Moscow Metro — turnstiles

The Moscow Metro is a key element of the capital's transportation system and one of the largest metros in the world in terms of passenger traffic. It provides daily mobility for millions of residents and visitors, combining the metro, the Moscow Central Circle, the Moscow Central District, and surface urban transport into a single infrastructure.

In 2025, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced the beginning of a comprehensive replacement of turnstile equipment in the capital's transportation system.

The program is aimed at solving several strategic tasks at once:

• Increasing the capacity of entrance groups at existing stations;

• Reducing the time for payment and passage;

• Supporting all modern payment methods;

• Improving accessibility and inclusivity;

• Developing domestic technological solutions.

"The Russian capital is one of the world's leading cities in terms of accessibility to urban transport. Every year, on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin, new metro stations are opened in the capital, the number of surface transport routes increases, and modern Moscow city stations are being built. The active development of infrastructure requires the implementation of the most advanced technological solutions that enhance the comfort of Muscovites," said Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry.

The modernization of station entrances will not only improve the efficiency of the metro system, but will also make an important contribution to the development of modern urban infrastructure, confirming Moscow's status as one of the most advanced and technologically sophisticated megacities in the world.

As part of an open and large-scale competition organized by the Moscow Metro, Infomatika won the right to become the official supplier of new-generation turnstiles for the Moscow Metro, the Moscow Central Circle, and the Moscow Central District. At the moment, the company is responsible for the development, production, and delivery of 4,500 smart turnstiles by 2031.

Key advantages of the new generation smart turnstile:

• Support for all modern payment methods, including contactless bank and transport cards (Troika), virtual transport cards, NFC, QR codes, SBP, and Face Pay.
• Increased throughput: the width of the turnstile stand is only 125mm, which allows for more turnstiles in a single lobby and, as a result, increases throughput by up to 40%;
• A vibration response when making a payment is a feature for people with visual impairments. When a payment is successfully made, the turnstile emits a vibration signal to confirm that it is safe to pass. This helps people navigate without visual confirmation.
• Light floor projection of the biometric payment detection area: helps passengers quickly find their way to the right place to pay using Face Pay.
• The reversible mode of operation allows passengers to flow in either direction, depending on the load, which also affects the station's capacity during periods of critical load.
• The increased number of pass sensors allows for a more accurate determination of the passenger's position within the device, recognizing the presence of luggage and preventing premature closure of the gates. The turnstile gates close quickly but safely, avoiding any potential injuries.
• A bright light display of the payment status, located along the turnstile body, indicates whether the transaction was successful, helping metro employees to visually monitor payments and promptly respond to attempts at fraud.
• The modular design allows for quick changes to the product's functionality without replacing the product or undergoing extensive engineering work. Additionally, it simplifies maintenance or repairs.
• This is an IoT device. The turnstile belongs to the category of smart devices and can be connected to various monitoring and diagnostic systems

Project development

As early as December 2025, Moscow residents were able to appreciate the convenience of the new smart turnstiles: 8 M2030 racks were installed at Terminal 1 of the Nizhny Novgorodsky Railway Station in Moscow. The choice of the station was based on its high traffic volume and its key role in the Moscow transportation system. The launch of the equipment at the station was announced by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

"We are equipping urban transport with the most modern equipment in order to develop the best Russian technologies and not depend on external factors. By the end of 2031, we will install 4,500 Moscow-made turnstiles in the metro, MCC, and MCD. The first devices are already working effectively on the Nizhny Novgorod metro station," said Maksim Liskutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport.

The project continues to scale. In June 2026, new equipment was installed at the Business Center metro station. As part of the first phase, 8 M2030 smart turnstiles stands have already been put into operation at the station. After the completion of the commissioning work, the number of stands will increase to 17.

"Passengers already have the opportunity to test the new equipment at the Business Center metro station. The installation is carried out without blocking the passage, so that residents of the capital can continue to use the station as usual. The same approach will be used in the future," said Maxim Liskutov.

In 2026, innovative turnstiles will be installed at 25 stations of the Moscow Metro. This modernization project will be one of the largest passenger infrastructure implementations in the world's metros and set a new technological standard for urban transportation.