The Kryvyi Rih Metrotram is a light-rail rapid transit system that partly runs underground. It serves Kryvyi Rih, the seventh-largest city in Ukraine. The system is operated by the municipal company Shvydkisnyi Tramvai. Trams run on segregated tracks built to metro standards.
The Metrotram was the second of its kind in the former USSR, after Volgograd. Today, the network covers about 17.7 km (≈11.0 miles) and includes 11 stations, 4 of which are fully underground. Four routes (1M–4M) operate across the system: two on the western-central trunk line with different termini, and two on the eastern branch serving industrial districts.
In 2021, Kryvyi Rih became the first Ukrainian city to introduce free Metrotram rides for residents through a city-issued electronic card. Since 2022, all passengers can travel free of charge.
Metro map of Kryvyi Rih
Up-to-date route maps (including a 2025 PDF version). The map shows two main corridors: a north–south trunk through the city centre and a southwestern branch.
Key connections are shown, such as the Kiltseva terminal where the Metrotram meets the surface tram network, and the southern loop at Maidan Pratsi.
Map of Kryvyi Rih Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Boston Metro map in PDF format.
Kryvyi Rih Metrotram Stations
Route 3 Extension – Kiltse KMK, Tretia Dilnytsia, Druha Miska Likarnya, KNEU
These four stations, opened in 2012, are located above ground on the northern extension of Route 3. They connect the northern and southern parts of the city and provide access to the ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih steel plant. All are single-side platform stops at grade, serving routes 3M and 4M.
Kiltseva (Circle)
Opened in 1989 as the southern terminus. This is a large above-ground tram loop with multiple platforms, a true circular terminus. Routes 1M and 2M end here. Passengers can transfer to the city’s regular tram system. The station is located at Sergo Ordzhonikidze Street and Nikopol Highway.
Prospekt Metalurhiv
Opened in 1989, this is a shallow single-vault station. All Metrotram routes stop here. It lies at the intersection of Metallurgov Avenue and another city street, next to the Metalurh Stadium.
Budynok Rad (City Hall)
Opened in 1988, this shallow single-vault station serves all routes. It is located in the historic city centre, beside the City Council building.
Mudryona (ex-Dzerzhynska)
Opened in 1986, this above-ground station has a single-vault roof. Originally named Dzerzhynska, it was renamed Mudryona in 2016. Due to its location away from busy areas, traffic is low. All routes (1M–4M) pass through here.
Vechirniy Bulvar (ex-Maidan Artema)
Opened in 1986, this shallow ground-level station serves all lines. Platforms are on the same level. The station was formerly called Maidan Artema.
Miska Likarnya (City Hospital)
Opened in 2001, this above-ground station has a single-side platform. It serves all routes (1M–4M) and is located next to the central municipal hospital and nearby residential neighbourhoods Solnechny and Vostochny.
Imeni Hutovskoho (Soniachna)
Opened in 1986, this enclosed above-ground station is the busiest in the system. All routes stop here. Its high traffic is due to its location near several large residential districts.
Maidan Pratsi
Opened in 1986, this above-ground loop is the terminus of Route 1M. It is located at a traffic circle with tram turnouts. The station serves the Hirnytske microdistrict and the Kryvyi Rih Central Mining Equipment Plant (KVRZ) area.
Industrialna
Opened in 1999, this ground-level stop has a single platform. Routes 2M and 3M stop here. Located at the edge of the industrial zone, it is mainly used by workers of the KVRZ plant.
Elektrozavodska
Opened in 2000 on an existing line, this shallow ground-level station serves routes 2M and 3M. It has platforms on both sides of the track. The station is a key interchange, with city buses and marshrutka minibuses connecting to suburban areas.
Zarichna
Opened in 1999, this above-ground station has side platforms. It serves routes 2M and 3M and is the northern terminus of the main trunk. There are plans to make it the terminus of Route 4M as well.
Vovnopriadylna (unfinished)
Built above ground between Industrialna and Elektrozavodska, but never opened. Low expected demand left it abandoned, and it is unlikely to open in the future.
Operating Hours
Metrotram trains run daily from about 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight). The first and last departures vary by line and station, but service consistently starts in the early morning and ends around midnight. During the day, trams arrive every 10–15 minutes. At weekday peak hours, headways drop to 2–6 minutes. In the evenings and on weekends, intervals are about 10–15 minutes. Each station has electronic displays showing real-time arrivals.
Fares and Tickets
Since May 2021, Kryvyi Rih residents have enjoyed free Metrotram rides using the city’s electronic card. In spring 2022, free travel was extended to all passengers. As of 2025, fares remain 0 UAH (0 USD) for everyone.
Before 2021, a single ride token cost 1.70 UAH (≈0.05 USD). No distance-based pricing was applied then, and today travel is unlimited and free.
| Ticket / Fare Type | Price (UAH) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| City card (residents, post-2021) | 0.00 (free) | 0.00 |
| All passengers (since 2022) | 0.00 (free) | 0.00 |
| (Former single-ride token) | 1.70 | ≈0.05 |
Connections
The Metrotram is fully integrated with Kryvyi Rih’s tram, bus, and minibus (marshrutka) networks. On the western end, Kiltseva (the southern terminus) provides transfers to the city’s surface tram lines. Maidan Pratsi (terminus of route 1M) also connects with surface trams. At Elektrozavodska, passengers can transfer to numerous bus and marshrutka routes, making it a major hub for city and commuter transport.
Most Metrotram stations have nearby stops for municipal buses and trolleybuses.
Tips and Rules
- Validate and Card: Travel is free with the city’s electronic card; no paper tickets are needed.
- Boarding: Metrotram trains stop only at official stations. Do not try to board between stops. Wait on the platform until the tram doors open.
- No Smoking: Smoking is prohibited on all trains and in stations.
- Conduct: Keep aisles clear and give seats to elderly and disabled passengers. Photography is allowed, but video recording or live streaming inside stations and trains is discouraged or banned.
- Personal Safety: Watch your belongings. Stand behind the platform edge until the tram stops, and let passengers exit before boarding.
Facilities and Services
Most stations and trams provide basic amenities. Stations typically have waiting areas, restrooms, kiosks (for visitors), and escalators or ramps. Many also feature electronic displays showing the next tram’s arrival. Some stations are decorated with murals or Soviet-era artwork.
Onboard: Newer trams are equipped with electronic route displays and automated stop announcements, often in Ukrainian and English. All trams are heated in winter. The main depot and yard are located at Maidan Pratsi. Terminus stations such as Maidan Pratsi, Kiltseva, and Elektrozavodska offer nearby parking or park-and-ride access. Elevators are rare, so accessibility is mainly through ramps.
Services: The Metrotram is considered safe and reliable. Maps and schedules are available at major stations. Staff regularly clean and monitor the system. Seasonal announcements, such as weather advisories, may be broadcast in trains and stations.
Historical Overview
Construction of the Kryvyi Rih Metrotram began in the 1970s as a cheaper alternative to a full metro. The first section opened on 26 December 1986, linking Maidan Pratsi, Dzerzhynska (now Mudryona), Budynok Rad, and Prospekt Metalurhiv. This 7.7 km (≈4.8 miles) stretch made Kryvyi Rih the third Ukrainian city, after Kyiv and Kharkiv, to have an underground-style transit line.
The second stage followed in 1988–1989, adding Budynok Rad (1988) and extending the line to Kiltseva (1989). By 1999–2001, the northern branch was developed with Industrialna (1999), Zarichna (1999), Elektrozavodska (2000), and Miska Likarnya (2001). In 2012, two new stations – KNEU and Druha Miska Likarnya – opened on the southern extension to the iron works. In 2017, service reached further south to PivdenGZK and Nizhnya works.
Over the years, the Czech-built Tatra T3 tramcars were modernized. Today the network spans about 17.7 km (≈11.0 miles) with 11 stations, 4 of them underground. The Metrotram was built to metro standards (1520 mm gauge and full metro-style halls) but operates with conventional tram vehicles – a hybrid model. It is also the only system in Ukraine running on the left-hand side, a legacy of earlier tram regulations.
Nearby Attractions
- City Hall: Kryvyi Rih City Council, next to Budynok Rad station (city centre).
- Metalurh Stadium: Beside Prospekt Metalurhiv station, home ground of FC Kryvbas.
- Central City Hospital: Located near Miska Likarnya station.
- ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih: Accessible from Kiltse KMK and Druha Miska Likarnya stations.
- Mining Equipment Plant (KVRZ): Served by Maidan Pratsi and Industrialna stations.
- Shopping and Dining: Areas around Budynok Rad, Prospekt Metalurhiv, and Imeni Hutovskoho offer shops, markets, and cafes.
- Parks and Monuments: Central stations provide easy transfers to buses heading to city parks such as Soborna Park and Central Park.
Fun Facts
- Free transport: Since 2021, Kryvyi Rih residents travel free on all trams, buses, and the Metrotram. Since 2022, all passengers ride free, making it one of the few fare-free urban rail systems worldwide.
- Ridership: The Metrotram carries about 40 million passengers annually (≈80,000 per day as of 2020). In 1997, ridership peaked at around 56 million per year.
- Design uniqueness: Built to metro standards but using tram vehicles, the Metrotram is a hybrid system. Four stations have only underground vestibules, with platforms partly above ground. The system was designed so it could later be converted into a full metro, similar to German “Stadtbahn” concepts.
- Left-hand running: Unlike all other Ukrainian tram and rail systems, the Metrotram operates on the left-hand side of the tracks.
- Historical note: Opened in 1986, it was the only rapid-transit style system built in a non-capital city during the Soviet era. The project began in the 1970s, when Kryvyi Rih’s population reached about 700,000.
- Rolling stock: The fleet consists of modernized Czech Tatra T3LRV trams with updated controls and air conditioning. In 2025, many cars were refurbished with new energy-efficient motors.
Future Expansion
There are no active Metrotram construction projects at present. Plans for extensions to new northern or southern districts have been proposed but remain unfunded. The unfinished Vovnopriadylna station between Industrialna and Elektrozavodska is unlikely to open due to low demand.
If ridership grows or new residential or industrial zones develop, the network could be expanded. For now, the focus is on renewing rolling stock and improving service frequency rather than building new track.