First three-track section to enhance freight traffic on Trans-Siberian Railway
As the Trans-Siberian Railway is becoming more and more vitally important for the New Silk Road, Russian Railways (RZD) is gradually investing in its infrastructure. For 2022, the railway undertaking has scheduled the construction of the first three-track section on the line. This will improve the transit of containers between China and Europe on one of the busiest stretches of the route near Lake Baikal.
The third track will be deployed on the Slyudyanka I – Slyudyanka II section of the Trans-Siberian Railway. According to the East Siberian Railway, RZD’s regional division, the construction is planned to start later this year. All the works will be carried out exclusively within the boundaries of the right of way of the railway. Therefore, RZD does not need additional investments for land purchase. Moreover, the construction of the third track will be performed in line with environmental safety requirements, as the line is located close to the reserved area of Lake Baikal.
Big advantage
The Slyudyanka I – Slyudyanka II section has a length of only 2.4 kilometres. However, this short line has great importance for the entire Trans-Siberian Railway and consequently the New Silk Road rail freight connections. The section has very intensive traffic and runs via the mountainous area. As a result, additional locomotives are used for hauling freight trains through this line. “The new track will make it possible to freely return single locomotives after they are uncoupled from the train, without occupying the tracks along which the main movement of trains takes place,” RZD explains the necessity of the project, which, among other things, includes the construction of two railway bridges.