Unique 'Heart of Russia' Train Launches on Local Tube
Decorated carriages to run on Hammersmith & City and District lines for three months
The train has seven carriages providing an insight into Russian achievements in various landmark subjects such as architecture, art, science, ballet, cinema, literature and space studies as well as showcasing famous sights in Moscow.
It was launched on 25 October and will run around London for three months. It’s timed to mark the year of science and education of Russia and Britain, and a similar train showing off British achievements is due to launch shortly in Moscow's
Metro.
The main colour used on the train is royal golden, but red white and blue -the colours of both the UK and Russian flags - are also strongly featured.
"The train will show that our countries have many things in common, that we have a lot to share and learn from one another," said Maxim Liksutov, Head of the Moscow Department of Transport. "We hope that the Tube’s passengers will like the Heart of Russia project and that it will allow everyone to get to know our country’s history and culture better."
Moscow already has a themed train named Shakespearean Passions, which has been running on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line since May last year.
"This London Underground train is Russia's response to the Shakespeare train in Moscow, which the British Council launched to celebrate Shakespeare's 400th anniversary during the UK-Russia Year of Language and Literature 2016.
" Connecting people through culture, education and science is as important now as it has ever been, and both trains are great symbols of these connections," said Sir Ciaran Devane, chief executive of the British Council.
There is also a phone app allowing users to immerse themselves further in the heart of Russia. Android users can download it here and iPhone users can download it from iTunes here.
The Russian Embassy has also tweeted @RussianEmbassy: "Take a pic of the Russian themed train on the London Tube, tweet it with hashtag #HeartOfRussia and we’ll send you a great gift bag! "
October 27, 2017
