Autonomous cleaning robots have started operating at railway stations in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The devices navigate premises independently, build maps, choose routes, assess contamination, and return for charging after work. Russian Railways (RZD) announced the launch.
The new equipment is already cleaning the interiors of Kazansky, Yaroslavsky, Kursky, Paveletsky, and Kievsky railway stations in Moscow, as well as Moskovsky railway station in St. Petersburg.
The robots can sweep, mop floors, and remove dried dirt. During operation, they plot routes, record the degree of contamination, bypass obstacles, and independently return to the charging station.
According to RZD, the productivity of these robots reaches 1980 m² per hour. To put this into perspective, this is the area of eight basketball courts or almost ten tennis courts.
At the same time, the new technology helps save water, electricity, and detergents. After evaluating the robots' performance, RZD will decide whether to use them at other railway stations in Russia.
Additionally, from June 2026, enhanced sanitation using steam generators is planned for railway stations in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
