The first newly commissioned Saint Petersburg metro station in the past five years has officially opened its doors. At 9:00 AM, the first train departed. Half an hour earlier, the opening ceremony took place in the presence of numerous media representatives. The event was attended by Governor of Saint Petersburg Alexander Beglov, Rector of Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University Vladimir Litvinenko, Chairman of the City Parliament Alexander Belsky, metro construction workers, and mining university students.
Addressing those present, the governor reminded them that this is the first station built by "Metrostroy of the Northern Capital," an organization owned by the city:
- This is our Metrostroy, which we created, and now we regulate all matters related to both construction and operation. We have resolved all the challenges and continue building. We lack enough tunnel boring machines, but we have placed an order for them at the Obukhov Plant. Most importantly, we have managed to retain a team of highly qualified tunnel workers.
Of course, I would also like to congratulate the students and faculty of the Mining Institute. They have been waiting for this for a long time, and now they have completely new logistical opportunities. In just 3–4 minutes, they can be in the city center. Meanwhile, residents have gained a third metro station on Vasilievsky Island.
Vladimir Litvinenko emphasized that the name of this long-awaited transportation infrastructure project was no coincidence, highlighting the role and significance of the Mining University in the country’s history:
- We have always perceived Saint Petersburg as the maritime capital. However, I would like to remind you that the mining industry has been, is, and will continue to be the foundation of our country’s economy. Saint Petersburg is the center of mining science, mining education, and the development of the mining innovation sector. Its design and engineering hub, so to speak, has always been located on Vasilievsky Island.
Last year, Russia’s first higher technical educational institution celebrated its 250th anniversary. During the celebration, the governor announced that this station would open the following year. But miners understand the unique geological conditions involved in metro construction. This is not Moscow—we were skeptical of his words. However, Alexander Dmitrievich knows how to keep his promises.
I want to express my deep gratitude to the governor and his team, to the builders, and to all the metro construction workers who have created this unique engineering marvel. Wishing Saint Petersburg’s metro a bright future!
It is evident that a significant number of engineers at the contracting company "Metrostroy of the Northern Capital" are graduates of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University. However, this is not all. As part of the higher technical education modernization project, the university and "MSS" have signed an Academic Agreement, which provides for 200 students to undergo annual internships at the company. This announcement from the rector sparked a wave of enthusiasm among the young attendees, most of whom were first- and second-year students gathered at the ceremony.
After cutting the red ribbon with historic scissors preserved since the opening of the first metro station in Leningrad, VIP participants, students, and the press departed towards Spasskaya. Meanwhile, passengers began arriving on the incoming train.
Historical Background. In 2011, the Government of Saint Petersburg decreed that the "Bolshoy Prospekt" station should be commissioned by the end of 2015. However, the deadline was postponed nine times, corresponding to the number of years of delay.
On December 24, 2013, the Saint Petersburg Toponymic Commission officially changed the working name "Bolshoy Prospekt" station to "Mining Institute".
Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Pavel Tulin, spoke to Forpost about the unique features of the new station:
- This is one of twenty pylon-type stations in the city. It consists of three station tunnels, with passageways and support structures—pylons—between them. The station is built within Cambrian clay layers, which have an uniaxial compressive strength of 150 kilograms per square centimeter.
As early as the 1940s, during the first metro design projects, it was decided that metro stations in Leningrad should be built deeper than 25 meters. Everything above that consists of weak rock formations, groundwater, gravel, and boulders—a layered ‘pie’ of geological challenges. In the 1960s, this very location was initially considered for the construction of Vasileostrovskaya station. However, at that time, the technical capabilities and geological conditions made it unsuitable, leading to the selection of a less problematic site instead.
Two key facts. During the construction of the tunnels between "Teatralnaya" and "Mining Institute," one tunnel was excavated from the Vasilievsky Island side, while the other was driven from the Admiralteysky District. The tunnel boring machines (TBMs) used for this were originally manufactured in the 1970s at the Yasinovataya Machine-Building Plant near Donetsk, specifically for metro construction in Saint Petersburg. These TBMs set a world record for tunneling speed, achieving 1,250 meters per month, a feat recorded in the Guinness Book of Records—a record that remains unbeaten to this day. Additionally, the 30-degree inclined escalator tunnel was excavated using a specialized shield—a groundbreaking innovation. The traditional method involves manual excavation using jackhammers, making this approach a significant technological advancement.
The station is 74 meters deep, with a planned passenger capacity of 97,000 people per day. The vestibule is equipped with an elevator for people with disabilities.
The main hall is decorated with light gray Ural granite with dark green accents, along with Belarusian marble. Two central panels feature artistic interpretations on the themes of "Siberia" and "Mining". The station's design also includes several artistic installations that visually reflect its name.
It is evident that with the launch of the new station, transport accessibility in the area and to the Mining University will significantly improve. Moreover, the city map now features an important and much-needed infrastructure facility, proudly bearing the distinguished name shared with Russia’s oldest technical university—Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University.
