Oleg Belozerov, President of Russian Railways, considers it reasonable to facilitate implementation of the second and third phases of BAM and Transsib development in view of growing demand for transportation, IAA PortNews correspondent reports from the meeting dedicated to topical issues of current state and prospects in the railway industry held at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP).
According to Oleg Belozerov the project of Northern Latitudinal Railway will be implemented in the nearest future and work on the Kyzyl-Kuragino branch will be intensified.
Meanwhile, the head of Russian Railways expressed concern about possible deficit of construction facilities needed for implementation of all infrastructure projects announced in Russia.
Under the project on development of railways in the eastern range, annual capacity of BAM (Baikal-Amur Mainline) and Transsib (Trans-Siberian Railway) in the direction of seaports and border crossings of the Far East is to be expanded by 66 mln t (by 2020 vs 2012). Total value of the project – RUB 562 bln including RUB 302 bln to be invested by Russian Railways and RUB 260 bln – by the National Welfare Fund and the federal budget.
The Northern Latitudinal Railway (NLR) project envisages the establishment of direct communications between the Severnaya and Sverdlovskaya railroads along the Obskaya – Salekhard – Nadym – Pangody – Novy Urengoy – Korotchaevo route in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area. The NLR will be 707 kilometers long and will have the annual tonnage capacity of about 24 million tons of cargo.
The 410-kilometer Kyzyl-Kuragino railroad, which will link the Elegest coal deposit in the Republic of Tuva with the country's railway system. The railroad's capacity is expected to amount to 27m tons per year with APR as the sales market.