Novosibirsk Metro

The Novosibirsk Metro is a key component of the urban transport system in the largest city of Siberia. Since its opening in 1986, it has remained the only metro system east of the Ural Mountains, playing a vital role in the development of regional infrastructure.

However, much of the equipment at metro stations has become outdated—particularly the turnstiles installed in the 1990s. These older units no longer meet the current demands for throughput speed, cashless payment options, or the ability to handle high passenger volumes.

Project Objective

To enhance passenger convenience and safety, while optimizing metro operations in the context of the city’s digital infrastructure transformation.

Project Goals:

• Replacement of outdated turnstiles with modern units that meet current throughput requirements and support all modern payment methods

• Improved management of passenger flow and increased station safety.

• Integration of new turnstiles with the existing metro control system.

As part of the modernization project, modern smart turnstiles "Contour-EK" by Infomatika were installed at "Ploshchad Lenina"—one of the busiest stations in the system.

In entrance hall No. 1, 16 smart turnstiles replaced the previous nine outdated units: 11 entry lanes and 5 exit lanes. This redistribution significantly increased station throughput during peak hours and reduced passenger congestion.

The devices were developed with the station's high traffic in mind and are made from stainless steel and tempered glass. Each turnstile is equipped with built-in readers for bank and transport cards, QR codes, a modern color display, and intelligent LED indicators.

"The new turnstiles not only enhance comfort and safety for passengers, but also mark an important step towards adopting advanced technologies. The devices are already compatible with QR code payments and are ready for future biometric payment integration," noted Maksim Serebrennikov, First Deputy Director of the Novosibirsk Metro.

The smart turnstiles are fully integrated with key payment and transport systems, including “SberTroika.” These integrations ensure reliable operation within the existing infrastructure and provide passengers with a highly convenient fare payment experience.

A comprehensive installation of Сontour-EK smart turnstiles is planned for entrance hall No. 2 of the station in 2025.

Project Deliverables:

1. Production, delivery, and installation of 16 Contour-EK smart turnstiles (15 passage lanes).

The equipment is designed with future functionality in mind: it is fully ready for biometric payment integration without requiring hardware replacement.

2. Integration with existing metro infrastructure

The smart turnstiles were connected to Novosibirsk Metro’s automated fare collection system (AFCMS), and integrated with the national "SberTroika" transport system and a payment platform supporting various cashless payment formats.

3. Commissioning and system setup of the installed equipment.