Tbilisi subway: history, features, reviews of tourists

The Georgian capital attracts a huge number of tourists with its unique temples and architectural monuments. Do not bypass the travelers and the underground part of this ancient city. The Tbilisi Metro in Tbilisi is the second largest in the Transcaucasus. On the features of this transport system, read in our article.

Tbilisi Metro (Tbilisi, Georgia): history and general information

Two lines, 22 stations and 26 kilometers of railways. These are the main metro parameters in Tbilisi. For the day, its services are used by about 500 thousand passengers.

In terms of size, the Tbilisi Metro is smaller than the Baku Metro, but larger than the Yerevan Metro. But before Moscow, or even before Kiev, he still grow and grow. The metro in the Georgian capital works from 6am to midnight. The interval between trains is from 2.5 to 12 minutes.

The Tbilisi Metro began its work in January 1966. Thus, it became the fourth in a row within the former Soviet Union. Over 2,000 highly skilled specialists and ordinary workers worked on the creation and implementation of this project.

The last (at the moment) station of the Tbilisi Metro was put into operation in 2000. To date, six more new stations are being designed.

Scheme and rolling stock

The Tbilisi Metro includes two operating lines. Red (Ahmeteli-Varketilskaya) is laid parallel to the river Kure and consists of 16 stations. Green (Saburtalinskaya) has only 6 operating stations. The plans for the construction of another line. However, when this happens - is still unknown.

All stations of the Tbilisi Metro can receive up to five passenger cars. Nevertheless, on both branches today trains run with 3 or 4 cars. However, this is quite enough for a relatively small Georgian capital.

As a rolling stock in the underground of the city of Tbilisi, several models of cars manufactured by the Mytishchi machine-building plant are used. Recently, some of the cars underwent a major modernization on the Czech model. In particular, all electrical equipment was updated, and the salon was radically modified.

Transportation of passengers in the Tbilisi metro is provided by 156 wagons. The rolling stock is served by two depots: Gldani and Nadzaladevi.

Unknown about the Tbilisi Metro

Here we have collected a number of interesting facts concerning the subway in the Georgian capital. So, here they are:

• The journey to the Tbilisi metro station costs 50 tetri, which is equivalent to 15 Russian rubles.
• The Metropolitan in Georgia is one of the few in the post-Soviet space that completely abandoned the use of tokens (there is a system of payment in the form of plastic cards);
• All ads and pointers are duplicated in English.
• There are no metro lines in the passenger cars.
• There is very little advertising at stations and in cars.
• The station "Electrodepo" is completely open - there are not even canopies on passenger platforms.
• At some stations, the ceiling and walls are covered with siding, which creates a very unusual effect.

Tbilisi Metro, Tbilisi: traveler's reviews

Tourists describe the metro of the Georgian capital in different ways. However, almost all the reviews converge in one: "Nothing unusual, but it works like a clock."

Almost all tourists note that the Tbilisi Metro is a very clean, well-groomed and convenient type of public transport. Some visitors of the capital do not find anything special in it, while others, on the contrary, note the beauty and originality of some stations.

Particularly striking is the Tbilisi Metro Muscovites, accustomed to the crowd and the huge passenger traffic in the subway. To them it seems cozy, calm and very measured. Unfortunately, not all stations of the Georgian underground look first class. Some of them are poorly lit, many are in need of major repairs.

The most interesting stations

Alas, the special beauty of the Tbilisi subway station is not different. However, it is possible to find interesting and original ones. Below are the most noteworthy metro stations in Tbilisi.

Perhaps start with the station "Rustaveli." It is not only one of the most beautiful, but also the deepest in the Tbilisi subway. The station was opened in 1966. Its depth is almost 60 meters. The walls are decorated with bas-reliefs of the Georgian sculptor E. Amashukeli.

No less beautiful and effective is the station "Tavisuplebis minedani". In 2007 it was reconstructed. The station is decorated with a large symbol of the Rose Revolution.

Tsereteli station in its color design resembles a huge aquarium. Black columns are interestingly combined with a bright blue ceiling.

But the station "Guramishvili", on the contrary, surprises with an unpleasant side. It can be called the most terrible and not well-groomed in the whole underground city of Tbilisi. The only decoration of the station is beautiful forged lights.

A stylish and bright stained-glass window adorns another beautiful station of the Tbilisi subway - Avlabari. It proudly bears the name of the oldest quarter of the Georgian capital.