blend traditional Azerbaijani national motifs with Soviet ideology.
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[edit] Description
At present the system has 29.9 kilometres of bi-directional track with 20 stations. Of these one is a surface, and the rest underground, of which seven are deep-level and 16 sub-surface. Officially Baku Metro has two lines, but that is not entirely correct, as a major part of the second line is under operation of the first one, and the remaining is a short two station shuttle service.
[edit] General information
The capital of the Azerbaijan Republic - Baku - is a fourth (by population) and one of the largest cities (by land area) in the former Soviet Union, with roughly 3.5 million citizens on some 1200 sq. km of agglomeration.
Baku and oil are closely tied. Oil deposits in the Absheron were already widely known in ancient times. This led to the start-up and development of many large enterprises, including oil production and processing factories, as well as power, machinery, chemical, and metal enterprises in late 19th-early 20th centuries. The working settlements and residential areas of Baku were constantly developing and expanding around those industrial enterprises.
The beginning of the 30's marks the period of time when Baku became a densely populated industrial, cultural, and scientific center important not only in the Caucasus, but the entire former USSR. It was in 1930s the reservation was made in a new Baku city Master Plan to build the new fast and comfortable type of transportation--an underground Metro.
| # | Name | Opened | Length | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Line 1 | 1967 | 20.1 km | 13 |
| 2 | Line 2 | 1976 | 11.4 km | 7 |
| Total: | 31.5 km | 20 |
The Baku Metro operates in a standard Soviet design of having multiple radii intersecting in the centre of the city. Due to the city's uneven landscape some stations are very deep whilst some are actually at the surface level. All of the seven deep level stations have a pylon design while the more common shallow level stations are built to the pillar-trispan standard. There is also one surface station. In 2003, the system carried a total of 0.4 million people daily, on 228 metro cars.
[edit] History
In the early 1930s, Baku became capital of the Azerbaijan SSR which after the split of the Transcaucasian SFSR became an equal repulic in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. It's port status on the Caspian Sea and, more important, the centre of the Soviet Oil industry with large industrial areas made it one of the largest cities in the Caucasus and the whole of the USSR. The first plans for a rapid-transit system date to the 1930s upon adoption of a new general plan for the city development.
Having survived the Second World War without falling to the Germans, and even further becoming a strategic hub of the Caucasus, the population further increased passed the one million mark, a legal requirement of Soviet law that would allow the construction of a Metro.
Thus in 1947 the Soviet Cabinet of Ministers issued a decree authorising its construction. Several shafts and numerous tunnels were built during that period. Construction works were split into several stages in order to launch individual lines one by one.
The first line of Bakı Soveti, with a total length of 9.92 km along with a depot, was put into operation on November 6, 1967. Soon after in 1968, a 2.2 km branch, "28th May - Khatai" was launched.
In order to provide residents of certain suburbs of Baku with fast and comfortable transport opportunities, most attention focused on the construction of the 6.3-km line Narimanov-Neftchiler. The Ulduz station came into operation in 1970, while Azizbeyov, Gara Garayev, and Neftçilər followed up later in 1972.
The construction of Northern Metro line was continuing and the Nizami station with a 2.2 km tunnel was released to operation in 1976.
The Bakmil station came to operation in 1979. It connected to the south-western part of the city, where large industrial enterprises, such as the Baku air conditioner plant, Electroshtamp, and others were located.
The second stage of Metro construction was completed in 1986. This resulted in the launching of Elmlər Akademiyası, Inshaatchilar, January 20th and Memar Ajemi Metro stations.
To provide a fast and comfortable connection of the rapidly developing Ahmadli residential area in the Eastern part of Baku a 5.1-km extension was decided to be built, Neftchiler-Hazi Aslanov, In order to rapidly provide the Ahmedli suburbs with fast and comfortable communication opportunities, a decree was issued to release Halqlar Dostluğu and Ahmedli stations into operation. The construction of these stations was completed in 1989. The process of the construction and timely launching of the Baku Metro was numerously discussed by the Central Committee Administration and reflected in decrees issued by the Cabinet of Ministers.
The Jafar Jabbarli station, built as transfer to the 28th May station, came into operation in 1993.
After the USSR collapsed in early 1990s, the building of new Metro stations, including Hazi Aslanov, station which was under construction, was stopped due to the difficult situation and withdrawal of capital.
On July 3rd, 1994 an explosion in Baku Metro killed 13 and wounded 42 people. The terrorist was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.
On October 28th, 1995 fire in Baku Metro train killed 289 and wounded 300 people. Azerbaijani authorities claimed this was also a terrorist attack, however, no evidence has yet been made public.
[edit] Old stations names
- Shaumyan (now Khatai)
- XI Gizil Ordu Meydani (now 20 Yanvar)
- 28 Aprel (now 28 May)
- Avrora (now Gara Garayev)
[edit] Expansion plans
[edit] Recent developments
The Azerbaijan Government held successful business negotiations with the European Union and the EU provided EUR 4.1 million for the completion of the Hazi Aslanov Metro station.
Baku Metro Administration together with Azertunelmetrotikinti - the metro-construction organisation - mobilized their energy for the construction of the station and involved private enterprises operating in Azerbaijan into that process, as well. These activities helped to fulfill the task in due time.
With completion of Hazi Aslanov - the 20th station of Baku metro, the length of network reached 31.5 km.
[edit] Future
In 2006 the metro administration started to introduce new payment system for the Baku Metro. Instead of using coins, the Baku Metro switched to use the newest RFID card system for access. The cards can be purchased for 2 manats (USD 1.74) but must be charged to use. This new system has become an instant major success, and has become very popular amongst passengers.
The Baku Metro was for long planned to be a two-line (non-typical for Soviet metros) network with 33 stations spreading for 52 km. However, with growing mobility and population, the Baku Metro can potentially become a three-line, network forming a triangle in the city centre, as with many other former Soviet metros.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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