Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Sergei Sobyanin opened a new tram line on Trifonovskaya Street.
"Today, we're restoring historical justice by rebuilding the tram tracks on Trifonovskaya Street, thus connecting Belorussky Station and one of the largest transportation hubs—Rizhsky Station. Around half a million Muscovites will gain additional transportation accessibility, and the connection between the two hubs is also very important. We've strived to make the tram as quiet as possible. Accordingly, we've laid modern, low-noise tracks and launched the contactless "Lvenok" tram. This is the second line with contactless trams. The first has been tested and is working well. This will be the second. There will be no need for power substations, overhead lines, and so on. This is also very important," the Moscow Mayor emphasized.
Sergei Sobyanin also thanked the employees of the capital's transport complex for their work and wished them a happy New Year.
Restoring tram service along Trifonovskaya Street will provide a shorter route between Belorussky Railway Station and Rizhskaya metro station. Residents and visitors will also be able to more quickly reach the Russian University of Transport, MONIKI Hospital, and many other points of interest.
History of the tram line
The tram line on Trifonovskaya Street was built in the first half of the 1930s. Tram No. 5 ran on it for 60 years. It was one of the city's most popular routes, used by up to 100,000 people per day.
Tram service along Trifonovskaya Street was discontinued in the mid-1990s due to the reconstruction of the Bolshoy Krestovsky overpass, and instead of tram No. 5, a temporary bus No. 0 was launched, which later became the electric bus route C510.
In 2024–2025, at the direction of Sergei Sobyanin, a comprehensive improvement project was carried out on Trifonovskaya Street, including the restoration of tram service. Specifically, a 2.1-kilometer double-track tram line was built.
"Today we're opening a second line without overhead wires, with trams running autonomously. After 30 years, tram No. 5 is once again running between Belorussky Railway Station and Rizhskaya Metro Station along Trifonovskaya Street. Moscow Metro specialists have replaced the rails, sleepers, and track surface. New tracks have been laid on the section of Gilyarovsky Street between Trifonovskaya Street and Rizhskaya Square, and a tram turning loop has been installed near Rizhskaya Metro Station," the Moscow Mayor wrote on his channel.
Source: Sergei Sobyanin's channel inMAX messenger
All track restoration and construction work was carried out by Moscow Metro specialists without the involvement of contractors.
The new section of tram tracks has been integrated into the existing network—the intersection of Trifonovskaya and Obraztsova Streets now has three modern turnouts.
Modern reconstruction
The tram line was constructed using seamless track laying technology, rubber seals, and special vibration-isolating mats. This ensures the trams will move quietly and smoothly. The new tracks are separated from the roadway by continuous markings.
Eleven elevated platforms have been installed at tram stops, including nine Vienna-style platforms—with a raised roadway level with the low floor of the tram. These stops are installed on streets where widening the roadway is not feasible.
To improve safety and comfort for city residents, 11 additional traffic lights, 145 outdoor lighting supports, 65 contrast lighting supports, and 189 small architectural features were installed along the new route.
Along Trifonovskaya and other streets along which the new tram line runs, 30,100 square meters of lawns and 930 square meters of flower beds were laid out, 33 trees and about 1,900 shrubs were planted.
A new, comfortable public space has appeared in Riga Square. The pedestrian area is paved with granite tiles, cozy seating areas with benches have been created, and green spaces with trees, shrubs, and perennials have been created. The centerpiece of the space is the "Riga Cat" stele, reminiscent of similar figures on the towers of the Cat House in Riga.
Tram route No. 5
The reconstruction of the tram tracks on Trifonovskaya Street has allowed the restoration of the #5 tram route from Belorussky Railway Station to Rizhskaya Metro Station. The 4.4-kilometer route runs through Lesnaya, Palikha, and Tikhvinskaya Streets, then along Minaevsky and Novosushchevsky Pereulok, Obraztsova, Trifonovskaya, and Gilyarovsky Streets to Rizhskaya Metro Station, linking three Moscow districts: Tverskoy, Maryina Roshcha, and Meshchansky.
Route No. 5 is served by seven modern Lvenok-Moskva trams. Their departure intervals are approximately six to seven minutes. The route has 16 stops, including six new ones: MIIT, Sovetskoy Armii Street, Olimpiysky Prospekt, Shchepkina Street, Gilyarovsky Street, and Rizhskaya Metro Station.
In addition to the Belorussky and Rizhsky railway stations, transfers are available to eight stations on a similar number of rail lines, including Belorusskaya on the Zamoskvoretskaya and Koltsevaya metro lines and the stations of the same name on the first and fourth Moscow Central Diameters (MCD), Mendeleevskaya on the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya metro line, and Rizhskaya on the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya and Big Circle metro lines, as well as the station of the same name on MCD-2. A quick and convenient transfer between the tram and Rizhskaya metro station takes less than a minute.
In the future, passengers on tram No. 5 will be able to transfer to the high-speed Moscow-St. Petersburg railway.
The travel time between the terminal stops of tram #5 is approximately 20 minutes. Approximately 500,000 local residents and employees of numerous organizations and institutions located along the new route now have more convenient and faster daily commute options. In particular, accessibility has been improved for popular locations such as the Depot. Moscow food mall on Lesnaya Street, the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center on Obraztsova Street, the Armenian Church Complex at the intersection of Trifonovskaya Street and Olympic Avenue, the Palace of Culture of the Russian University of Transport (RUT) (MIIT) and the N.P. Rakov Children's Music School on Novosushchevsky Lane, and the M.F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute (MONIKI) on Shchepkina Street.
Thus, travel time from the Rizhskaya metro station to RUT (MIIT) and the M.F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Scientific Research Institute (MONIKI) will be halved—to 10 and five minutes, respectively.
The new route will improve transportation services for 25,000 students at five major universities: RUT (MIIT), Russian State University for the Humanities, D.I. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, National Research University Higher School of Economics, and Moscow State Technological University "Stankin." Tram route No. 5 can rightfully be called a student route.
The projected passenger flow is approximately 20,000 people per day. By 2030, passenger numbers are expected to increase by 75 percent, to 35,000 people per day.
Simultaneously with the opening of the new line on Trifonovskaya Street, tram route #9 (Belorussky Station – MIIT) and electric bus route C510 (Rizhskaya Metro Station – Tikhvinskaya Street) will cease service, as tram route #5 has merged their routes. However, its capacity is 20 percent greater than the combined capacity of the routes being cut.
New Year's transport
Traditionally, festively decorated Moscow metro trains, electric buses, buses, and trams take to the streets in the lead-up to the New Year. This year, these will be:
— 24 New Year's metro trains;
— 50 electric buses with luminous garlands and 100 buses in New Year’s decorations;
— 60 Vityaz-Moscow trams and two Lvenok-Moscow trams with illuminated garlands, one of which will run on the new route No. 5, the second on the Moscow Tram Diameter (MTD) T1;
— the historical Tatra tram with a New Year’s installation;
— a branded tram "Vityaz-Moscow" with festive pine garlands inside.
In addition, over 100 metro stations have been decorated for the New Year. Light installations on the platforms, vibrant facades, and themed photo zones create a magical New Year's atmosphere.
The Northern and Southern River Terminals also sported a New Year's look. Light installations and fir tree arches were installed, and the interiors of the buildings were also decorated for the holidays. A free children's carousel was installed near the Northern Terminal. In total, the river terminals feature around 20 themed attractions.
If frost persists, two electric tubing tracks, ski trails along the Moscow Canal, and an ice town will open at the Northern River Terminal.
The Lion Cub-Moscow tram
Passengers on the restored route #5 are transported by Russian-made, single-section "Lvenok-Moskva" trams with autonomous propulsion. They travel over four kilometers along Trifonovskaya Street from Obraztsova Street to Rizhskaya Square and back, without connecting to the overhead power line.
The autonomous "Lvenok-Moscow" trams, which can operate without wires, have proven their efficiency and reliability. They operated reliably on tram route No. 90, which connected Sokolniki metro station and Paveletsky Railway Station via Akademika Sakharova Prospekt. Over the two months of operation, 900,000 people used them. Since November 2025, the autonomous trams have been successfully transporting passengers on the Moscow Transport Ring, which accounts for approximately 79,000 trips per day.
More than 1.8 million trips were made on the Diameter tramway in a month, according to Moscow Mayor.
The new trams have a range of over five kilometers, and energy is stored in other sections of the network. When entering a section without overhead wires, the driver lowers the pantograph. This procedure takes minimal time and does not affect the trip duration—all operations occur during stops.
The tram has 41 seats, and the entire car comfortably accommodates over 110 passengers. Passengers' comfort is enhanced by climate control, multimedia screens, mobile device charging ports, and a push-button door opening system. The new trams feature low floors at all doors and are adapted for passengers with limited mobility, as well as those with strollers, bicycles, and large luggage.
The use of an autonomous driving system on the route reduces delays due to infrastructure damage and ensures adherence to schedules. In the long term, it will provide significant savings on the maintenance and repair costs of tram infrastructure, including due to the long service life of the batteries installed on the new generation trams.
It is also important that tram lines without overhead contact improve the aesthetic perception of city streets.
Development of the Moscow tram network
The length of tram tracks in Moscow is more than 430 kilometers, 82 percent of which are separated from highways and located on a dedicated track.
In 2010, only four percent of trams on the lines were new. Today, 97 percent of the fleet is new. The average age of the rolling stock is less than six years—the best indicator not only in Russia but also among major cities worldwide.
The capital operates 37 routes, with passengers making approximately 800,000 trips daily—a 40 percent increase compared to 2023. Among the most popular are the Moscow Tram Diameter T1 (approximately 79,000 trips), No. 17 Medvedkovo-Ostankino (over 52,000 trips), and No. 6 Bratsevo-Sokol Metro (44,000). By 2030, the launch of the Moscow Tram Diameters is expected to bring at least 1.2 million passengers daily, exceeding the targets set in the transport development strategy.
Since 2010, the average tram speed (including stops) has increased by 30 percent to 16 kilometers per hour. This was made possible by a large-scale infrastructure modernization program, route network expansion, fleet upgrades with increased capacity, as well as the segregation of tram tracks and the construction of convenient elevated platforms at stops.
In 2024, a double-track tram line over 860 meters long opened on Sergiya Radonezhskogo Street, enabling the creation of a new tram route #2 between 3rd Vladimirskaya Street and Kursky Station. The service interval is now 10 minutes. Approximately 700,000 residents of the South-East, East, and Central Administrative Districts now have more convenient and faster daily commute options. Over 300,000 residents from the eastern districts—Lefortovo, Sokolina Gora, and Perovo—can now travel directly to Kursky Station.
"The year 2025 can rightfully be called the year of the Moscow tram—we have implemented three projects that will shape the future of this mode of urban transport for decades to come. The first fully driverless tram in Russia has entered service in the capital. Sections of tram lines without overhead wires, servicing autonomous trams, have also been opened. And finally, the first Moscow Tram Diameter has been launched," the Moscow Mayor added on his channel.
Source: Sergei Sobyanin's channel inMAX messenger
In April 2025, after a major renovation, the renovated P.L. Apakov tram depot on Shabolovka Street opened. It is the oldest operating electric transport facility in the capital, dating back to 1909. After the modernization, it became modern and innovative. Now, the depot can service the new generation of trams operating in the capital. Its capacity is 100 single-section cars.
In September 2025, a 2.1-kilometer line opened on Akademika Sakharova Prospekt from Komsomolskaya Square to Chistoprudny Boulevard, and new route No. 90 was launched from Sokolniki metro station to Paveletsky Railway Station. In November, it became part of the first Moscow tram diameter, T1.
In December, the tram line on Trifonovskaya Street was restored and route No. 5 was launched from Belorussky Railway Station to Rizhskaya metro station.
Plans for the coming years include further expansion of Moscow's tram network, including extending lines on Entuziastov Highway to the Ivanovskoye district and on Akademika Korolev Street to the TV Center and Ostankino MCD station. These new lines will increase the coverage of the city's tram system and make this mode of transport even more popular.
In the spring of 2026, the 33-kilometer-long T2 diameter will open. It will stretch from the Chertanovskaya metro station to the Novogireevo station of the Moscow Central Diameter 4 (along routes 3 and 37), improving transportation service for over a million residents. Total passenger traffic is expected to reach approximately 85,000 passengers per day. Thus, Moscow will have two tram diameters with a combined length of approximately 60 kilometers.
For passenger convenience and safety, tram stops are equipped with elevated boarding platforms, located at the same level as the tram entrance. Currently, more than 530 such platforms are installed in the city.
By the end of 2026, the city fleet will receive another 50 modern, next-generation single-section trams. All will be delivered to the modernized P.L. Apakova depot. This will complete the fleet upgrade. The trams will be equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable ride: a completely low floor, climate control, multimedia screens, and mobile device charging ports. The trams will be equipped with an autonomous propulsion system, allowing them to travel over five kilometers without overhead wires.
Furthermore, Sergei Sobyanin decided to modernize tram depots. Plans call for the reconstruction of four of them by 2030, as well as the conversion of the former 7th trolleybus depot on Nagatinskaya Street into the new Nagatinskoye tram depot. As a result, all seven depots will meet modern servicing standards for the latest generation of trams.
Launch of the first driverless tram
In 2023, the Moscow Center for Research and Development of Unmanned Transport began working on a practical solution to the problem posed by Sergei Sobyanin: organizing the operation of unmanned trams.
Tram route No. 10, which is vital for Strogino residents, was selected for testing and then for regular service. More than 4,500 trips are made on it daily on six modern Russian-made trams.
In accordance with Russian law, the launch of the country's first fully driverless tram was carried out in three stages, during which numerous tests were conducted.
The first phase, which began in May 2024, involved testing a driverless, unmanned tram with a backup system. The system ensured the tram's movement, but the final decisions remained with the driver.
As a result, the driverless tram and its software were fully prepared for the second stage of testing – test rides with passengers.
Its implementation became possible after the Russian Government established an experimental legal regime (ELR) for the launch of driverless vehicles. The document was prepared by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development based on a proposal from the Moscow Government. The capital became the first city in the country to initiate the use of an ELR for the launch of fully driverless vehicles.
During the second phase, the driverless tram operated both with and without passengers. The driverless system assumed control and decision-making functions, while the driver backed up the tram's operations.
The tram ran around the city on a special schedule. A large screen displayed key operating indicators for various systems. This allowed passengers to evaluate how the vehicle viewed its surroundings through the machine vision system.
Following the results, a decision was made to launch regular passenger-carrying unmanned tram service; the third stage began on September 3, 2025.
The tram operates regularly and works standard eight-hour shifts. During this time, it has carried over 50,000 passengers, and since May 2024, it has traveled over 21,000 kilometers within the city without a single traffic violation.
Russia's first driverless tram makes stops autonomously, opens and closes its doors, obeys traffic lights, yields to pedestrians, navigates intersections independently, switches switches, and adheres to schedules. The system operates in such a way that it never collides with traffic in front.
A tram control employee is present in the vehicle or cabin to visually monitor traffic and perform other functions unrelated to traffic, including fare collection. For passengers, the experience is no different from a regular tram ride with a driver—it remains just as comfortable and safe. In the event of an emergency, the employee will open or close the doors and assist with other issues. The employee does not interfere with the tram's operation—artificial intelligence and specialized software allow the vehicle to operate fully automatically.
The presence of an operator in the driverless tram is a current federal requirement. The Moscow government is working with the Russian Ministry of Transport to amend the law to allow the presence of an operator in the cabin without a tram operating license.
The tram software was developed by Moscow Metro employees without the involvement of third parties. The unmanned technology is owned by the Moscow Government. This Moscow-developed technology is unique; it operates more precisely, efficiently, reliably, and reliably than foreign equivalents, and is therefore capable of operating the tram in metropolitan conditions using artificial intelligence.
Innovative solutions developed for the launch of Russia's first driverless tram have already been recognized with prestigious national and international awards, including the Reforum Awards (in the Innovation of the Year category), Company of the Future 2024 (Digital Transformation), Magistral Awards (Best Project of the Year), CDO/CDTO Awards 2025 (Digital Region), Digital Leaders Award 2025 (Digital Leader of the Year), Priority: Digital 2025 (Artificial Intelligence), and Ecotech Leader 2025 (Perspective).
Thanks to effective collaboration with the Bank of Russia, the capital's driverless tram also became the first vehicle in the country to be insured using a smart contract with settlements in digital rubles.
The digital form of the national currency combines reliability, high payment speed, and security thanks to the complete transparency of all financial transactions. Passengers' trips are also insured. To receive coverage, simply pay for your trip using your preferred payment method and swipe your card on the validator upon boarding.
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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.