The Tbilisi Metro (Georgian: თბილისის მეტროპოლიტენი, romanized: tbilisis met'rop'olit'eni) is a rapid transit system in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. Opened on 11 January 1966, it was the fourth metro system in the former Soviet Union. Like other ex-Soviet metros, most of the stations are very deep and vividly decorated.
At present, the system consists of two lines, 28.6 kilometres (17.8 mi) in total length, serving 23 stations. In 2017, the Metro transported 113.827 million passengers. The Metro is operated by the Tbilisi Transport Company, which began operation the same year as the Tbilisi Metro, in 1966.
Tbilisi (officially known as Tiflis until 1936), the capital of Georgia, was considered historically to be one of the most important cities of the Soviet Union, particularly because of its political position as being the most significant city in the Caucasus and the capital of the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, which lasted until 1936. The city grew rapidly during the 19th and 20th centuries, and apart from being a cultural and political centre, it was also an important transport hub in Transcaucasia and an industrial centre as well.
Features of the historically established development of Tbilisi, stretching for more than 25 km (16 mi) along the Mtkvari river, densely built-up city centre, and narrow steep streets in some parts of the city, impede the development of land transport. All this contributed to the need for a rapid transit Metro system. Especially considering its geographic characteristic – Tbilisi is considerably long – which undoubtedly would simplify the coverage of most parts of the city by the underground.
Construction began in 1952. Tbilisi was one of the few cities in the former USSR where work on the Metro system started before the population reached one million people. A population of over a million people was one of the main requirements for Soviet cities to build a metro system.
On 11 January 1966, the Tbilisi Metro was opened: it was the first and only Metro system in Georgia and the fourth one in the former Soviet Union (after Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Kyiv) when the first six stations were opened. Since then, the system has steadily grown into a two-line, 23-station network.
During the 1990s, most of the Soviet-era station names were changed, although financial difficulties after the breakup of the Soviet Union hit the Metro particularly hard in its infrastructure, operations, and extensions. In the early mid-1990s, the Tbilisi metro was usually not working due to the lack of electricity. During that period, the Metro was underfunded, operated in severe difficulties due to poor electrical supply, and also become infamous for widespread petty crime, like pickpocketing and mugging. However, crime has reduced as a result of security and administration reforms in the system from 2004 to 2005. Other services have also significantly improved.
In the 2000s, the Tbilisi Metro entered a modernization phase. In addition, two new stations were opened: Vazha-Pshavela in 2000 and State University in 2017.
The Tbilisi Metro system is undergoing a major rehabilitation effort, including the reconstruction of the stations as well as the modernization of trains and other facilities. The city's 2006 budget allocated 16 million lari for this project. Former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili promised to make the Metro a most prestigious public transport system, and charged the Director General of Tbilisi Metro, Zurab Kikalishvili, in late 2005, to bring the metro up to European standards by 2007. In 2005 began the renovation process of subway trains. As part of the modernization, the Soviet-era rolling stock was overhauled, old parts were replaced with new ones, the interior of the car was changed, and the exterior was given a different look. Additionally, the driver cab was equipped with a modern control panel.
In subsequent years, however, the upgrade process slowed significantly, and as of July 2010, the Tbilisi Metro was still far from its target standard. Some renovated metro stations had to be repaired again soon due to deficient planning and poor quality of the renovation. The renovation process of the system continues unfortunately slowly and there are several stations under renovation. As of 2023 Tbilisi City Hall purchased 10 4-car trains for Tbilisi Metro from Metrowagonmash, which will meet European standards.
The extension of the Saburtalo Line to State University station began in 1985. In 1993, the construction was stopped and it went into conservation mode. In January 2012 construction was scheduled to start on a frozen extension of the Saburtalo Line from the Vazha-Pshavela station to the Sakhelmtsipo Universiteti (State University) station, of which 80% of the work was completed during the Soviet era. But it was only restarted in July 2015 with financial help from the Asian Development Bank and the station was finally opened to the public on 16 October 2017. The new State University station meets modern standards and is equipped with new technologies. Additionally, the Delisi-Vazha-Pshavela tunnel was also opened.
In February 2021, Gotsiridze station was renovated, and was scheduled to be completed within 3 months. Trains did not stop while construction works were in progress, passing through the station. However, reconstruction works were only completed in March 2023, with facilities dedicated to the disabled such as new elevators and tactile paths.
The noise problem on the Tbilisi Metro can be attributed to various factors. The most significant cause is the aging infrastructure, as many sections of the metro system were constructed decades ago and have not undergone significant renovations or soundproofing measures. The trains themselves, the 81-717/14's and Ezh3's, produce high noise levels in relativity to modern rolling stock due to their outdated design and lack of noise reduction features. Additionally, the higher-speed operation of the trains with the rolling stock's non-asynchronous motors, combined with the confined space of the underground tunnels, amplifies the noise and creates a discomforting environment for passengers. The amplification is further increased by the interior shell of the tunnels, which are covered in concrete.
The impact of excessive noise on the Tbilisi Metro has been a matter of concern for both commuters and metro authorities. Prolonged exposure to loud noise can lead to various health issues, including hearing loss, stress, and sleep disturbances. Furthermore, the noise problem creates an unpleasant travel experience and reduces the overall quality of the metro system. To tackle the noise issue directly at its source, the Mayor's Office has invested in the procurement of new trains with advanced noise reduction technology. These modern trains are designed to minimize noise emissions and provide a quieter and more comfortable journey for passengers. The Metro easily reaches over 90db, which is a dangerous level for human health. Despite noise being a very frequent complaint from many commuters, leadership has not yet released any statement regarding a plan to combat the issue.
In 2019, the complete rehabilitation of power lines and ventilation systems in the metro began. With the replacement of the 450-kilometer (280 mi) power cable, 32 new fans will be installed. The Asian Development Bank has allocated $15 million for this project.
The government of Tbilisi, through partial funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, spent more than 48 million Euros on purchasing 44, new, modern metro cars or 10 train sets in February 2023 from Metrowagonmash, bringing the system's outdated rolling stock up to date. Moreover, the depot and the connecting tunnel will be rehabilitated as a part of the project to support the new trains. This is the first major rolling stock update for the network since it began operation more than 50 years ago.
In May 2023, the contract with Metrowagonmash was cancelled after the company was internationally sanctioned. Tbilisi has not lost interest in purchasing new rolling stock, and government officials are meeting with major rolling stock company representatives to start a new tender process.