On May 23, Moscow opened the Center for Electric Transport and Driverless Technologies. The city has brought together all developers of cutting-edge transport solutions under one roof, providing them with comfortable working conditions to foster innovation.
The new Center, located in the Kuntsevo district, spans 8,800 square meters. The facility provides over 400 jobs and houses innovative structural subdivisions of Moscow Transport, namely the country’s first ticketing systems laboratory alongside offices dedicated to the development of electric and driverless transport. The facility also includes teams specializing in system integration, technical support, and digital service development. Many of the Center’s employees are current students and graduates from the city’s leading universities.
With the opening of the Center, Moscow announced having launched several innovative solutions:
- Testing of Russia’s first driverless tram on the streets of Moscow. The technology owned by the Moscow Government.
- Launch of Virtual Troika card – passengers can now forgo plastic cards, since the new Virtual Troika card allows fare payments via any smartphone. Moscow’s ticketing system is estimated to save the city 2.5 billion rubles annually by eliminating the need for printed tickets and receipts.
- Remote Troika card top-up. The new system lets passengers activate their cards right at metro and MCC turnstiles without needing to tap on yellow terminals, as it was before.
- Biometric fare payment system on the Moscow Central Diameters (MCD). The first phase of biometric fare payment is now available to all users.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin inaugurated the Center for Electric Transport and Driverless Technologies, which will help the capital remain a technological leader in Russia and the world. The Center will create the necessary conditions for launching the most advanced projects of the Moscow Government. It is envisioned to be the birthplace of numerous innovative solutions that will shape the face of Moscow Transport for decades to come. Young professionals will work in a unified space with comfortable conditions, enabling them to effectively solve complex tasks, exchange experiences, and make our transport system even more modern, – said Deputy Mayor for Transport Maksim Liksutov.
The newly opened Center has become a highlight of the Kuntsevo district and a new attraction for local residents. It will host speakers with extensive experience in science, technology, and information fields. The lectures and seminars will be open to anyone interested, upon registration.
According to the Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin, Moscow’s transport system is a global leader in innovation. The city boasts some of the world’s best suburban trains, metro trains, trams, electric buses, and even river trams.
