April 13, 2026

The Best of Russia is Underground


The Best of Russia is Underground
Moscow Metro passengers ride in style on themed trains.  Sergei Bulkin, TASS.

A fleet of themed train cars are the latest attractions for the Moscow Metro – an institution known for its beautiful stations and general efficiency. The cars highlight Russian culture, history, and scenery.

In 2025, 57 themed trains were launched, and new designs continue to roll out on the rails. Subjects range from holidays and Russia's regions to history and Russian government agencies, featuring everything from ballet, painting, and sports, to atomic energy and travel.

The Moscow Metro began to create themed train cars 60 years ago. One of the first was for the 50th anniversary of Pravda in 1962, honoring the Soviet newspaper. Other Soviet-era trains celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, and various Komsomol scrap-collecting efforts.

Today, unsuspecting passengers may find themselves stepping into a mobile subterranean museum on the Metro. Each carriage on the new train for the renowned Bolshoi Theater’s 250th anniversary features a different part of the theater’s history, including its major productions, it most famous conductors and artists.

A popular legacy topic in the lineup includes the “People’s Militia” series, which has been running since 1988. Both the “People’s Militia” and “Victory” cars include informational texts, photographs, and newspaper clippings about the Great Patriotic War.

An estimated eight million passengers ride the Moscow Metro each day. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said in a statement that he hopes that the project can “brighten up the inevitable monotony of daily commutes with something interesting and original.” Indeed, the flashy new fleet might draw travelers' eyes away from the awe-inspiring metro stations (Mayakovskaya station has mosaics by distinguished Soviet artist Alexandr Deyneka) to the trains that move Moscow. 

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