Moscow Regular River Transport

Moscow Regular River Transport
Регулярный речной транспорт Москвы
Water trams Skhodnya and Presnya
LocaleMoscow
WaterwayMoskva River, Moscow Canal
Transit typePassenger river tram
OwnerGovernment of Moscow
OperatorVodohod
Began operation20 June 2023 (2023-06-20)
No. of lines3 (4 planned)
No. of vessels26
No. of terminals23
Websitet.mos.ru/reka

The Moscow Regular River Transport (Russian: Регулярный речной транспорт Москвы) network is a water transportation system that operates year-round river tram services along the Moskva River. The system is operated by Vodohod for the Government of Moscow and is integrated into the cities public transportation system.

The network is claimed to be the worlds first year-round fully electric river tram service.

History

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, former state-owned river tramvaichiki were either purchased by private operators, or were simply abandoned.[1] Passenger operators using Raketa hydrofoil boats ended in 2006, with only tourist services remaining.[2]

In 2020, the Government of Moscow led by Sergei Sobyanin supported an initiative for the revival of regular river services. The first line between Fili Park and Kievsky was planned to be opened by the end of 2020, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

In 2021 the first Project TFRP.401 electric tram was unveiled, constructed by the Saint Petersburg based Emperium Shipyard, specialising in environmentally friendly electric passenger vessels.[4][5][6] Based on an online vote on the "Active Citizen" platform, the first tram was named Sinichka.[7] In December, the Government of Moscow signed an agreement with Vodohod for the provision of passenger vessels, berths and associated infrastructure.[8]

In March 2022, sea trials took place along the Moskva River.[9] The executive director of Emperium Denis Tkachev stated that the network was largely unaffected by potential sanctions, with the majority of components being sourced from either domestic Russian or able to be easily substituted with Chinese imports.

While originally envisaged to launch on 1 July 2022, the network officially opened on 20 June 2023, on the 100th anniversary of the first Soviet river trams in 1923.[10][1]

Routes

Moscow Regular River Transport network
Fili Park
Heart of the City
Beregovoy
Kutuzovskaya
City - Central
City - Bagration
Krasnopresnenskaya Park
Three Hills
Kievsky
Novospassky
Derbenevskaya Embankment
Torpedo
Simonovsky
Avtozavodsky Bridge
ZIL
Nagatinsky
Novinki Backwater
Klenoviy Bulvar
South River Terminal
Moscow Shipyard
Nagatinsky Backwater
Kolomenskaya Embankment
Pechatniki

Current

1. Kievsky - Fili Park

Opened on 20 June 2023. Further berths are planned in West Port, Melkombinat, Sydney City, Karamyshevsky and Nizhnie Mnevniki.[11]

2. ZIL - Pechatniki

Opened on 29 September 2023.[11]

3. ZIL - Novospassky

Opened on 20 June 2025. A second berth is planned near ZIL.[11]

Future

According to the mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin, a network of 7 routes with 67 landings, serviced by 60 water trams is envisioned by 2030.[12]

4. Kievsky - Luzhniki

Planned opening in 2026, linking Moscow Kievsky Railway Station and Luzhniki Stadium.[13][11]

5. Khoroshyovo-Mnyovnik -SberCity

Planned opening by 2027 to 2030. New berths are planned in Khoroshevo-Mnevniki, Serebryany Bor - 3, Scarlet Sails, Spartak, Streshnevo, Knikotazhny, Volokolamsky, Pavshinskaya Floodplain, Zhivopisny, Myakinino, Rublevo-Arkhangelskoye and SberCity.[11]

SberCity is not to be confused with the Sberbank City office complex on route 1.

6. North River Terminal - Lighthouse

Planned opening by 2030 operating along the Moscow Canal. New berths are planned at the North River Terminal, Zakharovo, Belmomorskaya, Northern Tushino, Levoberezhny, Khimki and Lighthouse.[11]

7. Kievsky - Novospassky

Planned opening by 2030, connecting routes 1 and 4 to route 3. New berths are planned in Savvinskiy, Luzhniki, Sparrow Hills, Neskuchny Garden, Krymsky Bridge, Muzeon, Red October and Zaryadye Park.[11]

Fares

The network is integrated into the public transport network in Moscow. As a result, fares can be paid using a variety of options including Troika card, bank card, Moscow Resident Social Card, Mir Pay or biometric payment through Face Pay. The network of floating piers is accessible to the public, with turnstiles located on the boarding ramps.

Fleet

Transport is provided by Project TFRP.401 catamaran electric water trams developed and built by Emperium and operated by Vodohod.[14][15] The vessels are propelled by electric motors powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries with a maximum speed of 12 knots. Each vessel as a crew of two and a passenger capacity of up to 80 passengers with 42 seated, equipped with information screens, Qi wireless chargers and power sockets. Free wireless internet services are available onboard. A toilet and a water dispenser is located on board. Facilities for the stowage of e-scooters and bicycles are available.

Current vessels

  • Bitsa
  • Businka
  • Chechora
  • Desna
  • Filka
  • Gorodnya
  • Grachyovka
  • Kamenka
  • Khimka
  • Khodynka
  • Koryushka
  • Kotlovka
  • Kuznetsovka
  • Lyuberka
  • Neglinka
  • Ochakovka
  • Pekhorka
  • Presnya
  • Ramenka
  • Serebryanka
  • Setun
  • Shmelevka
  • Sinichka
  • Skhodnya
  • Yauza
  • Zhuzha

Landings

Landings are made up of either a small or large sheltered floating pier. Piers are climate controlled with bathroom facilities, with large size piers additionally equipped with a cafe and electric charging. Large piers are accommodate up to 80 passengers while small piers can accommodate 40 passengers.

Route(s) Name Opening date Image Transfers
English Russian
1 Fili Park Парк «Фили» 6 June 2024[16]
1 Heart of the City Сердце Столицы 20 June 2023[17]
1 Beregovoy Береговой 6 June 2024[16]
1 Kutuzovskaya Кутузовский 20 June 2023[17]
1 City - Central Сити-Центральный 20 June 2023[17]
1 City - Bagration Сити-Багратион 20 June 2023[17]
1 Krasnopresnenskaya Park Краснопресненский парк 3 September 2024[18]
1 Three Hills Трёхгорный 20 June 2023[17]
1 Kievsky Киевский 20 June 2023[17]
3 Novospassky Новоспасский 20 June 2025
3 Derbenevskaya Embankment Дербеневская набережная 20 June 2025
3 Torpedo Торпедо 20 June 2025
3 Simonovsky Симоновский 20 June 2025
3 Avtozavodsky Bridge Автозаводский мост 29 September 2023
2, 3 ZIL ЗИЛ 29 September 2023
2 Nagatinsky Нагатинский 3 September 2024[18]
2 Novinki Backwater Затон Новинки 3 September 2024[18]
2 Klenoviy Bulvar Кленовый бульвар 29 September 2023
2 South River Terminal Южный речной вокзал 29 September 2023
2 Moscow Shipyard Московская 20 June 2025
2 Nagatinsky Backwater Нагатинский Затон 29 September 2023
2 Kolomenskaya Embankment Коломенская набережная 3 September 2024[18]
2 Pechatniki Печатники 29 September 2023

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Ivan Zhukovsky. On her nose, a red star twinkles". V–A–C Sreda. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  2. ^ Окороков, А. В. (2013). "On the history of "river trams" in Russia". Исторический журнал: научные исследования (in Russian) (3): 348–355. doi:10.7256/2454-0609.2013.3.62992. ISSN 2454-0609.
  3. ^ yahtaru (2020-09-11). "River transport to be launched in Moscow - Flotilia". Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  4. ^ "Речной аква-электробус проекта ТФРП.401: место постройки, проект, характеристики, описание, новости, фото". cruiseinform.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  5. ^ "Развитие регулярного речного транспорта Москвы" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2021-08-06. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  6. ^ "Electric vessels - pioneers of Moscow water transport" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2025-03-16. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  7. ^ "В Москве определились с именем первого электрического речного судна". sudostroenie.info. 2021-09-14. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  8. ^ "АО «Водоходъ. Пассажирский Порт» (Санкт-Петербург): руководство, история, адрес, контакты, услуги, структура, флот, новости". cruiseinform.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  9. ^ "На Москву-реку спускают «Синичку»". Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  10. ^ "Специально для вас мы создали уникальный туристический маршрут на новом речном электротранспорте!" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2025-04-29. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "Речной транспорт". sobyanin.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  12. ^ Portnews (2024-06-14). "Пассажиропоток на речных электросудах в Москве к осени 2024 года достигнет 1 млн человек". portnews.ru. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  13. ^ "Дептранс Москвы". Telegram. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  14. ^ "Design TFRP.401". fleetphoto.ru. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  15. ^ "На Москву-реку спускают "Синичку"". Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  16. ^ a b "Мэр Москвы открыл новые речные причалы Береговой и Парк «Фили»". Сайт Москвы (in Russian). 2024-06-06. Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  17. ^ a b c d e f "Владимир Путин и Сергей Собянин запустили круглогодичный речной маршрут по Москве-реке". Сайт Москвы (in Russian). 2023-06-20. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  18. ^ a b c d "В Москве открыли четыре новых причала для речных трамвайчиков. Рассказываем, где они находятся". МСК1.ру (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2025-12-09. Retrieved 2026-01-02.