Tbilisi (Tiflis) is the capital of the former Soviet republic of Georgia, situated in the Caucasus. The city has 1.2 million inhabitants and extends 40 km north - south along the river Mtkwari (Kura). The valley is surrounded by mountains what makes road traffic especially difficult. Therefore plans for a subway system were made already in the early 1950's when the city had only 750,000 inhabitants.

The first line (Gldani-Varketili Line, formerly Didube-Samgorskaya) opened in 1966 from Dibude to Rustaveli (6.3 km, 6 stations) via the city centre. A few years later it was extended towards the south to 300 Aragveli (1967) and Samgori (1971). During the 1980's it reached its current length of 19.6 km with 16 stations.

In 1979, the second line (Saburtalo Line) began operating between Vagzlis Moedani (railway station) and Victor Gotsiridze. In the year 2000 it was extended to its current terminus Vazha Pshavela. The line has a total length of 6.7 km with 6 stations.

Most station names were changed during the 1990's after the dissolution of the former USSR and the independence of Georgia. Trains in service are of the 81-717 and 81-714 series also running in Moscow and other ex-Soviet cities. Stations have 100 m long platforms for 5-car-trains, although only 4-car-trains are currently used.

Gldani-Varketili Line - 19.6 km, 16 stations

11 Jan 1966: Dibude - Rustaveli (6.3 km, 6 stations)
06 Nov 1967: Rustaveli - 300 Aragveli (ex 300 Aragvinzev)
05 May 1971: 300 Aragveli - Samgori
08 Nov 1985: Samgori - Varketili
16 Nov 1985: Didube - Guramishvili (ex TEVZ)
07 Jan 1989: Guramishvili - Akhmetelis teatri

Saburtalo Line - 6.7 km, 6 stations

15 Sept 1979: Vagzlis Moedani (ex Pl. Vokzalna) - Victor Gotsiridze (ex Delisi) (6.2 km, 5 stations)
02 April 2000: Victor Gotsiridze - Vazha Pshavela

Some (or all) station names have been changed from Russian into Georgian, so older names found on some maps are given in brackets. Other former names: Pl. Lenina for Tavisuplebis Moedani (Freedom Sq.); 26 Komissarov for Avlabari; Okyabrskaya for Nadzeladevi; Komsomolskaya for Medikal Institut.

 Projects

An extension of the second line to the University and the first section of a third line is under construction, although no dates for completion are known.

- OPERATION

The Tbilisi Metro operates from 6:00 until 1:00, every 2.5 minutes during rush hours and every 4 minutes during the day.

- FARES (2007)

Single fare - GEL 0.40 (lari)

Plastic cards with multiple rides: 20 Lari (60 rides) - 145 Lari (720 rides)

metro.ge (Official Website)

Official Metro Map 2007

Tbilisi Metro on Wikipedia

Metrosoyuza by Peter Donn includes nice station pictures

Tbilisi Metro at Mir metro/Metroworld by Aksenov Dmitry

Tbilisi Metro Track Map

Tbiltrans

Salinas, Julian; a.o.: METRO. TBILISI. - Portraits of metro passengers. Christoph-Merian-Verlag, Basel. 50p, ISBN 3856161481 (May 2001)