Dnipro (Kiev Metro)
Encyclopedia
Dnipro is a station on the Kiev Metro
's Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line
). Named after the Dnieper River
, the station consists of a semi-estacade over the embankment highway, and then continues across the river as part of the Metro Bridge. The station was opened along with the first stage of the Metro in 1960 and for the first five years, before the bridge was completed, was the eastern terminus of the line.
Itself, the station is probably one of the most distinctive designs in not only Kiev, but all of the former USSR. The design is attributed to Kiev's unique geography and how engineers and city planners applied the Metro development project to it. The problem was that to link up the City rail terminal, city centre, and the residential districts on the left bank of the river. Since the planned junction between the Brovary avenue and the right bank was to happen at that point, it was decided to turn the metro line first southeast via the Arsenal factory and then make a right angle turn northeast and make the Brovarsky radius go on the surface similar in design to Moscow's Filyovskaya Line
. The station was to serve this junction point.
In engineering terms, the design incorporates two distinct portions: a large structure on the western side with estacade track and platforms coming out. Both the engineers (H.Fuks, L.Nobsborsky and V.Ihnatyuk) and the architects (H.Hranatkin, A.Ihnashchenko, P.Krasytsky and S.Krushynsky) put quite an effort into its construction. The western side structure consists of an embankment level vestibule with ticket halls and staircases leading on to the platforms. As the station has side platforms, it is possible to change direction without leaving the premises of the Metro.
The estacade level consists of two platforms separated by two rows of track. Originally, when the Brovarsky radius was not completed, the far end of the platform was a large balcony overlooking the river and one of the tracks was covered up by the platform. On the side of the embankment, there are two additional glazed staircase pavilions which are currently closed. On top of them are two statues (sculptors F.Katsyubynsky, E.Kuntsevych, I.Horovy, B.Karlovsky) of a youth pioneers. The northern one is a girl releasing pigeons whilst the southern one has a boy releasing a model of the Sputnik satellite. This has since often symbolised the station as a gateway to the future of the Soviet Union: peace and technological achievement.
Also interesting is that under station pass the lines of the Kiev tram
, originally there was depot there, but in 1960, when the Metro was opened, it lacked a full depot for serious repairs and the tram depot was converted into a Metro one. Tram tracks were used for rail cars and these were pushed onto a rotor which span them 90 degrees before hydraulically lifting them up onto the estacade. Although this unique operation was time consuming, it was nevertheless rarely used as a service bay behind Arsenalna
was suitable in most cases. In 1965 after the extension to the left bank, the Darnytsia depot was opened, and both the provisional depot and the rotor/lift were dismantled. (See this image for pre-1965 layout of the station; and this video for its operation.)
Today the station, although having a short passenger traffic, remains the most popular in Kiev Metro. Most of the people who actually come off there are visitors to the city that are amazed at the construction of this remarkable 40 year old design. Over the years, its exposure to the elements have necessitated in some repair work and renovation which is periodically carried out. The station also remains symbolic in other ways, as it was on the hill of the right bank, where the current portal tunnels are that in 1949 the first tunnel boring shield was launched.
Kiev Metro
The Kiev Metro is a metro system that is the mainstay of Kiev's public transport. It was the first rapid transit system in Ukraine and the third one built in the USSR . It now has three lines with a total length of 63.7 kilometres and 49 stations...
's Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line
Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line
The Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line , is the first line of the Kiev Metro, dating back to 1960. It includes some of the system's more historically significant stations, like Arsenalna, which at 105.5 meters is the deepest in the world and the next station Dnipro, which although the tunnel follows a...
). Named after the Dnieper River
Dnieper River
The Dnieper River is one of the major rivers of Europe that flows from Russia, through Belarus and Ukraine, to the Black Sea.The total length is and has a drainage basin of .The river is noted for its dams and hydroelectric stations...
, the station consists of a semi-estacade over the embankment highway, and then continues across the river as part of the Metro Bridge. The station was opened along with the first stage of the Metro in 1960 and for the first five years, before the bridge was completed, was the eastern terminus of the line.
Itself, the station is probably one of the most distinctive designs in not only Kiev, but all of the former USSR. The design is attributed to Kiev's unique geography and how engineers and city planners applied the Metro development project to it. The problem was that to link up the City rail terminal, city centre, and the residential districts on the left bank of the river. Since the planned junction between the Brovary avenue and the right bank was to happen at that point, it was decided to turn the metro line first southeast via the Arsenal factory and then make a right angle turn northeast and make the Brovarsky radius go on the surface similar in design to Moscow's Filyovskaya Line
Filyovskaya Line
Filyovskaya Line , or Line 4, is a line of the Moscow Metro. Chronologically the sixth to open, it connects the major eastern districts of Dorogomilovo and Fili along with the Moscow City with the city centre...
. The station was to serve this junction point.
In engineering terms, the design incorporates two distinct portions: a large structure on the western side with estacade track and platforms coming out. Both the engineers (H.Fuks, L.Nobsborsky and V.Ihnatyuk) and the architects (H.Hranatkin, A.Ihnashchenko, P.Krasytsky and S.Krushynsky) put quite an effort into its construction. The western side structure consists of an embankment level vestibule with ticket halls and staircases leading on to the platforms. As the station has side platforms, it is possible to change direction without leaving the premises of the Metro.
The estacade level consists of two platforms separated by two rows of track. Originally, when the Brovarsky radius was not completed, the far end of the platform was a large balcony overlooking the river and one of the tracks was covered up by the platform. On the side of the embankment, there are two additional glazed staircase pavilions which are currently closed. On top of them are two statues (sculptors F.Katsyubynsky, E.Kuntsevych, I.Horovy, B.Karlovsky) of a youth pioneers. The northern one is a girl releasing pigeons whilst the southern one has a boy releasing a model of the Sputnik satellite. This has since often symbolised the station as a gateway to the future of the Soviet Union: peace and technological achievement.
Also interesting is that under station pass the lines of the Kiev tram
Kiev tram
The Kiev Tramway is a tram network which serves the Ukrainian capital Kiev. The system was the first electric tramway in the former Russian Empire and the third one in Europe after the Berlin Straßenbahn and the Budapest tramway. The system currently consists of 139.9 km of track, including...
, originally there was depot there, but in 1960, when the Metro was opened, it lacked a full depot for serious repairs and the tram depot was converted into a Metro one. Tram tracks were used for rail cars and these were pushed onto a rotor which span them 90 degrees before hydraulically lifting them up onto the estacade. Although this unique operation was time consuming, it was nevertheless rarely used as a service bay behind Arsenalna
Arsenalna (Kiev Metro)
Arsenalna is a station on Kiev Metro's Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line. The station was opened along with the first stage and is currently the deepest station in the world . This attributed to Kiev's geography where the high bank of the Dnieper River rises above the rest of the city...
was suitable in most cases. In 1965 after the extension to the left bank, the Darnytsia depot was opened, and both the provisional depot and the rotor/lift were dismantled. (See this image for pre-1965 layout of the station; and this video for its operation.)
Today the station, although having a short passenger traffic, remains the most popular in Kiev Metro. Most of the people who actually come off there are visitors to the city that are amazed at the construction of this remarkable 40 year old design. Over the years, its exposure to the elements have necessitated in some repair work and renovation which is periodically carried out. The station also remains symbolic in other ways, as it was on the hill of the right bank, where the current portal tunnels are that in 1949 the first tunnel boring shield was launched.