Russian Railways completed the electrification of Vaimarn – Luzhskaya rail section in the Kuzbass-North-West, allowing electric trains to run to Ust-Luga seaport. With its electrification, the company can organise trains powered by electric traction along the whole route from Siberia to the North-West, a distance of almost 4,000 km. The industrial operations were launched on October 18. Since 2011 when the electrification works were started, more than 700 km 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 tonnes 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 RUB 450.3 million [USD 7.74 million] a year. Starting today, we are launching industrial operations,” President of Russian Railways Oleg Belozerov said.
Vladimir Goloskokov, the head of October Railways, said that by completing the electrification of the Vaimarn – Luzhskaya section, the company is able to increase the capacity by one third.
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.
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