On September 10, passenger traffic was launched. One of its stations, Likhobory, is located near the NATI platform of the Oktyabrskaya Railway. Last week I and my colleague Zelenograd information portal Vasily Povolnov (mostly his photos are used in the post) finally visited this and other stations, which Zelenograd residents could theoretically use to transfer to the MCC, to see how everything works there and tell our readers about it.

The MCC station "Likhobory" (until the summer of this year it was known as "Nikolaevskaya") is located in the line of sight from the NATI platform.

If you come by train from Zelenograd, you need to exit the platform on the right side in the direction of travel and follow the path along the railway towards the Leningradsky station.

The exit from the platform is located at the level of the third or fourth cars. If you want to save time on transfers, take them. There is also a sign towards the MCC. To the left of it you can see the buildings of the Likhobor station.

The distance from the exit from the NATI platform to the entrance to the overpass of the Likhobory station is just over 200 meters. However, keep in mind that the entrance to the passage is not yet the entrance to the station itself.

After 120 meters there is a path along the railway (the photo shows a view in reverse side— to the NATI platform) turns right.

Around the corner of the fence, the view of the Likhobory station opens up again. The overpass is just a stone's throw away.

But that's the worst part shortcut. In the vicinity of NATI and Likhobor, the North-Eastern Expressway (also known as the Northern Road) is being built, which by the end of 2018 must tie New Leningradka with Dmitrovskoe highway. Because of this, the asphalt is further covered with a layer of dirt, which is carried around the surrounding area by construction equipment. Apparently, in the future, an underground passage will be built here for commuter train passengers. But for now that's it. Such a cool infrastructure project as the MCC is, of course, unbecoming.

Landscaping work continues around the Likhobory station itself. However, the area in front of the entrance to the passage is already paved with “ceremonial” tiles.

Now we have to climb to the height of a three-story building with high ceilings. There is an elevator in the passage, but so far it, like the metal detector frame at the entrance, is not working (all data in the material is given as of September 20). Therefore, you have to go on foot. At the same time, there are no channels (runners for strollers) on the stairs. One can only sympathize with anyone who happens to end up here, for example, with a baby stroller.

From the top floor there is a view of the NATI platform and the construction site of the North-East Expressway.

And in the other direction - to the platforms of the Likhobory station.

To get to the platform, you need to travel along the passage over the railway. Just not to the end, but approximately to the middle.
Note that the transition (at least for now) is not an insulated structure. In design, it is similar to the overpass across Central Avenue near the Zelenograd Prefecture, and ventilation “holes in the floor” are hidden behind the railings on the sides. You won't be able to stay warm here in winter. Compared to transferring from train to metro at Leningradsky Station, this is, of course, a serious disadvantage.

After about 90 meters, there will be glass doors on the right in the passage leading to the station lobby.

Opposite you can admire the bridge at the intersection of the MCC and the Oktyabrskaya Railway.

With navigation, things are much better here than at the Butyrskaya metro station, which recently opened near the Ostankino platform (for transfers from the railway to the new stations of the Lyublino-Dmitrovskaya metro line, see separate post ). In any case, the way back to the NATI platform can be easily found. This is the sign that will greet you when you exit glass doors. Then along the way there will be several more signs.

In the lobby, behind glass doors, there are turnstiles that are not yet working (let me remind you that travel on the MCC is free for the first month) and descents to two platforms (there are elevators, stairs, and escalators). Here you need to decide which platform you want to get on. If you are traveling west (by outside rings) - towards "Koptevo", "Baltiyskaya", "Streshnevo" and so on - you go to the right. If to the east (by inside) - to "Okruzhnaya", "Vladykino", "Botanical Garden" and then to the left.

MCC diagram to help you (clickable)

The most obvious option for getting down to the platform is an escalator. Unlike the elevators, they are running. Each platform is connected to the lobby by two escalators: one goes up, the other goes down.

Estimating travel time on foot is not an easy task, but according to our estimates, you can get from the door of the train on the NATI platform to the platform at the Likhobory station in 6-8 minutes. In the opposite direction, the journey will take a little longer, since you will still need to cross the bridge to the far platform at NATI.

While we are waiting for our “Swallow” to go on a trip along the MCC, let us remind you that in the future a large one should appear at “Likhobory” transport hub - with shops, parking lots and even a hockey rink. And, of course, ground public transport stops. The main volume of transport hub buildings will be located on the side of Cherepanov passage (that is, on the opposite side from the NATI platform). It is supposed to look like this (clickable image).

And this is what the place looks like now.

Road work is underway on Cherepanov Passage.

The transport hub is planned to be built approximately by 2025. As part of this project, it is planned to reconstruct and extend the NATI platform towards the center of Moscow. This means that trains in the Leningrad direction will stop even closer to the MCC, and the transfer from NATI to Likhobory will become even shorter and more convenient.
Now let’s return to the Likhobory station. Both platforms have canopies and a decent number of benches and bins. The surface is paved with tiles, and a strip of yellow tactile tiles is laid along the edge of the platform.

In general, everything is stylish, neat and, if we talk about platforms, and not about transitions, then, in my opinion, a little in a retro style.

All the design is in the corporate style of Russian Railways, which operates this road jointly with the Moscow Metro (let me remind you that you can pay for travel with metro tickets, and the transfer between the metro and the MCC will be free for one and a half hours).

Electronic boards show the direction of travel (by the name of the next station) and the time until the train arrives. Let us remind you that the stated intervals for trains on the MCC are 6 minutes during peak hours and 11-15 minutes during off-peak times. If necessary, these intervals are promised to be shortened. And it seems like they are already thinking about implementing such an opportunity.

The platform from which you can leave Likhobor towards Koptevo, that is, to the west, has paths on both sides. But trains come on the left side (in the direction of travel from the escalator). “External tracks” are apparently needed for service purposes and freight traffic, which will remain on the ring. View back towards the passage leading to NATI.

And here is our train. About 15 minutes have passed since the previous one left. True, three electric trains passed in the opposite direction during this time.

Lastochki are used as rolling stock on the Moscow Central Circle. I made a big post about how these trains work . Inside the Lastochka on the MCC, except for the posted diagrams and advertisements, they are no different from those that run to Kryukovo and Tver and are already well known to many Zelenograd residents.
Scheme of the MCC in the carriage:

MCC and metro map:

It is allowed to carry bicycles on the MCC, and there are corresponding stickers on the trains, but we did not find any special mounts for two-wheeled transport in the local Lastochki. As well as the intention to twist the “extra” third seats so that all cars have a 2+2 layout, has not yet been implemented.

It seems that trains to the MCC do not run empty. We were on the ring from approximately 17:00 to 18:30, that is, practically during the evening rush hour, and in all the “Swallows” we saw, some of the passengers rode standing.

The closest stop to Likhobory, if you go west, is Koptevo. However, it was among the five stations that did not manage to open even in draft form before the start of traffic on the MCC. Therefore, for now the next stop after “Likhobor” is “Baltiyskaya”. Until the summer of this year, it was called “Voikovskaya” - after the nearby metro station.
The transfer between Baltiyskaya and Voykovskaya is considered one of the longest on the MCC. The two station concourses are located more than 700 meters apart. In order for a metro passenger to change here to Moskovskoye central ring, he should exit the subway through exit No. 1 (from the last car when moving towards the center, then from the glass doors to the right) and go along Leningradskoye Shosse towards the region - to the Metropolis shopping complex.

"Baltiyskaya" is located at the intersection of the MCC with Leningradskoye Shosse. The station has two exits: one towards Admiral Makarov Street, the other towards Novopetrovsky Proezd, Metropolis and Voikovskaya metro station.

Moreover, the branch of the passage that leads from the MCC station towards Voykovskaya is connected to the Metropolis building. And although the signs point to the street for access to the metro, in fact, a significant part of the journey can be done in the warmth, passing through the entire building shopping center. Then you only have to walk about 200 meters along the street to the entrance to the subway. Of course, this advice is also relevant for those who go from the metro to the MCC.

There is only one platform at Baltiyskaya and, accordingly, it is wider.

Escalators and stairs for descending/ascending between the platform and the passage are located in one place. There are also elevators, but, like at Likhobory, they are not yet working.

If you, having a baby stroller with you, decide to leave the Baltiyskaya in the direction opposite to the Metropolis, you will encounter the same problem as at the transfer at NATI - there is no alternative to descending the stairs without channels.

View from the MCC platform to the side façade of Metropolis.

If the Metrostroy website contains current sketches of transport hub projects on the Moscow Central Circle, then in its final form the Baltiyskaya station will look like this. Another passage will appear in both directions from the other edge of the platform.

The next station after Baltiyskaya is Streshnevo. Previously, it was called “Volokolamskaya”, because it is located at the intersection of the MCC with the Volokolamsk highway. Theoretically, some of the Zelenograd residents could come here by car and then set off on a further journey along the MCC. However, this option is unlikely to become widespread. Not only is it suitable for few people, but it is also unclear where to leave the car in this case - there is no semblance of intercept parking here.

Moreover, the passage at Streshnevo has not yet been completed, which could lead to the 1st Krasnogorsky passage - potentially the most convenient for accessing this station from Zelenograd.

As part of the creation of a transport hub here, the Streshnevo MCC station will be connected by a passage to the Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo Riga platform, which will be moved several hundred meters for this purpose. However, this has nothing to do with trips to/from Zelenograd (only if it has to do with trips to my dacha :)).
Visualization of the Streshnevo transport hub project (image from the MCC website)

Diagram of the Streshnevo transport hub (clickable image from the Metrostroy website)

In the meantime, the Streshnevo station looks almost like a twin of Likhobor: the same two platforms on either side of the main passage...

And a typical (but at the same time, in my opinion, stylish) lobby building with escalators, adjacent to the passage.

There are also combined “ring” maps of the metro and MCC posted everywhere. For some reason, there were no such schemes at Likhobory.

As in all other places, active construction and finishing work is still ongoing at Streshnevo station.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to drive around the entire ring yet, although it would be very interesting to do so. Well, I hope he still has time. However, from the point of view of Zelenograd residents, the stations visited are, of course, of greatest interest.

To conclude the story, I will summarize a few key points.
1. MCC went - and it’s wonderful. In fact, in Moscow there appeared new look public transport, which significantly increased the connectivity of existing lines and routes. It is already obvious that, contrary to the gloomy forecasts of skeptics, the ring is in demand among the townspeople.
2. Many residents of Zelenograd have new options for constructing routes when traveling to Moscow. But a lot here depends on the number of trains stopping at NATI. For example, on September 20, it was impossible to leave Kryukovo by NATI from 8:56 to 16:05 - more than 7 hours! But in the coming days the situation should change: the number of electric trains stopping at NATI doubled .
3. The road was opened with a lot of minor imperfections - work is still underway almost everywhere. For most passengers this is not a big deal, but the MCC is still practically unsuitable for people with limited mobility. If for some reason you have difficulty moving, you should think very carefully about how you will climb the numerous stairs that do not even have runners for strollers.

Many Muscovites and guests of the capital have already become accustomed to the convenience of the MCC (Moscow Central Circle) or, as it was previously called the MKR - Moscow Circle railway, the opening of which contributed to the unloading of the capital's ring line of the Moscow Metro in particular and the entire metro in general.

MCC map with metro

MCC map with transfers to the metro, trains and suburban transport

Another popular MCC scheme with transfers to the metro, electric trains and other suburban transport will be useful for passengers who travel by electric trains, transfer to the MCC from the metro or from minibuses. The diagram shows metro stations, Russian Railways stations and MCC stations along with transitions to them.

We draw your attention to the distance of a number of MCC stations from the metro. For example, from the Nagatinskaya metro station to the MCC station Upper fields of the Yandex map shows 4 km, despite the fact that the metro map indicates 10 - 12 minutes on foot.

Schemes and maps during construction (projects) with transfer nodes:

Numerous search queries can be addressed to the only official website of the Moscow Ring Railway http://mkzd.ru/

According to preliminary sketches, it was assumed that the Moscow Ring Road on the map would look like this:

MCC hours and schedule

MCC works the same way graphics, as the Moscow metro:

from 5:30 am to 01:00 am

List of MCC (MKR) stations:

There will be 31 stations in total. It is assumed that the rolling stock will be represented by Lastochka trains, which have proven themselves on intercity routes and will certainly be convenient for such local transportation.

The opening of the Moscow Ring Railway is planned for the end of 2016, testing is planned to begin in July 2016, so we are waiting new information and will be updated as it becomes available.

Information about the MCC:

What is the length of the MCC in km?

The small ring of the Moscow Railway, along which the movement of MCC trains is organized, has a length of 54 km.

MCC How long does it take for a train to complete a circle?

A full circle along the MCC can be completed in approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
The same answer will be to other questions, like: circle on the MCC in time

What is MCC?

The MCC is the Moscow Central Circle and this entire article describes this Moscow object in all types and angles, including the history of its creation.

Calculation of time between MCC stations

Because the calculator has not yet been written and is not ready, a simple way to calculate travel time between stations: the following 90 minutes / 31 stations = about 3 minutes approximate calculation of time from station to station.

What are the train intervals on the MCC?

The intervals between MCC trains are no more than 6 minutes during peak hours, which is generally not bad, especially at traditionally problematic and overloaded stations. For example, near the City, where on the days of exhibitions at the Expo Center you are taken out of the metro.

They also asked:

1. When will passenger traffic open on the Moscow Ring Railway?

According to the official website, testing will begin in July 2016, and the opening date is scheduled for the end of 2016.

21.07.2016
2. The platform did not suit the Moscow Circle train; opening and testing were disrupted, according to https://www.instagram.com/p/BIB7RpiDxv2/?taken-by=serjiopopov(apparently, a friend was asked to delete his Instagram, which is where the photo below came from, so Navalny’s record also disappeared, where there were inserts from Instagram, but the screen remained the same https://navalny.com/p/4967/:

The page remains in Google’s cache, but you won’t be able to view it in its entirety due to some tricky redirects on Instagram:

The same cyclical redirects are included when searching the web archive for July 21 of this year. http://web.archive.org/web/20160721082945/https://www.instagram.com/

27.08.2016
4. What are the fares for travel on the MCC (MKR)?
According to information on the Moscow City Hall website, fares will be the same as on the metro:
“90 minutes”, “United” and the “Troika” card.
“Unified” for 20 trips - 650 rubles, for 40 trips - 1,300 rubles, for 60 trips - 1,570 rubles.
With the Troika card, travel on the MCC will cost the same as in the metro - 32 rubles.
Tickets for 1 and 2 are also equal to the price of metro travel - 50 and 100 rubles, respectively.

10.09.2016
The opening of the MCC took place:
26 of the 31 ring stations are operational. Sokolinaya Gora, Dubrovka, Sorge, Panfilovskaya and Koptevo stations will be opened later (until the end of 2016).
Lastochka trains run at intervals of 6 minutes during peak hours, and every other time - 12 minutes. The fare payment system is integrated with the Moscow Metro and allows you to transfer from the metro to MCC trains and back without additional payment. During the first month of operation of the ring (until October 10 inclusive), travel on MCC trains is free. According to information from rasp.yandex.ru

The MCC is the Moscow Central Circle, a new stage in the development of the capital’s transport infrastructure. Convenient and fast transport for moving, especially to those microdistricts where there are no metro lines. You can deal with complex transport interchanges on a special website that has all the necessary information.

Metro and MCC map

It's a little lower on the page. Before this, you can read the text part where you can find out about the fare, stations and operating modes. The diagram itself is very detailed and convenient to work with. To zoom in, click on the map.

MCC and metro map

Here you can see the metro map with all the interchange nodes, as well as the MCC map with stops and transfers. Below is a readable legend of all symbols, thanks to which working with the circuit becomes even easier.

Symbols on the diagram

The map shows:

• branches and stations of the Moscow metro;
• MCC stops;
• railway and bus stations, airports;
• intercept parking.

Scheme of the MCC with interchange hubs for suburban transport

This is the following diagram of the MCC, which shows the places of transfers and the route of suburban electric trains. The map indicates current and planned transfer points between the MCC and suburban trains.

Transfer scheme for the MCC and suburban electric trains

The signage and interchange stations are divided into three commissioning phases:

• Stage 1 – September 2016;
• Stage 2 – end of 2016
• Stage 3 – 2018.

The information on transfer actions is reflected in great detail, from the distance and approximate time for transfer to the indication additional information by station type.

Information about transfer stations

Plans for the development of this transport and the location of new transfer stations are also indicated.

Diagram of interchange hubs between the MCC and NGT

This diagram shows connections with ground urban transport. Everything is very informative and detailed here you can see for each transfer station:

• type of ground transport;
• transport route;
• movement interval.

Fragment of a map diagram of interchange hubs of the MCC and ground urban transport

The average time to a particular station or route is written near each station. The main transport facilities (stations, airports) are indicated. Working with the map is simple, but lacks more interactivity.

This information will be very useful for both city guests and residents of the capital. Convenient schemes are worth keeping them on mobile phone and use it to move around the city. This will significantly reduce travel time and find quieter and convenient options movement. This is especially important during rush hour and Friday crowds.

You have probably already noticed the new scheme that appeared in the Moscow metro on December 21, 2015. The diagram now has a new ring with an abbreviation that is not quite usual for the metro. MKZD - Moscow Ring Railway - another ring in Moscow, which is designed to relieve the ever-growing passenger traffic of the capital.

Why is the railway line diagram present on the metro diagram?

This is explained simply. The Moscow Ring Railway, scheduled to be launched in the fall of 2016, will form a single transport hub with the Moscow Metro. Another type of ground transport will appear in Moscow - city ​​train, closely linked to the metro infrastructure and existing railway stations. This type of public transport is widely used in major cities all over the world.

Of the 31 MKR stations, at 17 it will be possible to transfer to the metro, practically without going outside, since the passages connecting the railway stations and metro stations will be covered and form a single transport terminal - Transport Interchange Hubs (TPU). At 10 stations there will be transfers to other railway stations.

The fare will be the same as on the metro. You won't have to pay anything extra when transferring.

A new type of train from 5 to 10 cars with a convenient vestibuleless design will run on the Moscow Ring Railway. The estimated capacity will be at least 1,250 people. The head carriages will be equipped with seats for persons with disabilities disabilities and a system for boarding and disembarking people in wheelchairs.

The trains will also have WI-FI with free internet, tinted windows, information boards on different languages, climate control system. The head car will have a toilet for passengers and the locomotive crew.

Parking lots will be created at the stations for motorists transferring to electric trains.

Well, in conclusion the best part - the planned traffic interval is 6 minutes!

January 2016

The Moscow Central Circle MCC will be the official name of the new transport system opening today. Adjustments have been made to train intervals - 15 minutes, and during rush hours - 6 minutes. Of the 31 stations, 26 are opening today - Vladykino, Botanical Garden, Rostokino, Belokamennaya, Rokossovsky Boulevard, Lokomotiv, Izmailovo, Shosse Entuziastov, Andronovka, Nizhegorodskaya, Novokhokhlovskaya, Ugreshskaya, Avtozavodskaya, ZIL, Verkhniye Kotly, Krymskaya, Gagarin Square, Luzhniki, Kutuzovskaya, Business Center, Shelepikha, Khoroshevo, Streshnevo, Baltiyskaya, Likhobory, Okruzhnaya. The remaining 5 - Dubrovka, Zorge, Sokolinaya Gora, Koptevo and Panfilovskaya - will open at the end of the year.

The Moscow Central Circle (MCC) is an abbreviation that has been in use quite recently; the ring itself is used even less for passengers. On metro maps, the ring is indicated by line 14, although it looks a little different.

Metro or train

Circular railway, Small ring of the Moscow railway, Moscow ring railway, Moscow central ring - all these definitions in one form or another refer to the same object.

The first train at the Luzhniki station of the Moscow Central Circle. Photo: website/Andrey Perechitsky

In the new name - MCC - the mention of the railway has been removed, on metro maps it is indicated as line 14, transfers with the metro are free (even in the "metro - MCC - metro" option), a separate page for the MCC has been created on the metro website... So everything can be... Is the MCC a metro?

The MCC infrastructure itself (tracks, stations, etc.) belongs to Russian Railways. The ring is physically connected to other sections of the railways; the use of the ring for freight traffic is not canceled and is quite possible. The rolling stock, "Swallows", has been traveling on other sections of Russian railways for several years now. At MCC stations you can find workers in gray Russian Railways uniforms, information boards and part of the navigation at the MCC stations themselves - according to the brand book and Russian Railways standards. Even the turnstiles are like those at many suburban stations (albeit equipped with metro validators). So, is the MCC an electric train?

Navigation in the transition between platforms of the Khoroshevo station of the Moscow Central Circle. Photo: website/Andrey Perechitsky

If we approach the issue formally, then the MCC is a real railway, however, in the mass consciousness, the use of the railway for movement within one city is still of little use, moreover, the MCC is integrated mainly with the metro, and the ring is precisely urban transport, and not suburban, which includes the green electric trains familiar to city dwellers. This is also why navigation and tariffs are designed in such a way that the passenger feels that he is on the 14th metro line, although in fact the MCC, of ​​course, is not a metro.

Turnstiles at Luzhniki station of the Moscow Central Circle. Photo: website/Andrey Perechitsky

In relation to the MCC, it is appropriate to use the term “urban train” - a type of transport in Russia that is not very common.

Abroad, this type of transport is widespread and quite popular. For example, in Germany, Austria, Switzerland there is an S-bahn, which occupies an intermediate position between urban public transport and classic commuter trains.

The MCC itself breaks the mold of many definitions, and similar debates have been going on on thematic forums for many months - “What is the new ring anyway?”

The MCC, metro, monorail and ground transport are all elements of the city’s unified transport system, so asking the question “is the MCC part of the metro?” not entirely true. To the question “Does the MCC belong to the Moscow transport system?”, it is certainly correct and correct to answer “Yes”, as well as to a similar question regarding the metro or monorail.

The Lastochka train arrives at the Khoroshevo station of the Moscow Central Circle. Photo: website/Andrey Perechitsky

The main flow to the MCC should still be a transfer from the metro; there will be fewer “pure” independent trips around the ring. At the same time, such stations as Sorge (formerly Novopeschanaya), Krymskaya (formerly Sevastopolsky Prospekt), Streshnevo (formerly Volokolamskaya) have created (in the case of Sorge, they will create) new transport hubs. Residents of nearby houses and those who work nearby will definitely appreciate the appearance of these stations. Following this, new travel routes will appear.

Due to its specifics, part of the MCC route passes through industrial zones. But is this really important, because a new transport corridor has appeared in the city. And industrial zones will not always flash through the Swallow window. Novodevichy Convent, Moscow City, Losiny Island, Moscow River - the landscapes are more than diverse.

View from the MCC train window. Photo: website/Andrey Perechitsky

From the point of view of formal definitions, the MCC is more of an electric train than a metro; in fact, it is a new full-fledged element of the transport system. How relevant it is is a question for each individual passenger. In any case, new connections that reduce travel time are always good, especially for a metropolis like Moscow.

Impressions of the first passengers

Andrey Perechitsky