Russian Railways says industrial operations on the Vaimarn – Luzhskaya electrified section in the Kuzbass-North-West region were launched on 18 October 2017.
During a meeting between the President of Russian Railways Oleg Belozerov and participants on the freight rail transportation market, a special satellite TV link-up was set up with Luzhskaya station and West Siberian Railways, where the main freight flows towards the port of Ust-Luga are formed.
The President of Russian Railways reminded participants that the project to electrify approaches along the section to the port has been underway since 2011.
During this time, more than 700 kilometres of the contact network have been built and reconstructed, while over 150 km of second tracks have been laid, 11 stations reconstructed and the Luzhskaya pre-departure and modern sorting station built.
"This will allow us to increase the volume of cargo transshipment by more than 11 million tons per annum and reduce cargo delivery times in the Kuzbass-North-West region by 12 hours. Everyone will benefit from this, including Russian Railways, which after completing the electrification of the stretch will gain an economic effect amounting to 450.3 million roubles a year. Today, together with you, we are launching industrial operations," said the Company President.
The head of West-Siberian Railways Anatoly Reger said during the satellite TV link-up that a cargo route from Kuzbass to the ports of Russia’s North-West was in great demand among shippers based in the Kuzbass. About 20 heavy-weight convoys loaded with coal leave the Kuzbass every day, 75% of which arrive at the port of Ust-Luga.
"By completing the electrification of the Vaimarn – Luzhskaya section, we have already been able to increase through capacity by one third. Now, we can organise trains powered by electric traction along the whole route from Siberia to the North-West, a distance of almost 4,000 kilometres," said Vladimir Goloskokov, the head of October Railways.