Russian broadcaster marks 20 years on air with a themed train in Moscow's subway

A train marking RT's two decades on air has begun operating in the Moscow metro as part of a broader series of events dedicated to the channel's 20th anniversary since launching in December of 2005.

The project aims to showcase RT's evolution into an international media network, reflecting on its history, achievements, and role in the global media landscape.

The train features three distinct carriage types titled 'The Newsroom', 'Censorship', and 'Live on Air', each offering a different perspective on the channel's development and how the public perceives it.

The design incorporates ironic and satirical references to RT's work. At the entrance to 'The Newsroom', passengers are greeted with the phrase 'Join Russia', while the 'Live on Air' car displays the slogan "There are two genders in this carriage." In the 'Censorship' car, visitors are invited to "walk through the sanctions," referring to the restrictions imposed on the broadcaster in several Western countries.

Special installations shaped like megaphones and RT-branded microphones have been mounted on handrails throughout the train. The carriage walls are decorated with quotes about RT from foreign media outlets and politicians, including remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the channel's international reach and influence.

The anniversary train will run on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya, or blue, line until June of 2026. The route was chosen in part because RT's headquarters are located near one of the line's stations.

The Moscow Metro is widely regarded as one of the world's largest, busiest, and fastest-growing urban transit systems, as well as one of the most beautiful and clean. 

Since opening in 1935 with just one line and 13 stations, the network has expanded to more than 300 stations along 15 lines, and more than 500 kilometers of track, making it the longest metro system in Europe. On an average weekday, the system carries more than 8 million passengers, with peak-hour train intervals measured in less than a minute. 

Beyond its scale and efficiency, the Moscow Metro is often described as a 'museum underground', famed for stations adorned with marble, mosaics, chandeliers, and sculptures with Soviet-era and contemporary artwork. Many of its stations are major tourist attractions.