Line 3 – Arbatskaya – by Alex ‘Florstein’ Fedorov
Moscow Metro – a Socialist Realist Art Gallery
Moscow Metro – Arbatskaya – Line 3
Arbatskaya (Арба́тская) is a station on the Arbatsko–Pokrovskaya line of the Moscow Metro. Along with Smolenskaya and Kievskaya, it was built in 1953 to replace an older, parallel section of track which has since become part of the Filyovskaya line. The old station had been damaged in a German bomb attack in 1941, so its replacement was much deeper and included larger stations that could double as shelters (especially in the event of nuclear attack). Although it was initially supposed to be closed permanently, the old section reopened five years later, creating the somewhat confusing situation of having two pairs of completely separate stations with the same names (Arbatskaya and Smolenskaya).
Arbatskaya was designed by Leonid Polyakov, Valentin Pelevin and Yury Zenkevich. Since it was meant to serve as a bomb shelter as well as a Metro station, Arbatskaya is both large (the 250-m platform is the second-longest in Moscow) and deep (41 m underground). The main tunnel is elliptical in cross-section, an unusual departure from the standard circular design. The station features low, square pylons faced with red marble and a high vaulted ceiling elaborately decorated with ornamental brackets, floral reliefs, and chandeliers.
Text from Wikipedia.
Arbatskaya – Line 3 – 01
Arbatskaya – Line 3 – 02
Arbatskaya – Line 3 – 03
Arbatskaya – Line 3 – 04
Arbatskaya – Line 3 – 05
Arbatskaya – Line 3 – 06
Arbatskaya – Line 3 – 07
Arbatskaya – Line 3 – 08
Arbatskaya – Line 3 – 09
There are two cafeterias in the Moscow metro: one at metro Arbatskaya and another at metro Voikovskaya. [I didn’t know this at the time of my visit – so no food reviews.]
The canteen at Arbatskaya has been open for 30 years with the other one in operation since 2000. Initially these cafeterias were founded with metro employees in mind, but now they are open to the public who can enjoy a quick meal on their way to work. They are quite cheap and passengers are often surprised by the good quality of the food.
The house specialities are belyashs (fried pastry stuffed with meat) and hot dogs, but the menu also includes more sophisticated fare, such as chicken with pineapple.
Text from Russia Beyond.
Arbatskaya Moscow Metro plaque
Location:
GPS:
55.7522°N
37.6061°E
Opened:
5 April 1953
Depth:
41 metres (135 ft)
Moscow Metro – a Socialist Realist Art Gallery
