Dnipro (Kyiv Metro)
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Dnipro (Template:Lang-ua, Template:Lang-ru) is a station on the Kiev Metro's Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line). Named after the Dnieper River, the station consists of a semi-estacade over the embankment highway, and then continues across the river as part of the Metro Bridge. The station was opened along with the first stage of the Metro in 1960 and for the first five years, before the bridge was compleated, was the eastern termius of the line.
Itself the station is probably one of the most unique designs in not only Kiev, but all of the former USSR.The design is attributed to Kiev's unique geography and how engineers and city planners applied the Metro development project to it. The problem was that to link up the City rail terminal, city centre, and the residential districts on the left bank of the river. Since the planned junction between the Brovary avenue and the right bank was to happen at that point, it was decided to turn the metro line first southeast via the Arsenal factory and then make a right angle turn northeast and make the Brovarsky radius go on the surface similar in design to Moscow's Filyovskaya Line. The station was to serve this junction point.
In engineering terms the design incorportes two destinct portions: a large structure on the western side with estacade track and platforms coming out. Both the engineers (H.Fuks, L.Nobsborsky and V.Ihnatyuk) and the architects (H.Hranatkin, A.Ihnashchenko, P.Krasytsky and S.Krushynsky) put quite an effort into its construction. The western side structure consists of a embankment level vestibule with ticket halls and staircases leading on to the platforms. As the station has side platforms, it is possible to change direction without leaving the premisis of the Metro. The estacade level cosists of two platforms separated by two rows of track. Originally when the Brovarsky radius was not compleated, the far end of the platform was a large balcony overlooking the river and one of the tracks was covered up by the platform. On the side of the embankment there are two addtional encolosed staircase pavilions which are currentely closed. On top of them are two statues (sculptors F.Katsyubynsky, E.Kuntsevych, I.Horovy, B.Karlovsky) of a youth pioneers releasing pigions (girl, northern pavilion) and a model of the Sputnik satellite (boy southern) often symbolising the station as a gateway to the future and the technological achivement of the Metro.
Also intersting is that under statio pass the lines of the Kiev Tram, origianally there was depot there, but in 1960, when the Metro was opened it lacked a full depot for serious repairs and the tram depot was coverted into a Metro one. Tram tracks were used for rail cars and these were pushed onto a rotor which span them 90 degrees before hydrolically lifting them up onto the estacade. Although this unique operation was time consuming, it was nevertheless rarely used as a service bay behind Arsenalna was suitable in most cases. In 1965 after the extension to the left bank, the Darnytsia depot was opened, and both the provisional depot and the rotor/lift were dismantled.
Today the station, although having a short passenger traffic, remains the most popular in Kiev Metro. Most of the people who actually come off there are visitors to the city that are amazed at the construction of this remarkable 40 year old design. Over the years, its exposure to the elements have necessitated in some repair work and renovation which is periodically carried out. The station also remains symbolic in other ways, as it was on the hill of the right bank, where the current portal tunnels are that in 1949 the first tunnel boring shield was launched.