The North River Terminal, Moscow

12 September 2020

A recent article on the website Russia Beyond hails the renovation of the North River Terminal in Moscow. There was also a report in the Moscow Times.

The last time I saw the River Terminal was in 2013, when our boat disembarked from there at the start of a journey by river from Moscow to St Petersburg. I took this photo then. You can see that the building looks very sad and delapidated, fenced off from visitors, with only the presence of a couple of portakabins indicating that some sort of work was going on.

The North River Terminal is quite a long way out of the centre of Moscow. It’s not far from Sheremetyevo Airport – and you can see the distinctive tower, and pass by the statue of the lady with the boat, if you travel to or from the airport by car. I remember when we were living there in 1987, early on in our stay, the British Embassy laid on an evening river cruise for members of staff, leaving from this spot. Robert and I had no idea it was so far out, or what rush-hour traffic was like in Moscow, and we arrived late, just in time to see the boat sailing away without us. I don’t remember being aware of the building that time – just of the interminable journey to get there. I do remember feeling very frustrated and sad about missing the party.

But now look at it! Fountains, playgrounds, a viewing platform, restaurants and cafes – and all that splendid 1930s architecture restored.

This is a good view of the park behind the River Terminal. You have to walk through the trees and cross a main road to reach the nearest Metro station, Rechnoy Vokzal.

Photographer @luelkovica

Artist: V Semyonov. Published in a postcard collection in 1979