Baku Metro (Azerbaijani: Bakı metropoliteni) is a rapid transit system serving Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. First opened on 6 November 1967[1] when Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union, it has features typical of ex-Soviet systems, including very deep central stations and exquisite decorations that blend traditional Azerbaijani national motifs with Soviet ideology. At present the system has 40.7 kilometres (25.3 mi)[1] of bi-directional tracks, made up of three lines[1] served by 27 stations.[1] The metro is the only one constructed in Azerbaijan, and was the fifth built in the Soviet Union. In 2015, it carried 222.0 million,[3] passengers,[4] an average daily ridership of approximately 608,200. In 2019, it carried 229.7 million,[2] an average daily ridership of 629,315.

Baku Metro Line

During the final decades of the Russian Empire the port city of Baku became a large metropolis due to the discovery of oil in the Caspian Sea. By the 1930s, it was the capital of the Azerbaijani SSR and the largest city in Soviet Transcaucasia. The first plans for a rapid-transit system date to the 1930s, with the adoption of a new general plan for city development. After World War II, the population passed the one million mark, a requirement of Soviet law for construction of a metro system. In 1947, the Soviet Cabinet of Ministers issued a decree authorizing its construction, which began in 1951. On November 6, 1967, Baku Metro became the Soviet Union's fifth rapid-transit system when the first 6.5 kilometers of track and a depot were inaugurated, in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the October Revolution.

Due to the city's unique landscape, Baku Metro did not have the typical Soviet "triangle" layout of development, and instead had two elliptical lines which crossed each other in the center of the city at the Baku railway station. Thus one line would begin at the southwestern end of the city, and cross on a northeastern axis to follow the residential districts on the northern edge of the city and then snake along to the southeastern and ultimately southern end. This was inaugurated in three stages: Ulduz (1970) and Neftçilər (1972), followed by Ahmedli (1989) and finally Hazi Aslanov (2002), completing the first line. Additionally, in 1970 a branch was opened to a station built in a depot, Bakmil.

The second line was to parallel the Caspian coast from Hazi Aslanov through Baku's industrial districts, meeting the first line again at the Baku Railway Terminal, and then continuing westwards before turning north to join Baku's northwestern districts. To accelerate construction, a branch was opened from May 28 station to Khatai in 1968, and in 1976 in the opposite direction towards Nizami. The second and first line used the same station (May 28). This posed no serious problems initially, as the line was two stations long, but when the second stage opened in 1985, lengthening the line to 8 stations (Memar Ajemi), construction of a transfer was desperately needed.

In the late 1990s construction restarted. The first project was the completion of Hazi Aslanov station, partly sponsored by the European Union. In the mid-2000s, construction of the northern end of the second line, abandoned since 1994, was restarted with Nasimi station opening on October 9, 2008.

Officially Baku Metro has two lines, however due to problems with opening the second part of Cəfər Cabbarlı, Baku instead operates as a large four branch system, with trains travelling from Həzi Aslanov to either İçərişəhər or Dərnəgul, branching at May 28 (beneath the main train station). Rare services from both Dərnəgul and İçərişəhər also terminate at Bakmil but only twice per hour. There is a one-stop second line that operates separately between Cəfər Cabbarlı (essentially different platforms within the same station as May 28) and Şah İsmail Xətai, a shuttle service using only one of the two tracks due to low demand. The second interchange station is Memar Əcəmi" where Green and Violet Lines cross.[5]

The system works on a flat fare of 40 gapiks (0.40 AZN) per trip, following a price hike on September 22, 2023. Some Baku residents were reportedly unhappy with the price hike, citing the age of the metro system's infrastructure.[14] Until 2006, metro users accessed the stations with metal (later plastic) tokens placed into turnstiles. In 2006 the Baku Metro introduced an RFID card system using rechargeable fare cards, which require a 2-manat deposit (plus travel credit).[citation needed]

As of the beginning of 2020, 81-717/714 (including later modifications .5 .5B and .5M) and their modernized version 81-717M/714M, 81-760B/761B/763B "Oka" and 81-765.B/766.B stock trains are operating on the metro. 81-710 (Еж3) and 81-704/81-705/81-706 (Ем, Ема, Емх) stock trains were also operating on the metro until they were retired in 2008. As well as 81-703 (Е) and 81-707 (Еж) which were retired in 2001. All rolling stock on the Baku Metro has been produced by Metrowagonmash jointly with Alstom.

At the end of 2012, Baku Metro loaned one 81-760/761 "Oka" type train to decide whether they will renew the fleet with a new model of train. On January 21, 2013, the train entered service on the Red Line ("Icheri-Sheher" to "Hezi Aslanov"/"Bakmil"). During the trial runs several breakdowns and failures occurred and in July 2013 the train was returned to Moscow.[22] Later, the Baku Metro decided to purchase three five car "Oka" type trains with modified carriages fitted with through passage gangways. But, quickly abandoned the project and switched focus to a redesigned "Oka" type train built by Metrowagonmash and Alstom. The train was classified as 81-760B/761B/763B "Oka" with a modified front end, newer interior equipment and electrical equipment. In April 2015, all three trains were delivered to Baku and began service on the Red line.[23]

This is a list of metro stations of Baku Metro in Baku, Azerbaijan. At present Baku Metro has 27 metro stations. The Red Line (Qırmızı xətt) has 13 metro stations, the Green Line (Yaşıl xətt) has 10 metro stations and the Purple Line (Bənövşəyi xətt) has 4 metro stations.[1]

Known locally as the Bakı metropoliteni, the Baku Metro officially opened on November 6, 1967, making it the fifth metro system of the former Soviet Union. As such, it features many of the details unique to ex-Soviet metro systems. This includes stunning mosaics, artwork, and sculptures that blend traditional Azerbaijani elements with Soviet ideology and extremely deep stations that could serve as shelters in the event of a much-feared nuclear attack during the Cold War era.

Getting a Baki Kart for your journeys on the Baku Metro is simple. At the entrance of every metro station in Baku, you will find machine kiosks selling them that operate in Azerbaijani, Russian, and English.

The Red and Green Lines both are the same from Hazi Aslanov Station to 28 May Station. At 28 May Station, the two lines diverge, with the Green Line heading toward Nizami Station and then onto Elmer Akademiyasi Station, Inshaatchilar Station, 20 Yanvar Station, Memar Ajami Station, Nasimi Station, Azadliq Prospekti Station, and finally terminating at Darnagul Station. The Red Line continues onto Sahil Station and terminates at Ischeri Sheher Station.

There are plans underway to extend the Baku Metro by several stations. The Red/Green Line by 13 more stations, the Red Line by 6 more stations, and the Purple Line by 9 more stations by 2030. There are also plans to add a yellow and a blue line to the Baku Metro in the future.

Baku seems to be getting a new metro station every 1.5-2 years, which is extremely slow compared to many major cities in the world. According to the conceptual development plan of the metro, there are supposed to be 76 stations at some point but there are only 26 at the moment. At this pace, we should expect the whole development plan to be realized in about 100 years lol.

A Metro system for Baku was first envisaged in the 1932 Master Plan, and in 1949 the Council of Ministers of the USSR approved the design and construction works. Actual construction on the first line started in 1951, but was suspended in 1953, the official reason being lack of funds.

Construction was re-launched in 1960, with the alignment of the first line having been modified due to new urban developments. The first stretch of 6.5 km with five stations was opened on 6 Nov 1967 between Baki Soveti and Narimanov. The network was expanded gradually and by 2011 had two lines with a total length of 34.8 km and 23 stations. Eventually, the first section of a third line was opened in 2016:

At present, the two lines are not completely segregated due to a missing link between Cefer Cabbarli and Nizami. Therefore the second line from Darnagul is routed to Hazi Aslanov, while the Cefer Cabbarli - Sah Ismail Xatai section is operated as a double-track shuttle. Bakmil is served twice an hour by train from Iceri Seher.

The subway of Baku is a public underground railway transport system located in the city of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan and in the Azeri language it is known as BakiMetropoliteni. Currently, the system has three operating lines with a total of 25 stations and a total length of 36.63 kilometres. The subway was inaugurated in 1967 during the Soviet domination of the country and therefore, it still preserves the Soviet architectural style of the subways that were built at that time. Also, it is the only subway system in the country.

Its corporate image is an M and it has 4 lines in different colours; yellow, cyan, fuchsia and green. The basic fee to enter the metro system is 20 qapik or cents of mana (US $ 0.12) and it operates from 6:00 in the morning to midnight.

The Baku Subway, or BakiMetropolitani, by its Azerbaijani name, is one of the most important rail transport systems in the region and the first of an Islamic country. The rail system was inaugurated in 1967 and it currently has 25 stations grouped into three subway lines and 36.63 kilometres length.

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