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BOUDEN TRAVEL LTD

Company number 08406680

• Company Overview for BOUDEN TRAVEL LTD (08406680)
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Reviews 4.3.

Most relevant

Easy pick up from Heathrow airport…

We were picked up from Heathrow airport I had simple instructions on what to do and how to contact the driver he was really helpful and made the last leg of our journey home very easy. We will definitely be using Bouden again!!

Date of experience : 23 April 2024

Bouden travel

We've used Bouden travel for both corporate transport and transporting staff from site to site, regardless of the job attention to detail and supply is always first class I've used Bouden for the last two years and wouldn't hesitate to recommend the team

Date of experience : 24 April 2024

very professional service from initial contact to drop off back to our club at end of day

Great service

This company was extremely easy to deal with from the moment we reached out to enquire about our booking, right through to the journey. Communication was great and was one of the cheaper quotes we received online. The driver was extremely helpful and friendly and the luxury mini bus it was lovely. Thank you so much.

Date of experience : 13 March 2024

I just wanted to say a big thank you…

I just wanted to say a big thank you for a wonderful experience with your coach company! We thoroughly enjoyed our trip yesterday which was made even better with the aid of such a stellar service. Our driver, Tom Hughes was excellent. His professional, friendly and easy-going personality was very much appreciated we were privileged to have him as our driver. Thank you once again for all your help and assistance and we hope we will be able to use your services again in the very near future.

Date of experience : 21 February 2024

There was Notting this company couldn’t…

There was Notting this company couldn’t do absolutely amazing company 💯 if all company’s were like them there be no giving out 😂will be using them again and will be advertising them when needed thanks again @Bouden coach travel

Date of experience : 10 March 2024

Excellent travel service providers

Excellent travel service providers. Right from recommendations , to very reasonable quotes which beats the next nearest quote by at least 25% , excellent skillful and very nice drivers , customer care , email alerts ....other travel agencies should learn from them. In the last 10 days , we had 3 very long distance tours with Bouden and the above reasons make it compelling to just stick to them. Zara from Sales team was really wonderful but also other members are also great. Keep up these levels and be an example to others.....Regards Ajit , Birmingham

Date of experience : 05 August 2023

Bouden's coaches arrived on time

Bouden's coaches arrived on time, were exceptionally clean and both drivers were pleasant despite it taking over an hour top get our bags from the airport. Company responded quickly to all our queries. Would be very happy to use them again.

Date of experience : 17 December 2023

Etching Hill WI visit to Halfpenny…

Etching Hill WI visit to Halfpenny Green Vineyard on the 19th July ‘23 The coach arrived early at the Village Hall. Our driver Amar Bashir was very pleasant and we left promptly at 10am. Amarillo took us via the countryside instead of the main road to Wolverhampton. This was much appreciated by our group. Two problems were identified with the coach (one broken safety belt catch and one missing armrest) I have spoken by phone to staff in the office about this. An enjoyable outing was had by all. Fran

Date of experience : 19 July 2023

Great company

Great company, very professional. Nothing was too much trouble, even though I changed my booking time very last minute, they accommodated it no problem. Pick up was on time at both destinations and we had a stress free travel

Date of experience : 05 December 2023

Reply from Bouden coach travel

Thank you so much for your review - it means the world to us to and we are very grateful to you for sharing your experience and helping to get the word out there about us. We hope to have you on board again soon and when you next enquire, make sure to give us your previous booking reference so you get your returning client discount :)

Shocking company

Shocking company, left us stranded for a 21st birthday, driver didn’t turn up despite emailing 2 hours before a confirmation, no one answering the main phone line, the mobile or the 24 hour emergency number . Took 4weeks to get our money back excuse after excuse , refused to compensate us for the missed events we had booked as well AVOID

Date of experience : 01 January 2020

Recently used bouden coach travel and i…

Recently used bouden coach travel and i must say service was exellent from start to finish Office staff were professional friendly and went above and beyond to make everhthing perfect The minibus was luxury mercedes witg tables and our guests were very pleased .

Date of experience : 11 August 2023

We used Bouden Coach Travel on the 14th…

We used Bouden Coach Travel on the 14th October to take our guests to and from our wedding, from the moment we booked to the final journey everything went so smoothly and communication was brilliant. Many thanks from the new Mr and Mrs D. Woodbine.

Date of experience : 14 October 2023

Fantastic Service

Our experience was fantastic from start to finish! From Sophie and Morgan working on our booking to Shane, our driver - everyone was so helpful and friendly. It was great to hear from Shane prior to the trip to give us peace of mind he was on his way and again had arrived to pick us up. He is a fantastic driver and navigated around London and through torrential rain incredibly well. Thanks everyone!

Date of experience : 29 March 2023

Dear Michelle, We are thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our business! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We strive to provide the best possible service to all of our customers, and it is always rewarding to hear that we have succeeded in doing so . Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need future help Best regards, Bouden travel ltd

Traveling with them was a nervous experience

We booked a coach with Bouden in May 23 to transfer a wedding party of 30 from the wedding reception venue to Lea Marston Hotel which was a few miles away and should have taken no more than 8 minutes. Unfortunately the trip took over 30 mins, the driver took endless wrong turns, got lost and had to stop to check his map/sat nav and drove far to fast. My wife and other members of the party were very nervous during the trip due to how fast erratic he was driving. Also I had repeat emails from them asking for payment when i had already paid, on contacting them they stated that they could not find my payment in there system. Needless to say I don't recommend Bouden Coach Travel.

Date of experience : 29 May 2023

Hello Andrew, We have checked the tracking record for your trip on the 29th May and the trip took 16 minutes in total, the driver's overall score was 85 points out of 100 which is very good for rural areas. Coaches always take longer than cars as they are harder to maneuver and we would always factor in at least 10 minutes on top of a car journey, longer for longer distances. With regards to the payment, the description used was 'wedding coach' which is why we couldn't match your payment. We have a lot of coaches for weddings so we can't just mark them to any booking as this would leave a lot to be desired in terms of accuracy. That's why we ask for the reference number to be used as there is then very little room for error. The driver's overall score was very good and is showing no speeding records for the duration of your trip. Sometimes large vehicles can feel a little more unstable, particularly late at night on country roads but the driver is a professional who has been working with us for over 8 years with 0 accidents on record and we have never had a complaint of erratic driving made against him before. We also have not received a complaint from you prior to this review being left online, which is unfortunate as based on the information on our end this rating is not a true reflection on the service we provided. With that being said, we apologize that you were not happy with the overall experience and it's unfortunate we didn't get the opportunity to discuss this prior this point as we would have hoped to have been given the opportunity to put this right.

Day trip to the seaside...

I work as a support worker to young adults with learning disabilities & autism,myself and the support team planned a day trip to the seaside,and booked a minibus with Bouden Coach travels,and I must say we were very impressed with the minibus,the driver, the pick up to and from destination and all at a very reasonable price. Thankyou...😊 We will definitely be using this company again for future day trips/outings.

Date of experience : 09 August 2023

Used Bouden coach travel for airport…

Used Bouden coach travel for airport runs 19th and 29th December 2018, friendly, good customer service, booking easy, drivers on time and friendly getting us where we needed to be in good time dispite their being flight delay and delay at airport with baggage. Driver helped with baggage in and out of car. Reliable. Clean comfortable ride. Very competitive rates. Will recommend and use again in future.

Date of experience : 02 January 2019

Good Morning Sarah, Thank you ever so much for taking the time out to tell us your thoughts on our services, we really appreciate it. We love receiving feedback like this and value each and every one of our customers, to hear that we have provided you with such a good service is music to our ears. It was a pleasure transporting you and we ask please keep us in mind for the future we would be more than happy to accommodate. To say a further Thank you, I am more than happy to give you 10% off your next booking with us, just simply quote your previous reference number and we will be happy to help with any of your travel requirements.

The journies were pleasant and the…

The journies were pleasant and the drivers were really good and professional . It was comfortable journey. The booking was made at short notice as another company let me down last minute ( Grand coaches -scammers). Bouden is very professional and the ladies on the phone were very pleasant and helpful . Booked 2 separate journeys on 33 seater coach. The drivers were lovely and price was reasonable. No disappointments .

Date of experience : 20 August 2018

We love receiving feedback like this from our valued customers, thank you ever so much for taking the time to write this for us we find your feedback very valuable to say thank you we would like to offer you 10% off your next booking with us. Should you have any transport needs in the future please don't hesitate to contact us, we would be more than happy to help. Make sure you quote your previous reference when redeeming the 10% off.

Do not use this company

Do not touch this company with a barge pole . Charged £700 for a luxury minibus transfer and we ended up with a beaten up , filthy works van that was 17 years old and falling apart . The driver was wearing flip flops and we saw him nodding off at the wheel when doing speeds of nearly 85 mph . Upon contacting Bouden for a refund I had a reply stating that we had racially abused the driver and were very bad passengers which is an out and out lie as that’s just not who we are . The rest of our party will be posting bad reviews for this company as they have made an offer of £25 refund which is an absolute joke and we are now seeking legal advice to recover our costs . Everyone needs to know never to use this company, totally shocking and upsetting experience and doesn’t even deserve a 1 star review .

Date of experience : 09 July 2023

Great coach company

The coach was clean, comfortable and on time. The company is competitively priced . The customer service has been excellent and best of all the driver was lovely. Very pleasant and helpful we felt very safe. All of this helped make our day at the seaside a great success. Highly recommended.

Date of experience : 02 September 2023

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Reviews 4.3.

Most relevant

Excellent service from start to finish…

Excellent service from start to finish for our trip to York races. The minibus was in good and clean condition and very comfortable. Both our drivers were punctual, courteous and flexible. Cannot recommend Bouden highly enough.

Date of experience : August 24, 2023

Excellent service from the beginning

Excellent service from the beginning, clear communication for easy booking and payment. Coach arrived early and was immaculate. Driver very smart, polite and friendly. We hired it for a business tour of local development sites, so lots of short trips with difficult parking and people on and off the bus at each location. Driver took it all in his stride and was very helpful. Would highly recommend.

Date of experience : October 09, 2018

Reply from Bouden coach travel

Good morning Suzanne, I am very happy to hear that you were pleased with our service for your journey. That's great to hear that you found our coach hire services so accommodating. Here's 10% off your next booking as our way of saying thank you, we really appreciate your time for writing this. Should you have any transport needs in the future please don't hesitate to contact us, we would be more than happy to help. Make sure you quote your previous reference when redeeming the 10% off.

Our group went with Vlad to Fort…

Our group went with Vlad to Fort William. He was bang on time when picking us up in a new mercedes minibus and has been a great company. We had nice conversations, he let us connect our phones to the music system and stopped at the services whenever we asked him. He also drove some people of our group to a different hotel which was a few miles away from his drop off location. Really good company that takes care of their drivers. 10/10 experience

Date of experience : July 12, 2022

Hi Matt, we are happy you had a positive experience with us and we thank you for taking the time out to leave this great review Please let us know if you need future transport

The Friendly Inn Residential Care Home

The Friendly Inn Residential Care Home, used your company on the 26/04/23, to take our Residents to The Black Country Museum, this was the first time using yourselves, and we was extremely happy with the Service Provided, the transport arrived on-time, made all residents and staff feel safe and the coach was comfy for our vunerable adults. The driver was very polite and nothing was too much trouble. Once again Thankyou and we will definetley be using yourselves in the near future. :)

Date of experience : April 26, 2023

Thank you so much for taking the time out to leave us your feedback. We really appciate your kind review and we would love to have you on board again soon :)

Professional service 5 star all around

Professional service I would highly recommend bouden travel Used for a corporate trip to London Coach was luxury type and even had tables and fridge , the driver was punctual very accommodating and nothing was too much trouble I would like to thank the office staff too who were very helpful dealing with all our changes and requirements

Date of experience : August 26, 2022

Hi Ash, Thank you for your review, great to hear you were pleased with our luxury vehicle! Let us know if you have any future travel plans Thank you again :)

Deserve a minus 5 star for how they…

Deserve a minus 5 star for how they speak to customers and how much of your time they waste! Wouldn't even bother making enquiries if you are interested in Stag Do! Tried to arrange Stag Do coach transport for our trip and the initial lad we spoke to said yes and sent us 2 bus type quotes and when we chased and chased for 3 weeks to make a payment on one of the luxury coach options, this rude lady came back to us and said they don't do stag do coach travel any more! So change the advertising on your website then jokers! Its still advertising you offer stag and hen do coach transport!!! Shocking company!

Date of experience : January 07, 2022

I booked return transfers to the…airport

I booked return transfers to the airport for ten of us this autumn. We left at 03:30 hours and came home at 23:00 hours so no-one fancied driving. The executive minibuses were fabulous, the drivers were punctual, friendly and helpful. I couldn't fault the level of service from Bouden Coach Travel and would definitely recommend them to anyone.

Date of experience : October 26, 2018

Hello Kerry, Thank you for your valuable feedback, we appreciate your time for writing this. You were a pleasure to transport and we look forward to seeing you in the future. Book with us and get 10% off your next booking. Quote your previous reference when redeeming.

Excellent Service!

We used Bouden Coach Travel twice now to collect groups of nurses arriving into the UK to take them to their accommodation. Each time I spoke to a member of staff on the phone prior to the trip, they were just as nice as the last, so informative and helpful. Both drivers were so accommodating, cheerful and were very patient especially when we had them running around Leicester! They helped each nurse with their luggage and went above and beyond. Both coaches were of high standard and in excellent condition. We will definitely be using your services again in the future !

Date of experience : April 02, 2019

Thank you ever so much for your kind words Sinead. To hear that we continue to provided you with such a good service is music to our ears. To say a further Thank you, I am more than happy to give you discount off your next booking with us, just simply quote your previous reference number and we will be happy to help with any of your travel requirements.

First class service from a first class team

Will use this company for all our transport need in future. Cannot praise them highly enough, from office staff to drivers. Done an airport transport with these guys from Peterborough to Birmingham Airport and return journey. Everything ran like clockwork

Date of experience : January 16, 2019

We would just like to say a massive thank you for your kind words Chris about our airport transfer service, we are pleased to hear you found our staff so accommodating we will be sure to let them know you enjoyed the airport transfer with us. If in the future you do have any further transport requirements should it be minibus hire or coach hire please don't hesitate to contact us, we would also be more than happy to offer you a discount on your next journey. Simply quote your previous reference number when enquiring.

Excellent, drivers very polite & professional. Timing was spot on & vehicles were very clean & perfect for our needs. Communication at all times was very good & the price was better than all others looked at. Thank you very much.

Date of experience : May 16, 2023

Terrible Customer Service

Received a quote and then no response to my E Mails regarding upgrading - I eventually decided to call to be told they now had a corporate booking and therefore could no longer accommodate. Sophie in the office promised she would see what she could do and would give me a call back - A week later I am still waiting!!! Thanks Bouden Travel & Sophie you certainly don't appear to value your Customers!

Date of experience : September 05, 2022

Booked a Bouden’s mini

Booked a Bouden’s mini. Bus for 15 ladies to go to see Moulin Rouge in London. From booking, pick up & drop off the whole process was excellent. Lovely driver, immaculate & comfy coach. Plus great value for money. Special thanks to the driver who not once complained to our loud laughter & music. Highly recommend.

Date of experience : September 16, 2023

A* Service!

I recently made a booking through Bouden Travel, we booked a mini bus for a girly weekend away. Our advisor Sophie couldn’t of been more helpful, she was very accommodating, efficient, friendly, she went above and beyond to ensure we were satisfied with our booking. Sophie offered a second to none service and is a credit to the business. I will be sure to use Bouden Travel again for any future travel arrangements.

Date of experience : November 17, 2018

Hello Staci, Thank you ever so much for your kind words about our company, we look forward to transporting your group again. I will let Sophie know of your kind words. As a way of saying thank you please quote your previous references when getting a new quote from us and we would be more than happy to apply 10% off on your quotation.

This was our second time using this…

This was our second time using this company , this time had two 16 seater mini buses and a 49 seater coach . Excellent service from start to finish . Staff are meticulous and go through every detail with you . Drivers are really helpful Would definitely recommend 100% , Gary

Date of experience : September 20, 2021

Blackpool family funeral - thank you Tom

We booked a coach for our family to take us to a funeral and from start to finish the service was excellent and Tom our driver for the day was absolutely fantastic! We can’t thank him enough! An amazing guy and thank you for your services Kelly and family

Date of experience : September 28, 2023

Excellent service

Excellent service. We hired Bouden for 1 week across the UK. Coach was always clean and in great conditions. Our driver, Khalifa, was always on time, gave great recomendations, was friendly and professional at all times; he made the trip 100 times better. From the moment we requested a quote to the moment of our final trip with Bouden, our experience was exceptional. I am already planning my next trip with Bouden!

Date of experience : September 16, 2022

Hi Helen, Thank you for leaving us this great review, very pleased to hear that you are planning your next trip with us! :)

Excellent level of service received…

Excellent level of service received both whilst travelling and post travel. My daughter left her electrical device on the coach when our journey was finished and within a few hours it was located and packaged up ready for collection. Cannot ask for a better service than that and nice to know there are still some very honest people out there. I cannot recommend this travel company enough.

Date of experience : April 23, 2019

Good afternoon Emma, Thank you ever so much for your kind words, we are pleased to hear that you found us so accommodating. We can't wait to hear from you soon and provide you with transport, you and your group really were a pleasure. I would be more than happy to offer you discount on your next quotation with us, simply quote your previous reference number when enquiring.

Im very unhappy with this company

Im very unhappy with this company. I booked and paid a depisit for a trip going in march next year. This was 2 weeks ago. I received a confirmation email from them and assuming all was sorted i refused all other quotes i had received. Yesterday i received an email from them saying that they had just realised that my booking date coincided with the Cheltenham cup weekend and as availability is low they need to add another £300 onto the price. They blamed a blip in their system. Whilst i understand mistakes happen, im disgusted that they now expect me to either pay this extra money or have my deposit paid back. Not very professional in my opinion.

Date of experience : October 20, 2022

Great service the drivers were prompt…

Great service the drivers were prompt on both pick ups despite our plane being an hour late to Birmingham. Drivers were professional and friendly. Nice cars made it an enjoyable experience. Would definitely use them again

Date of experience : September 02, 2022

Trains Moscow to Elektrostal: Times, Prices and Tickets

• Train Times
• Seasonality
• Accommodations

Moscow to Elektrostal by train

The journey from Moscow to Elektrostal by train is 32.44 mi and takes 2 hr 7 min. There are 71 connections per day, with the first departure at 12:15 AM and the last at 11:46 PM. It is possible to travel from Moscow to Elektrostal by train for as little as or as much as . The best price for this journey is .

Get from Moscow to Elektrostal with Virail

Virail's search tool will provide you with the options you need when you want to go from Moscow to Elektrostal. All you need to do is enter the dates of your planned journey, and let us take care of everything else. Our engine does the hard work, searching through thousands of routes offered by our trusted travel partners to show you options for traveling by train, bus, plane, or carpool. You can filter the results to suit your needs. There are a number of filtering options, including price, one-way or round trip, departure or arrival time, duration of journey, or number of connections. Soon you'll find the best choice for your journey. When you're ready, Virail will transfer you to the provider's website to complete the booking. No matter where you're going, get there with Virail.

How can I find the cheapest train tickets to get from Moscow to Elektrostal?

Prices will vary when you travel from Moscow to Elektrostal. On average, though, you'll pay about for a train ticket. You can find train tickets for prices as low as , but it may require some flexibility with your travel plans. If you're looking for a low price, you may need to prepare to spend more time in transit. You can also often find cheaper train tickets at particular times of day, or on certain days of the week. Of course, ticket prices often change during the year, too; expect to pay more in peak season. For the lowest prices, it's usually best to make your reservation in advance. Be careful, though, as many providers do not offer refunds or exchanges on their cheapest train tickets. Unfortunately, no price was found for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal. Selecting a new departure or arrival city, without dramatically changing your itinerary could help you find price results. Prices will vary when you travel from Moscow to Elektrostal. On average, though, you'll pay about for a train ticket. If you're looking for a low price, you may need to prepare to spend more time in transit. You can also often find cheaper train tickets at particular times of day, or on certain days of the week. Of course, ticket prices often change during the year, too; expect to pay more in peak season. For the lowest prices, it's usually best to make your reservation in advance. Be careful, though, as many providers do not offer refunds or exchanges on their cheapest train tickets.

How long does it take to get from Moscow to Elektrostal by train?

The journey between Moscow and Elektrostal by train is approximately 32.44 mi. It will take you more or less 2 hr 7 min to complete this journey. This average figure does not take into account any delays that might arise on your route in exceptional circumstances. If you are planning to make a connection or operating on a tight schedule, give yourself plenty of time. The distance between Moscow and Elektrostal is around 32.44 mi. Depending on the exact route and provider you travel with, your journey time can vary. On average, this journey will take approximately 2 hr 7 min. However, the fastest routes between Moscow and Elektrostal take 1 hr 3 min. If a fast journey is a priority for you when traveling, look out for express services that may get you there faster. Some flexibility may be necessary when booking. Often, these services only leave at particular times of day - or even on certain days of the week. You may also find a faster journey by taking an indirect route and connecting in another station along the way.

How many journeys from Moscow to Elektrostal are there every day?

On average, there are 71 daily departures from Moscow to Elektrostal. However, there may be more or less on different days. Providers' timetables can change on certain days of the week or public holidays, and many also vary at particular times of year. Some providers change their schedules during the summer season, for example. At very busy times, there may be up to departures each day. The providers that travel along this route include , and each operates according to their own specific schedules. As a traveler, you may prefer a direct journey, or you may not mind making changes and connections. If you have heavy suitcases, a direct journey could be best; otherwise, you might be able to save money and enjoy more flexibility by making a change along the way. Every day, there are an average of 18 departures from Moscow which travel directly to Elektrostal. There are 53 journeys with one change or more. Unfortunately, no connection was found for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal. Selecting a new departure or arrival city, without dramatically changing your itinerary could help you find connections.

Book in advance and save

If you're looking for the best deal for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal, booking train tickets in advance is a great way to save money, but keep in mind that advance tickets are usually not available until 3 months before your travel date.

Stay flexible with your travel time and explore off-peak journeys

Planning your trips around off-peak travel times not only means that you'll be able to avoid the crowds, but can also end up saving you money. Being flexible with your schedule and considering alternative routes or times will significantly impact the amount of money you spend on getting from Moscow to Elektrostal.

Always check special offers

Checking on the latest deals can help save a lot of money, making it worth taking the time to browse and compare prices. So make sure you get the best deal on your ticket and take advantage of special fares for children, youth and seniors as well as discounts for groups.

Unlock the potential of slower trains or connecting trains

If you're planning a trip with some flexible time, why not opt for the scenic route? Taking slower trains or connecting trains that make more stops may save you money on your ticket – definitely worth considering if it fits in your schedule.

Best time to book cheap train tickets from Moscow to Elektrostal

The cheapest Moscow - Elektrostal train tickets can be found for as low as $35.01 if you’re lucky, or $54.00 on average. The most expensive ticket can cost as much as $77.49.

Find the best day to travel to Elektrostal by train

When travelling to Elektrostal by train, if you want to avoid crowds you can check how frequently our customers are travelling in the next 30-days using the graph below. On average, the peak hours to travel are between 6:30am and 9am in the morning, or between 4pm and 7pm in the evening. Please keep this in mind when travelling to your point of departure as you may need some extra time to arrive, particularly in big cities!

Moscow to Elektrostal CO2 Emissions by Train

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The Charnel-House

From bauhaus to beinhaus.

Moscow metro

Buried treasure: The splendor of the Moscow Metro system

Owen hatherley the calvert journal january 29, 2013.

. Reposted from  The Calvert Journal , a daily briefing on the culture and creativity of modern Russia.

. Post-Communist underground stations in Moscow, like the recently completed Pyatnitskoye shosse, are still, very visibly, Moscow Metro stations. Regardless of the need or otherwise for nuclear shelters, they’re still buried deep in the ground; ubiquitous still is the expensive, laborious, but highly legible and architecturally breathtaking practice of providing high-ceilinged vaults with the trains leaving from either side. There have been attempts at “normal” metro lines, like the sober stations built under Khrushchev, or the “Light Metro” finished in 2003, but they didn’t catch on. Largely, the model developed in the mid-1930s continues, and not just in Moscow — extensions in Kiev or St Petersburg, or altogether new systems in Kazan or Almaty, carry on this peculiar tradition. Metro stations are still being treated as palaces of the people, over two decades after the “people’s” states collapsed. This could be a question of maintaining quality control, but then quality is not conspicuous in the Russian built environment. So why does this endure?

. The original, 1930s Moscow Metro was the place where even the most skeptical fellow travellers threw away their doubts and surrendered. Bertolt Brecht wrote an awe-filled poem on the subject, “The Moscow Workers Take Possession of the Great Metro on April 27, 1935,” dropping his habitual irony and dialectic to describe the Metro workers perusing the system they’d built on the day of its opening. At the end, the poet gasps, his guard down, “This is the grand picture that once upon a time/ rocked the writers who foresaw it” — that is, that here, at least, a dream of “Communism” had been palpably built. It was not an uncommon reaction, then or now, nostalgia notwithstanding. The first stations, those Brecht was talking about, were not particularly over-ornamented, especially by the standards of what came later, but their extreme opulence and spaciousness was still overwhelming. Stations like Sokolniki or Kropotkinskaya didn’t bludgeon with classical reminisces and mosaics. Yet three things about the underground designs created by architects Alexei Dushkin, Ivan Fomin, Dmitry Chechulin et al were unprecedented in any previous public transport network, whether Charles Holden’s London, Alfred Grenander’s Berlin or Hector Guimard’s Paris. First, the huge size of the halls, their high ceilings and widely-spaced columns; second, the quality of the materials, with various coloured marbles shipped in from all over the USSR; and third, the lighting, emerging from individually-designed, surreal chandeliers, often murkily atmospheric, designed to create mood rather than light.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDC9Fd7UT9w] Continue reading →

With lightning telegrams: