“Old Moscow” in the Warsaw metro. This is the last composition of this type
This is the last such train in the Warsaw metro fleet. It is the only one from the times of the Soviet Union.
The Warsaw metro boasts a real unique feature. “Old Moscow” is a historic train that has already covered 2.5 million kilometers. Public transport passengers can meet the M81 train on the first metro line between Kabaty and Młociny. This is the last vehicle from this series available in Poland. The rest were donated to Ukraine or are used only for spare parts.
A monument of the Warsaw metro among us
The only underground railway system in Poland is located in the country’s capital. Opened in 1995, the Warsaw metro today consists of two lines with a total number of 39 stations (another three stations of the second line will most likely be put into operation in 2026). By the end of this decade, the next, third line, consisting of seven stops, is to be built.
Although for years most of the rolling stock used were old Russian trains, today it is less and less common to see them during a trip around the city. The famous M81 train, which is currently the only train dating back to the times of the Soviet Union, still runs on Warsaw’s tracks. “The oldest trains of the 81 series were donated to the capital by the Soviet Union. These were almost the same vehicles as those in Moscow or Saint Petersburg (formerly Leninigrad). They differed from the Russian ones mainly in the width of the bogies – in Europe the rail gauge is smaller than in the East and is exactly 1,435 mm,” we read on the transport-publiczny.pl website.
Will the veteran retire?
Unfortunately, although old trains certainly please the eyes of tourists, they are quite uneconomical to operate. Maintaining them in good condition is expensive for the city due to the need for very frequent inspections and repairs of any defects. In addition, older trains are much less smooth when accelerating and braking, which translates into passenger comfort. For this reason, Warsaw in recent years has given up many of its “veterans”, sending them to Kiev and Kharkov, where they serve in underground transport to this day. What will happen to the last operating Soviet metro train in the Polish capital? For now, M81 has 2.5 million kilometers on the odometer and has no intention of stopping.
