A Soviet underground built before the city reached one million people
In short: Prior to reaching a million residents, Tbilisi became a rare Soviet-era city to initiate metro development. This ambitious project, started in 1952, was designed to navigate a landscape of narrow streets and steep terrain that made traditional land transport nearly impossible.
Construction on the Tbilisi Metro began in 1952, a notable exception to Soviet planning which typically required a population of over one million people to justify such a system. The project was driven by the city's unique geography: a densely built-up center stretching over 25 kilometers along the Mtkvari River, characterized by narrow, steep streets that impeded surface travel. The underground layout was specifically chosen to simplify coverage across the city's long, uneven landscape.
The system officially opened on January 11, 1966, as the fourth metro in the former Soviet Union, following Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Kyiv. It currently operates two lines spanning 28.6 kilometers, serving 23 stations. Of these, 21 are underground, with 17 classified as 'deep level' stations. These deep stations were built using various designs, including pylon stations, columns, and single vaults following the Leningrad Technology.
The network has faced significant hurdles since the 1990s, including severe underfunding and electricity shortages following the collapse of the Soviet Union. While a modernization phase began in the 2000s—including the 2017 opening of the State University station—the system still struggles with aging infrastructure. Commuters face noise levels exceeding 90 decibels due to outdated 81-717/14 and Ezh3 rail cars. To address this, the city has initiated major rehabilitation projects, including a 2023 purchase of 44 modern metro cars and a 2025 tender for 111 additional cars from CRRC.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Tbilisi Metro
- Also: Wikidata — Tbilisi Metro · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Tbilisi Transport Company · CC0
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