5 facts about the Yekaterinburg subway, the most compact in Russia

1. The shortest in Russia

Yekaterinburg has only one line consisting of nine stations, making it the smallest subway system in the country. Yet, over 100,000 people use it daily. The line runs north to south, connecting the industrial and residential districts. A full ride takes just 20 minutes.

2. The last Soviet subway

It was the final subway system opened in the USSR and the 6th in Soviet Russia, launched in Spring 1991. Initially, only three stations were operational, with the rest added gradually later.

Future plans include two more lines, as the city has grown significantly since then.

3. Ural flair

The Urals are famous for their gemstone deposits and this is reflected in the subway. ‘Geologicheskaya’ station is decorated with marble, lapis lazuli, serpentine, jasper, and other locally mined stones. The walls feature panels depicting Earth’s crust layers.

‘Chkalovskaya’ station, meanwhile, is named after legendary pilot Valery Chkalov, who made the first non-stop flight from the USSR to the U.S. in 1937. The station’s vault resembles an airplane wing, while the walls display cockpit instruments and portraits of Soviet aviators.

Another iconic station is ‘Botanicheskaya’, resembling giant honeycombs with built-in lighting.

4. A station with an entrance inside a residential building

The ‘Uralmash’ station is unique – its vestibule is literally built into a residential block. This was necessary because the area already had developed infrastructure when the subway was being constructed.

5. Pay with a smile

Besides travel or bank cards, passengers can pay for their subway ride using their smartphone (via a QR code) or even just a smile – though the latter requires registration in Russia’s Unified Biometric System. To pass through the turnstile, a passenger simply needs to look at the camera and smile – the system will recognize them in seconds.