Moskva celebrates 125 years of trams

Electric trams started carrying passengers in the Russian capital on 6 April 1899 according to the Gregorian calendar (25 March according to the Julian calendar then in force) with Belgian interests having a stake in the private companies that developed the network before municipalisation. 

 

The first line connected Butyrka gate and Petrovsky Park along Nizhnaya Maslovka Street. Unfortunately this section of tramway was abandoned 25 years ago. The 125th anniversary of tramway operation was marked on 6 April 2025 in grand style with a parade of historical and current trams along Lesnaya Street, the oldest still existing route to Tverskaya Zastava Square near the Belorussky railway station (line 7), where they were visited by more than 20 000 residents, followed by a concert and free refreshments. 

 

Today the broad-gauge (1524mm) network is operated in two parts with a total of 40 lines. Since 2017 more than 500 low-floor trams have arrived to ensure the modernisation of the network The modern network saw over 600 000 passenger trips/day on weekdays in 2023 and is heading towards 700 000/day in 2024. 

 

Maksim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said, ‘Developing the Moskva tram system remains a pivotal objective for Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. As the city’s most efficient and forward-looking form of ground transportation, we are committed to phasing in modern low-floor vehicles, with 95% of our current fleet proudly made in Russia. The complete renewal of our fleet is a tangible goal within our reach in the coming years’.