Transport system description

National transport project on perfection and optimization of the transport system and improvement of quality of passenger transportation is realized in Kazan nowadays.
Transport reform was introduced in Kazan in 2007. Its purpose is to depress the quantity of no stopping routes and discharge the central part of the city. According to the new complex transport scheme tram and trolleybus routes were left in the centre of the city. Minibuses were partially changed for big buses; inner-city shuttle buses are moved to the suburbs and for the night time.

You can travel across Kazan city by taxi and on public transport: buses, trolley buses, trams, metro, and also minibuses.


Buses
There are comfortable buses of Russian (NEFAZ, MAZ) and Chinese (Higer, Golden Dragon) production in the bus fleet of Kazan city. More than 2500 out-of-date models of buses, which are gradually substituted for buses with more capacity, corresponding to modern Euro3 ecological standards, have been taken out of service in Kazan since 2007. It allows raising safety of transportations, considerably discharge transport stream in the city streets, and kindly affect the ecological conditions in the city.

Trams
Tram service development in Kazan has more than centenary history. Modern models, which tram park of the city uses today, are domestic production. Not long ago a renovation of the stock at the expense of new spacious and comfortable carriage that should increase a stream of passengers was started. The tram is considered one of the most convenient types of transport as the automobile stream doesn’t influence its work. Kazan tram park uses some models for excursion and tourist walks. There is also a tram-restaurant in Kazan.

Trolley buses
The basic mobile trolleybus park consists of domestic production trolley buses. Practically all models have large capacity, three degrees of illumination and improved ventilation. At present the trolley bus is ecologically clean type of transport which has the convenient schedule (8-10 minutes interval) and practically round-the-clock work.

Metro
It is the youngest type of transport in Kazan. Kazan metro line was opened in 2005. It represents one branch with five stations. New stations will be entered into operation in 2008. The exact schedule and absence of road "stoppers" are among the advantages of metro.

Minibuses
It is a special type of the small class transportation performed by “GAZEL”, “NEFAZ”, “SOBOL”, “FORD TRANZIT”, “IVECO” and other buses of small capacity. After the reforms in the transportation system, which were held in 2007, most part of the buses were transferred to the furthest city districts and were substituted by large capacity buses. Main advantages of the minibuses are high speed of passengers’ transportation, routes, covering countryside and villages, fast adaptation to the changing road conditions.

Fare
- Bus – 15 rubles
- Minibus – 20 rubles
- Trolleybus and tram – 10 rubles
- Metro – 10 rubles

Way of payment
New electronic tickets system was introduced in Kazan in 2008. Buses, trams and trolleybuses will be equipped by card readers.
Electronic card is a prototype of ticket on the basis of which there will be realized more than 200 rate scales.
Electronic tickets will be used in all kinds of transport, including metro and can be purchased at the post office, metro ticket offices, and special offices selling discount tickets.

Taxi
There are 20 taxi services in Kazan. You can order a taxi by phone to any part of the city twenty-four-hour. Trip from one district to another will cost 100 – 200 rubles (3-7 Euro). Trip to the airport will cost 500-1000 rubles (14-27 Euro). You can also hire taxi on the street by raising your hand.


Traffic
Repair works were made in the center of the city and main highways. Traffic jam problem appears during workdays’ rush hours in the morning and in the evening. The city is situated on two banks of the Kazanka river, which are connected by 4 bridges. One of which is a temporary pontoon bridge. Traffic is constructed so that nearly all remote districts are connected by these bridges or by the center of the city. Roads in the outskirts are worn-down. The construction of the minor ring road is performed to set up the traffic bypass the center.
Annually increasing traffic brings to the growth of the number of traffic jams appearing on the roads. For this reason during the road reconstruction in Kazan in 2008 special emphasis will be given for the construction of transport interchanges and pedestrian crossings.