page_title: Moscow Yaroslavsky railway station
section_title: Expansion
hierarchical_section_title: Moscow Yaroslavsky railway station / History / Expansion
caption_attribution_description: English: Moscow, 1903 or 1904, construction of en:Yaroslavsky Rail Terminal Русский: Москва, 1903 или 1904 год, строительство современного здания Ярославского вокзала
context_page_description: Moscow Yaroslavsky railway station is one of the nine main railway stations in Moscow.
  Situated on Komsomolskaya Square, Moscow Yaroslavskaya has the highest passenger throughput of all nine of the capital's main-line terminuses. It serves eastern destinations, including those in the Russian Far East, being the western terminus of the world's longest railway line, the Trans-Siberian. The station takes its name from that of the ancient city of Yaroslavl which, lying 284 rail kilometres north-east of Moscow, is the first large city served by the line.
context_section_description: The first significant expansion of the Yaroslavlsky railway station took place in 1868 in the course of the extension of the railway to Yaroslavl. Above all, it aimed at increasing capacity for the expected increase in passenger flows. The central part of the reception building remained unchanged, but the two side extensions were extended, the left extension received an additional floor.
  There was another expansion shortly after the acquisition of the Moscow-Yaroslavl-Arkhangelsk railway company by the state. Since the total length of the railway lines and the number of passengers had risen significantly up to then compared to the 1860s, the capacity of the last station, which was extended in 1868, was no longer sufficient in 1900 to ensure smooth handling. However, the expansion headed by Moscow-based architect Lew Kekushev was largely limited to upgrading the platform facilities, while the reception building did not undergo any significant changes this time. Kekushev had a new platform built with a canopy, which was supported by architecturally striking arched portals column constructions, with a covering of black granite. These pillars are still preserved as part of the interior of one of the waiting rooms. In addition, a water tower was built next to the reception building to supply water to the station and the steam trains.
  Since this conversion measure could not meet the ever-increasing numbers of passengers, was at the beginning of the 20th Century, a fundamental expansion of the entire station needed. Fjodor Schechtel, at that time one of the most renowned Art Nouveau architects, submitted a draft in 1902, according to which the station was to be equipped, above all, according to its significance as the northern entrance gate of Moscow. He intended a reconstruction in traditional Moscow styles, which, however, have a clear reference to the ancient architecture of northern Russian towns and thus should express a close connection of Moscow to the Russian north. This idea of Schechtel was accepted with approval, so that the Moscow Governor-General issued the conversion permit in August 1902. The construction work under Schechtel's direction lasted from 1902 to 1904, the solemn inauguration of the renewed station took place on 19 December 1904.
  When reconstructing the existing reception building, two new supplementary buildings were erected on both sides, and the two rear building sections were extended. The old central part of the building has been completely redesigned by adding three tower constructions and making massive changes to the front façade. The 1900 water tower was integrated into the left tower of the central reception building. Schechtel's conversion enabled the capacity of Yaroslavl railway station to be roughly tripled. In addition, Schechtel managed to keep the conversion costs relatively cheap: these amounted to about 300,000 rubles, while the much simpler earlier works had devoured 220,000 rubles.
  To date, the 1904 completed Yaroslavl railway station is one of the best known works of Fyodor Schechtel. Since it, like all other buildings of his, is a listed building, all later station modifications were limited to extensions of the building from behind and to redesign and installation of platforms and tracks, while the front facade of the reception building to see today largely in its original state from 1904.
  The following major expansion of the Yaroslavl railway station took place in 1965–1966. Here, in the basement rooms of the station building originally used for the heating systems, luggage storage compartments were set up, whereby additional space on the ground floor could be obtained. In addition, the building received in its rear, the track-facing part of a two-story extension with a reinforced concrete and glass facade held. Today, this extension houses a ticket hall for public transport and part of the waiting room. Built in 1900 by Lew Kekuschew platform was integrated into it. Since then, its black granite pillars have been inside the building, while all platforms have been moved a few m
caption: The reconstruction of Moscow Yaroslavsky railway station
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