Moscow hopes to put an end to ‘train surfer’ deaths on metro

Moscow Metro’s first ever walkthrough trains have begun operating on the Russian capital’s Serpukhovsko – Timiryazevskaya Line.

As well as improving the passenger experience, the Russian authorities have said the new 81-760A trains will help reduce the number of deaths caused by ‘train surfing’.

Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow and Head of the Department for Transport and Road Infrastructure Development, said: “Train surfers falling between carriages nearly always end up tragically. Now, due to the train’s different structure, surfers will not be able to ride outside the train.”

The new eight-car vehicles represent another first for the Moscow Metro network. The new trains have replaced the power cars used on previous 81-760 series trains with trailer cars, reducing overall weight and the impact on the infrastructure.

Three pre-series trains will go into operation following a four-month test period. More 81-760A units from the contract signed with Metrovagonmash at the end of last year will go into service between 2017 and 2020.