Russia: A tour of the TMH plant took place during a press trip for media representatives ahead of the INNOPROM. Central Asia exhibition in April. ROLLINGSTOCK captured most stages in the production of the new rolling stock.
The plant is currently delivering a contract for more than 700 cars of the 81-775.2/776.2/777.2 Moskva 2026 model, running through to the end of 2027. These trains will complete the fleet renewal on the Moscow Metro’s Zamoskvoretskaya line, while some trainsets will also go to the new Rublevo-Arkhangelskaya line.
The Moskva 2026 is an evolutionary development of the Moskva 2024 trains. The interior plastic trim and the glass on the door-area handrails have been partly updated, and the metal joints between seats removed. The number of ceiling air-conditioning ducts has been increased, and the head cars have new external lighting, a redesigned passenger-to-driver intercom and a new rear-view camera housing.
Robotic manipulator in the cutting and blanking shop at the TMH plant in Mytishchi. Source: Aleksey Stolchnev / ROLLINGSTOCK
The assembly cycle for a single car takes seven days. Production begins in the pressing and blanking shop. The cutting and blanking area handles high-precision cutting of sheet metal and non-metallic materials, press-forming of blanks, and laser welding of carbody components. A robotic manipulator, commissioned in 2022, handles the heavy sheets.
Laser welding installation in the cutting and blanking shop at the TMH plant in Mytishchi. Source: Aleksey Stolchnev / ROLLINGSTOCK
In the carbody shop, the underframe, sides, end walls and roof are assembled and welded. A turning rig lets workers rotate the carbody frame through 360°, which simplifies welding on both sides and keeps overhead seams to a minimum.
Welding work in the carbody shop at the TMH plant in Mytishchi. Source: Aleksey Stolchnev / ROLLINGSTOCK
Turning rig in the carbody shop at the TMH plant in Mytishchi. Source: Aleksey Stolchnev / ROLLINGSTOCK
In the painting and shot-blasting shop, the assembled carbodies go into a dedicated chamber where high-pressure abrasive particles strip rust, oxidation and other defects from the metal. The cars are then dust-extracted under hoods and filters. Four coatings follow: filler and a double primer, plus a sound-deadening mastic applied to the floor pan that muffles the noise of the wheels for passengers.
The carbody then moves into one of the drying and paint booths, where it is dried and given its finish coat in the customer’s livery. After painting, the car undergoes a watertightness check in a rain chamber: water is delivered under high pressure, with a permitted leakage of no more than 40 ml.
Carbodies in the painting and shot-blasting shop at the TMH plant in Mytishchi. Source: Aleksey Stolchnev / ROLLINGSTOCK
In the car assembly shop, each car passes through seven stages across three assembly lines. First come the sub-floors, windows and over-door casings. Underfloor equipment is then fitted, cable looms are run through the saloon, and doors, air ducts and sound insulation are installed.
Running cable looms in the saloon. Source: Aleksey Stolchnev / ROLLINGSTOCK
The fourth stage installs the underfloor units, the fifth the saloon lighting and plastic trim. The sixth covers electrical-circuit testing. Assembly ends as the car is lowered onto its bogies and the traction motors and bogie braking gear are connected to the car’s systems. The car then returns to the rain chamber for a final watertightness check on windows and doors.
Car assembly shop of the TMH site in Mytishchi. Source: Aleksey Stolchnev / ROLLINGSTOCK
Car assembly shop of the TMH site in Mytishchi. Source: Aleksey Stolchnev / ROLLINGSTOCK
In the acceptance-testing shop, the completed trainset is loaded with software and powered from the overhead supply to check all systems, motors and controls. Running-in takes place on the plant’s internal tracks alongside the Yaroslavl Railway.
Once it has passed testing, the trainset is cleared for transport to a Moscow Metro depot. After commissioning at the depot and fitting of the current collectors, the train must run more than 300 km along the line without passengers. Dozens of parameters are checked during this period, among them the train’s safety and reliability in service, ride smoothness on the rails, saloon lighting and vibration, braking distance and much else.
Moskva 2026 metro trains in the acceptance-testing shop at the TMH plant in Mytishchi. Source: Aleksey Stolchnev / ROLLINGSTOCK
Meanwhile, the trains due to arrive from 2028 are set to receive significant design changes. In an April interview with TASS, TMH director general Kirill Lipa said a new car design is now in development and will be offered under the next Moscow procurement contract.
