Researchers examining the Moscow Metro saw a clear shift in passenger flows following the launch of the Big Circle Line, driven by new routing options and shorter travel times. The analysis looked at how many people used the network on two comparable workdays, one before the new line began service and one after it had settled into regular operation. The study used mobile internet usage as the key indicator of activity and travel patterns, offering a practical proxy for passenger volume across stations.
The overall finding was that metro ridership rose by about 3 percent, equating to roughly 250,000 additional passengers on peak days. This uptick was attributed to the new routes that the BCL enabled and to a noticeable reduction in average journey times inside the system. Experts noted that residents previously living in areas without convenient metro access tended to switch to the metro for the main portion of their trips, then continue onward by land transport or private car when necessary. The shift in traffic touched many corridor stations, with a strong tilt toward those connected by the new ring route.
Among the stations showing the most significant passenger-growth, the top ten included several BCL nodes such as Elektrozavodskaya, Aviamotornaya, Lefortovo, Nizhegorodskaya, Vorontsovskaya, Novatorov Street, Vernadskogo Prospekt, Michurinskiy Prospekt, Business Center, and Khoroshevskaya. These stations benefited from improved access and shorter transfers as the line integrated into daily commutes and business travel alike. The reallocation of rider demand underscored the BCL’s role in reshaping how people move across the city and how neighborhoods connect to the core metro network. (Source: MTS press service)
Conversely, several stations experienced reductions in passenger loads, reflecting the redistribution of travel patterns. Notably, Ryazansky Prospekt, Volgogradsky Prospekt, Proletarskaya, and Lermontovsky Prospekt on the Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya Line; Avtozavodskaya on the Zamoskvoretskaya Line; Kosino on the Nekrasovskaya Line; Krasnoselskaya on the Sokolnicheskaya Line; and Arbatskaya on the Filevskaya Line reported lower volumes compared to prior periods. The Kalininskaya Line portion of the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line and Prospekt Mira also saw shifts in traffic, reflecting how riders restructured routes to take advantage of the new line. These declines helped paint a complete picture of how a major new segment can redraw the city’s transit map. (Source: MTS press service)
To ensure uninterrupted mobile service amid this rapid expansion, MTS disclosed that it laid foundational infrastructure ahead of the BCL opening. The company installed underground cables to guarantee robust coverage through newly created tunnels and placed modern base stations within station lobbies and platform areas. The proactive rollout helped maintain strong signal quality and data connectivity as passenger volumes climbed and the network grew denser around new transfer points. These preparations were described as essential to supporting an elevated passenger experience and maintaining service reliability during the transition period. (Source: MTS press service)