I was watching videos of the subway system in Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of Georgia. I was impressed by the general upkeep and modernity. Considering that this began as a Soviet project, some stations look better than any New York City stations I have used. They knew architecture, even though the Soviet Union was an ideological disaster. The Metro was inaugurated in 1966 to highlight Tbilisi’s importance in the Soviet structure and ease congestion.
About the system’s structure
Given the city’s size, the subway system is small, with only two current lines. The main Akhmeteli–Varketili Line is named after the two terminuses, the Akhemteli movie theater, and Varketili. I will call it the AV line because it is a mouthful, especially for my non-Georgian speaking tongue. The second is the smaller Sarburtalo line named after the eponymous neighborhood which is one of the terminuses. I call this one the knowledge line because it stops at 3 of Tbilisi’s significant colleges. Station Square is the only transfer point between them. Due to its terrain, the stations are mainly underground with Rustaveli Station being the deepest. Didube is the only above-ground station on the AV line. Unlike New York above-ground stations, it is not elevated.
Riders use fare card to enter. Unfortunately, there is no unlimited option here, but it is cheap enough to refill often You will see it here in the following video.
Two notable stations names to me
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia began reasserting its identity, which included the metro station renaming. The name Samasi Argaveli (300 Argvelians in Georgian )pays homage to Georgian history. It was named after 300 soldiers from the Argavelian Valley who defended Tbilisi from invading Persians in 1796. Rustaveli Station is one of many things named after 12th-century poet Shota Rustaveli. In Tbilisi alone, the renowned performing arts theater and the street it is on are also named after him. The airport outside of the city , a college in the western city of Batumi, and a literary prize also bear his name.
Decline and Revival
The Soviet Union collapse caused many of the stations to fall into disrepair. The stations were often crime targets during this time. The most infamous incident of the crime wave was the 1997 Didube station suicide bombing. However, foreign funding has allowed renovations and restoration to happen. In 2015, before the Metro’s 50th anniversary, the city received money to restart the long halted expansion of the Saburtalo line. In addition, the president announced a possible third line to the airport in 2018.
Final impressions
From the videos I have seen, the car interiors were clean even during COVID. Considering that Tbilisi is a developing city, this is an indictment of New York’s inability to keep its subway cars clean. The system, of course, is much smaller than NY’s, which probably makes it easier to manage. It is also not 24 hours like many American systems. Despite the fact they are Russian, the trains have the same look and feel as many US trains. I even like the little Georgian flag image that appears on some of them.
Here are some more Metro Facts
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This design is incredible! You certainly know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
As long as you know this was secondhand. The country l has intriguing history shaped by its occupiers especially the neighboring Russians. I only learned of the more moderate Russian socialist wing, the Mensheviks, through looking at Georgian history I mistakenly thought it was Eastern Europe. However, most of its Black sea neighbors are Eastern European countries However it is so far and different I probably would not make this my first overseas trip. The language itself is difficult in pronunciation and grammar. Not to mention differing scripts throughout history. But much to the charging of the Russians Georgians are favoring English as their second language. They have a partnership with the English language and culture organization British Council. Georgia is developing in my respects economically and politically. You cannot expect the same level of accommodation as in more established tourist areas. But from what I have seen, the country has come a long way.