The new interchange railway was built to replace the old Smaller Ring of the Moscow Railway. It is incorporated into the metro system and will join the existing metro lines with radial commuter railway lines. Overall, 31 stations will be opened with interchanges to 11 metro lines and nine railway lines.
The Ring will be serviced by Russian-made Lastochka special electric trains with enhanced comfort level.
The launch of passenger traffic on the Moscow Central Ring railway will take the load off the metro, increase economic activity in the middle section of the city, promote the redevelopment of the obsolete industrial areas and create jobs. In addition, the transport accessibility of Moscow’s major athletic facilities will improve.