Metrowagonmash
A Russian rolling-stock manufacturer specializing in metro cars, rail buses, trams, and other railway vehicles.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Metrowagonmash is an engineering and rolling-stock manufacturing company based in Mytishchi, Moscow Oblast, Russia. The enterprise traces its origins to 1897, when a plant was established in the settlement of Bolshoye Mytishchi to produce railway cars for the Northern Railway. Over more than a century, its production profile expanded from conventional railcars into trams, electric passenger trains, metro cars, rail buses, special railway vehicles, and, during periods of military mobilization, military equipment. The company is particularly associated with metro rolling stock. Its cars have been supplied to metro systems across much of the former Soviet Union and to several Central and Eastern European cities, including Budapest, Prague, Sofia, and Warsaw. This historical reach made the enterprise one of the most recognizable specialized producers of Soviet- and Russian-designed metro vehicles. Its product portfolio has included the widely used 81-717 and 81-714 metro families, later generations of Moscow Metro trains, light-rail vehicles, and the Baltiets, Moskva, Moskva-2020, and Moskva-2024 series identified in recent product listings. Metrowagonmash also developed a significant position in non-metro railway equipment. It began manufacturing rail buses in 1999, targeting suburban and interregional services on non-electrified routes. Between 2006 and 2008, the plant manufactured 137 RA2 multiple units. The company has also produced trams and snowplows, and has participated in the manufacture of specialized railway equipment. Its industrial history was shaped by the Russian Revolution, the Soviet planned economy, the Second World War, and post-Soviet restructuring. During the Second World War, part of the plant was evacuated to the Urals, while the enterprise produced self-propelled guns, military tractors, tracked vehicles, and other defense-related materiel. Equipment was returned to the plant in 1942. After the war, dump-truck production began in 1947, and the enterprise operated for periods across railway, heavy vehicle, and armored-vehicle manufacturing before focusing more strongly on metro cars, dump trucks, and tracked-vehicle chassis. In May 2009, the Mytishchi Machine-Building Factory activities were separated from Metrowagonmash as a distinct company focused on trucks and armored vehicles. Metrowagonmash remained centered on transport engineering and rolling stock. It is part of Transmashholding, one of Russia's major rail-equipment groups, and is described as one of the country's leading transport machine-building enterprises. The company's present identity is therefore that of a specialized rail-transport manufacturer rather than a broad consumer-facing brand. Its principal competitive strengths are long manufacturing experience, familiarity with Russian and former Soviet rail standards, and established expertise in metro vehicles. Its operating environment is closely connected to public-transport procurement, state and municipal infrastructure programs, and the technical requirements of metro and regional railway operators. In May 2023, the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Metrowagonmash, citing alleged involvement in the production of military equipment and related components. This marked a significant change in the company's international regulatory context.
History
Metrowagonmash originated in 1897 with the establishment of a railway-car plant in Bolshoye Mytishchi, near Moscow. The factory initially supplied railcars to the Northern Railway. Its output broadened during the early twentieth century: trams and snowplows for Moscow were being produced from 1903, and electric passenger trains were added from 1929. Metro-car production began in 1934, establishing the activity that would eventually become the enterprise's defining industrial specialization. The Second World War substantially altered the factory's role. In addition to railway work, it manufactured self-propelled guns, military tractors, tracked vehicles, and other defense-related equipment. Part of the plant was evacuated to the Urals in October 1941, while its equipment was returned the following year. The wartime experience contributed to the enterprise's later capabilities in heavy engineering and armored-vehicle production. After the war, the plant diversified further. Dump-truck production began in 1947, and during the Soviet period the enterprise was associated with several industrial areas, including subway cars, dump trucks, and tracked-vehicle chassis. Its metro products became widespread across the Soviet Union. Later generations of its cars were also used in metro systems in a number of Central and Eastern European cities, including Budapest, Prague, Sofia, and Warsaw. This distribution reflected the compatibility of Soviet-designed rolling stock with the transport systems of socialist and post-socialist countries. The enterprise entered the rail-bus market in 1999. Rail buses were intended for suburban and interregional routes, particularly on lines without electrification. Between 2006 and 2008, the plant produced 137 RA2 multiple units, strengthening its role beyond the metro segment. It also continued work on trams, light-rail vehicles, and specialized railway equipment. Post-Soviet industrial restructuring led to a clearer separation of activities. In May 2009, the Mytishchi Machine-Building Factory was spun off as a separate company focused on truck and armored-vehicle manufacturing. Metrowagonmash retained its identity as a transport-engineering enterprise centered on rolling stock. It subsequently became part of Transmashholding, a major Russian rail-equipment group. In the twenty-first century, the company continued supplying metro vehicles for Russian urban-transport systems and maintained a catalog spanning metro trains, trams, rail buses, and special-purpose railway products. Recent model families listed for the company include the Baltiets, Moskva, Moskva-2020, and Moskva-2024 metro trains, as well as the Vityaz tram. The company's historical 81-series cars remain important to the development of Russian and former Soviet metro rolling stock. Metrowagonmash's industrial history has continued to include defense-related production alongside civilian transport manufacturing. On 19 May 2023, the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on the company. The U.S. government described the plant as involved in producing military equipment, including components for surface-to-air radar, weapons systems, and armored tracked vehicles. The designation added international regulatory restrictions to the company's existing role as a Russian railway manufacturer.
- 2023
United States sanctions designation
[1]The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Metrowagonmash over alleged involvement in military-equipment production.
- 2009
Mytishchi Machine-Building Factory separated
[1]The Mytishchi Machine-Building Factory was spun off as a separate truck and armored-vehicle manufacturer.
- 2006
RA2 multiple-unit production period begins
[1]The company manufactured RA2 multiple units during the 2006–2008 production period.
- 1999
Entry into rail buses
[1]Metrowagonmash began manufacturing rail buses for suburban and interregional railway services.
- 1947
Dump-truck production starts
[1]The enterprise began producing dump trucks after the war.
- 1941
Partial wartime evacuation
[1]Part of the plant was evacuated to the Urals during the Second World War.
- 1934
Metro-car production begins
[1]The plant entered metro-car manufacturing, which later became its principal specialization.
- 1929
Electric passenger-train production begins
[1]The enterprise expanded into the manufacture of electric passenger trains.
- 1903
Tram and snowplow production begins
[1]The factory began producing trams and snowplows for Moscow.
- 1897
Railway-car plant established
[1]A plant was founded in Bolshoye Mytishchi to manufacture railway cars, initially for the Northern Railway.
Products and positioning
A specialized, state-linked Russian rail-transport equipment manufacturer with deep expertise in metro rolling stock and related urban and regional railway vehicles.
Metro cars
81-717/714
The 81-717 and 81-714 families are among the best-known Soviet-designed metro cars associated with Metrowagonmash. They were produced for broad deployment across metro systems in the former Soviet Union and influenced later generations of Russian metro rolling stock. Their importance lies less in a single contemporary configuration than in their extensive historical use and the platform's role in establishing the company's metro-manufacturing reputation.
Metro cars
81-760/761
The 81-760 and 81-761 series represent a later generation of Russian metro vehicles in Metrowagonmash's product lineage. They were developed for urban rapid-transit operations and form part of the company's succession of metro platforms supplied to Russian systems. Specific fleet configurations and deployment dates vary by operator.
Metro trains
81-725/726/727 Baltiets
The Baltiets family is a modern metro-train series listed among Metrowagonmash's rolling-stock products. It belongs to the company's contemporary urban-rail portfolio and is designed for metro service rather than conventional intercity rail operations.
Metro trains
81-765/766/767 Moskva
The Moskva series is a family of metro cars developed for large-city rapid-transit service. It is part of Metrowagonmash's modern metro offering and reflects the company's continuing focus on vehicles for Russian metropolitan systems.
Metro trains
81-775/776/777 Moskva-2020
Moskva-2020 is a later generation of the company's Moskva metro-train line. It is included in recent Metrowagonmash product listings and represents the continuation of the firm's development of modern metro rolling stock for urban passenger networks.
Metro trains · 2024
81-775.2/776.2/777.2 Moskva-2024
Moskva-2024 is a further listed iteration of the Moskva metro platform. It belongs to the company's most recent generation of metro vehicles and is intended for contemporary urban rapid-transit applications.
Tram
71-931M Vityaz
The Vityaz 71-931M is a tram model in Metrowagonmash's urban-rail portfolio. It extends the company's activities beyond metro cars into surface electric transport and is identified as one of the rolling-stock models produced by the enterprise.
Rail multiple unit · 2006
RA2
RA2 is a rail multiple-unit family manufactured by Metrowagonmash between 2006 and 2008. These vehicles were intended for suburban and regional services, including routes where electrification was unavailable. The company produced 137 RA2 multiple units during that period.
Recent events
- 2023
Metrowagonmash sanctioned by the United States[1]
Regulation
On 19 May 2023, the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control added Metrowagonmash to its sanctions framework. The U.S. State Department said the enterprise was involved in producing military equipment, including components associated with surface-to-air radar, weapons systems, and armored tracked vehicles.
Sources2 sources
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