Work is underway in the capital to build the largest city terminal for Moscow Central Diameters (MCD) trains—Moscow-City on MCD-1. This project will be a landmark milestone in the development of transport infrastructure in Moscow and the Moscow region. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin personally inspected the construction progress and shared important details.
Ground-Based Metro Development: A New Milestone
"Five years have passed since the launch of the first lines of MCD-1 and MCD-2. During this time, the above-ground metro has carried over one billion passengers. Around 1.4 million people use it daily. This is a huge burden that has been relieved from the city's underground and highway systems. To ensure passenger comfort and service, we continue to build new, modern railway stations—there are now more than 80 of them. Now, Moscow-City will be added to these stations, becoming an important transport hub for the capital," noted Sergei Sobyanin.
What awaits passengers?
The opening of the station's first phase is scheduled for 2025. This stage includes the launch of two reconstructed MCD-1 platforms and a southern concourse, which will be integrated with the area's existing infrastructure. The second phase, scheduled for 2026, includes the construction of a northern concourse and a new shore platform.
The station, which will cover over 11,000 square meters, will feature three modern platforms and two spacious concourses. The northern concourse will provide convenient access to Shmitovsky Proyezd, while the southern concourse will be connected to the Moscow Central Diameter 4 (MCD-4) "Moscow-City" and an underground passage across the Third Ring Road leading to 2nd Krasnogvardeisky Proyezd. Passenger traffic at this station is projected to quadruple, reaching 16,000 passengers per day by 2030.
Reconstruction of the Testovskaya station
Testovskaya Station, located on the site of the future terminal, is also undergoing significant changes. According to Andrey Makarov, Deputy General Director of Russian Railways, it will become a key intersection of two diameters, the Moscow Central Circle (MCC) and the metro. This will make it the largest station, connecting the city's main transportation routes.
"Since the reconstruction began in the second quarter of 2023, work has been ongoing around the clock. One of the four tracks has already been closed for construction of a new platform, and temporary wooden platforms have been installed for passengers. The project is currently 38% complete, and we are confidently moving toward completion," Makarov noted.
Advantages of the new station
The construction of the Moscow-City station will not only redistribute passenger traffic but also integrate the above-ground metro, the Moscow Central Circle, and the Moscow Metro into a single transportation system. This will improve the area's accessibility, ensure convenient transfers, and represent a significant step toward the development of the above-ground metro in Moscow.
Upon completion, Moscow-City will become not only the largest station in the city's transport system, but also an important element of the urban landscape, capable of providing residents and visitors to the capital with a high level of comfort and accessibility.
