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The capital of the former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan, Baki (Baku) has 2.5 million inhabitants and is situated on the hills of Apsheron peninsula by the Caspian Sea.

A Metro system for Baku was first envisaged in the 1932 Master Plan, and in 1949 the Council of Ministers of the USSR approved the design and construction works. Actual construction on the first line started in 1951, but was suspended in 1953, the official reason being lack of funds.

Construction was re-launched in 1960, with the alignment of the first line having been modified due to new urban developments. The first stretch of 6.5 km with five stations was opened on 6 Nov 1967 between Baki Soveti and Narimanov. The network was expanded gradually and by 2011 had two lines with a total length of 34.8 km and 23 stations. Eventually, the first section of a third line was opened in 2016:

Red Line - 21 stations - 32.3 km
Green Line - 2 stations - 2.2 km
Purple Line - 4 stations - 5.8 km
Total - 27 stations - 40.3 km (2022)

Stations on Red and Green lines have 105 m platforms which allow the use of 5-car trains (full sets in service since 1985). Stations on the Purple line have 144 m platforms, which allow the use of 7-car trains. The fleet has been considerably renewed since 2000, and now consists of Soviet/Russian 81-717/714-family cars with the oldest dating from 1989, as well as 81-760 and 81-765 cars. Track gauge is 1520 mm, and power supply is via a third rail (825 V dc).

From its opening in 1976 until 2026, the Green Line was not physically separated from the Red Line of the metro due to the absence of tunnels between the Nizami Gancavi and Cefer Cabbarli stations. Therefore, the Green Metro Line operated from the Darnagül through the 28 May and Ganclik stations to the Hazi Aslanov, while the Cefer Cabbarli — Sah Ismayil Xatai section is operated as a double-track shuttle. Since 15 August 2026, the section between Nizami Gancavi and 28 May has been closed; a new tunnel is being built between the Nizami Gancavi and Cefer Cabbarli stations to replace it. Bakmil is served twice an hour by train from Iceri Seher.

Some stations were renamed in the 1990s, names given in brackets are original names found on older maps:

25 Nov 1967: Iceri Seher (Baki Soveti) — Nariman Narimanov (6.5 km)
22 Feb 1968: 28 May (28 Aprel) — Sah Ismail Xatai (Shaumyan) (2.4 km)
05 May 1970: N. Narimanov — Ulduz (2.4 km)
25 Sept 1970: N. Narimanov — Depot (temporary platform) on depot access route
06 Nov 1972: Ulduz — Neftchilar (5.1 km)
31 Dec 1976: 28 May (28 Aprel) — Nizami (2.2 km)
28 Mar 1979: N. Narimanov — Bakmil (Elektrozavod) replacing Depot station (0.7 km)
31 Dec 1985: Nizami — Memar Acami (6.4 km)
28 April 1989: Neftchilar — Ahmedli (3.0 km)
27 Oct 1993: Cefer Cabbarli station - western half with shuttle to S. I. Xatai (0.5 km)
10 Dec 2002: Ahmedli — Hazi Aslanov (1.4 km)
09 Oct 2008: Memar Acami — Nasimi (1.7 km)
16 Dec 2008: Cefer Cabbarli station - eastern half completed with shuttle on second track
30 Dec 2009: Nasimi — Azadlyg Prospekti (1.5 km)
29 Jun 2011: Azadlyg Prospekti — Darnagul (1.7 km)
19 Apr 2016: Memar Acami — Avtovagzal (Line 3 - Purple Line, 2 km)
29 May 2021: Memar Acami — 8 Noyabr (Purple Line, 1.4 km; regular passenger service from 31 May after end of Covid-19 lockdown)
23 Dec 2022: Avtovagzal — Xocasan (Purple Line, 2.3 km): new terminus within new depot area
15 Aug 2026: Nizami Gancavi — 28 May closed (Green Line) to be replaced by new direct tunnel

Renamed stations:
Shaumyan > Xatai (at reopening in 1993)
26 Baki Komissari > Sahil
28 Aprel > 28 May
XI Gizil Ordu Meydani > 20 Yanvar
Avrora > Qara Qarayev
Elektrozavod > Bakmil
Baki Soveti > Iceri Seher (at the end of 2008 after reconstruction)
Mesedi Azizbeyov > Koroglu (12/2011)

See list with all current and old station names in Azerbaijani, Russian and with English transliteration (pdf).

Baku Metropoliten (Official Page)

Baku Metro on Wikipedia

Baku Metasubway station

Baku Pages > Metropoliten

Baku Metro at Mir metro/Metroworld by Aksenov Dmitry

Baku Metro Track Map

List with all current and old station names in Azerbaijani, Russian and with English transliteration (pdf).