
Deepest Metro Stations in the World
While most urban metro networks dip just a few stories beneath street level, some astonishing exceptions plunge over a hundred meters underground. Factors such as rugged terrain, high riverbanks, dense urban development, and strict preservation of historical sites compel engineers to bore deeper tunnels to accommodate metro lines. The result? Extraordinary stations that have intricate designs, colossal escalator systems, and cutting-edge construction methods.
From the towering riverbanks of Kyiv—home to the iconic Arsenalna station—to the soaring hills of Chongqing, where Hongyancun station claims the title of the world’s deepest, these subterranean wonders are feats of modern engineering. Below, we’ll explore some of the deepest metro stations on Earth.
10. Ploshchad Lenina Station - 67 metres (220 ft)

Ploshchad Lenina is a station on the Kirovsko-Vyborgskaya Line of the Saint Petersburg Metro, located 67 meters underground. Opened on June 1, 1958, it was originally named after the nearby Finland Station before being renamed to reflect its proximity to Lenin Square. The surface vestibule, integrated into the Finlyandsky Rail Terminal, features a mosaic commemorating Lenin's 1917 speech. Designed by architect A.K. Andreev, the station's deep underground pylon design reflects a move away from Stalinist architectural excesses, opting for a simpler aesthetic with a red and white color scheme. In 2006, the station's lighting was updated, changing its visual atmosphere significantly.
9. Washington Park Station - 79 meters (260 ft)

Washington Park station, located 260 feet (79 meters) below ground, is the deepest transit station in North America and the only completely underground station in Portland’s MAX Light Rail system. Opened in September 1998 as part of the Westside MAX extension, it serves as a crucial hub connecting major attractions like the Oregon Zoo and World Forestry Center. This station was designed to alleviate congestion and improve access to key locations in Portland. The design incorporates a geological timeline and maintains a natural average temperature of 50 °F (10 °C) year-round due to its depth and surrounding rock structure. It also features high-speed elevators and large-scale murals, enhancing its architectural and functional appeal.
8. Park Pobedy - 84 meters (276 ft)

Park Pobedy, a station of the Moscow Metro located in the Dorogomilovo District, is notable for being 84 meters deep, making it the deepest metro station in Moscow and one of the deepest in the world. It serves as an interchange for the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya and Kalininsko-Solntsevskaya lines. The station, which began construction in 1986 and opened in 2003, features cross-platform interchange between these two lines. Its design includes the longest escalators in Europe, each 126 meters long, taking about three minutes to ascend. The station's architecture is marked by contrasting color schemes and large mosaics depicting historical events, designed by architects Nataliya Shurygina and Nikolay Shumakov. Additionally, its construction utilized a unique method involving steel blocks filled with concrete, reducing costs significantly.
7. Admiralteyskaya Station - 86 meters (282 ft)

Admiralteyskaya station, part of the Saint Petersburg Metro's Frunzensko-Primorskaya Line, was opened on December 28, 2011, primarily to ease congestion at nearby stations and provide better access to the Hermitage and other museums. Initially planned for the Nevsko-Vasileostrovskaya Line, its construction faced delays due to funding issues and controversies over its exit location, particularly concerning the historic significance of the chosen site. The station, located near the Admiralty building, is notable for its depth, reaching 86 meters underground, making it the deepest metro station in Saint Petersburg. Its complex includes two escalators, with the longest being 125 meters, leading to an intermediate level before descending further.
6. Universytet (Kyiv Metro) - 87 meters (285 ft)

Universytet station, part of the Kyiv Metro's Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line, opened on November 6, 1960. Named after the nearby Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, this station stands out for its pylon trivault architecture reminiscent of Stalinist designs from the 1950s Moscow and Saint Petersburg metros. It features red marbled pylons with white marble busts of prominent Ukrainian and Russian figures, though those of Russian origin were covered during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The station's design includes hidden lamps for illumination, walls adorned with orange tiles, and floors with granite in traditional Ukrainian patterns. Universytet has been used as a bomb shelter and holds the status of an architectural monument.
5. Hongtudi Station - 94.47 meters (309.9 ft)

Hongtudi station, located in Jiangbei District, Chongqing, China, serves as an interchange for Lines 6 and 10 of Chongqing Rail Transit. Notably, it ranks among the world's deepest subway stations with its lowest level at 94 meters below ground. Initially opened in 2012 with Line 6 platforms at over 60 meters deep, the station expanded its depth to 94 meters with the introduction of Line 10 platforms in 2017. This depth previously positioned it among the deepest globally, before being surpassed by Hongyancun station's 116 meters. The station's complex, due to its depth and high transfer volumes, is equipped with over 91 escalators to facilitate movement across its extensive layout.
4. Zoloti Vorota - 96.5 meters (317 ft)

Zoloti Vorota, a station on the Kyiv Metro's Syretsko-Pecherska Line, opened on December 31, 1989. Named after the nearby historic Golden Gate, the station is noted for its depth, located 96.5 meters underground. It serves as a transfer station to the Teatralna station on the Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line. The station features a unique design resembling an ancient Kievan Rus' temple, a departure from the original utilitarian plan, thanks to architects Borys and Vadym Zhezherin along with Mykola Zharikov. It showcases 80 mosaic pieces depicting the history of Kievan Rus', earning it recognition as one of Europe's most impressive metro stations. The station was also adapted as a bomb shelter during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
3. Arsenalna (Kyiv Metro) - 105.5 meters (346 ft)

Arsenalna station, on the Kyiv Metro's Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line, is noteworthy as the third-deepest station in the world at 105.5 meters. Opened during the line's initial stage, it features an unusual design devoid of a central concourse, resembling London Underground layouts. The station's unique pylon trivault architecture, designed by G Granatkin, S Krushynsky, and N Shchukina, includes only decorative pylons due to challenging soil conditions and hydroisolation issues. Named after the nearby Kyiv Arsenal Factory, now the Mystetskyi Arsenal Museum, Arsenalna was designated as an Architectural Monument of Local Significance in 1986. It also served as a bomb shelter during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The station's extensive escalator system is one of Kyiv's deepest descents.
2. Pyongyang Metro - 110 meters (360 ft)

The Pyongyang Metro, serving North Korea's capital, comprises two lines and is among the world's deepest metros, with tracks over 110 meters deep, allowing stations to double as bomb shelters. Started in 1965 and launched between 1969 and 1972 under Kim Il Sung's leadership, the metro features stations such as Puhŭng and Yŏnggwang, which were added in 1987. It operates deep underground without any above-ground sections, maintaining a platform temperature of 18 °C (64 °F) year-round. The construction included Chinese technical aid, particularly in installing electrical and escalator equipment. Currently, the metro is undergoing updates and potential extensions, with its rolling stock primarily consisting of refurbished models from Berlin's U-Bahn. The system also has a museum dedicated to its history and construction.
1. Hongyancun Station - 116 meters (381 ft)

Hongyancun station on Line 9 of Chongqing Rail Transit, China, holds the title of the deepest metro station in the world with its deepest point at 116 meters below ground. Opened in 2022 in Yuzhong District, it surpassed Kyiv's Arsenalna station's previous record. It also connects to Line 5 as of November 2023. The station features a significant vertical height difference of 141 meters between two of its entrances. To navigate this depth, passengers use extensive escalator systems or moving walkways, requiring up to 8 minutes to reach the platforms, showcasing the station's unique and expansive underground structure.