Most Unusual Way for Tourists to Explore Russian Capital? Moscow Monorail!

Starting from 2017, Moscow citizens and guests will be able to explore the Russian capital from above – the city’s monorail system will switch to tour mode from its usual transportation regime.

According to the Head of the Moscow Metro Dmitry Pegov, the monorail system "in fact will work in a tour mode."

"The Moscow Central Circle excursions and our night sightseeing project on the Moscow Metro aroused such a great interest we did not even expect. Now we are thinking in the same way of making the monorail attractive," Pegov told Russian media.

According to the new 2017 schedule, the trains will run in 15 minute intervals during rush hour and in intervals of 20-25 minutes the rest of the time.

The Moscow monorail network system was opened in 2004. It consists of a single line, located in the North-Eastern Administrative District of the Russian capital. Originally, it had only two trains and worked in tour mode, but in 2008 it changed to a paid transport mode. Since then, the network faced a bevy of criticism in the media and among experts due to its trestle type design, comparatively small capacity, low speeds, and a high cost of service. Authorities have previously announced they would discuss the possibility of closing or reorganizing the system several times.