Russian Railways curtails construction of approaches to Ust-Luga, which threatens port development – Transport Ministry

RF Transport Ministry is especially concerned about the construction of Luzhskaya-Generalnaya station (Ust-Luga, Leningrad region). According to the analytical note to the report on the progress of implementation of the federal special-purpose programme “Russia’s transport system development (2010-2020)” in the first half of 2013 published by the Ministry, Russian Railways OJSC has considerably curtailed works on the development of infrastructure at the close approaches to port Ust-Luga and on construction of Ust-Luga terminal’s station. 

In particular, the plans for the nearest years do not include the activities on construction of Luzhskaya-Generalnaya station which is supposed to link railways of the newly built terminals. 

Ust-Luga port is situated practically at the border of the Russian Federation and the European Union. The deep water area of the port (17.5 m) together with the short seaway canal (3.7 km) make Ust-Luga port the only Russian port on the Baltic Sea capable of admitting dry-cargo vessels with the deadweight of up to 75,000 tonnes and liquid cargo carriers with the deadweight of up to 160,000 tonnes. In 2012, the port’s throughput totaled 46,612,449 tonnes of different cargoes and 167,380 automobiles. With its full capacity the port is expected to handle 180 mln tonnes of cargo.