Plans for first metro include 6 km of deep, 5.5 m-diameter twin-tube running tunnels and nine underground stations. Alignment is from the north-west of the city, through the historic centre, to the eastern districts. The line will pass deep below the water table through heterogenous formations of porphyrites and across a 1.25 km-long fault with unconsolidated, fractured rock with forecast water flows of 2,000 cu m/h. Pregrouting has been carried out from surface over the faulted area under the direction of the Urals State Mining Academy, details from Professor Lushnikova, fax +7 3432 519533. The tunnelling operation is awaiting federal funding. April 2000.
