The Sochi Olympic Games held on 7-23 February has determined the elaboration and implementation of projects for which estimated investments amount to around USD 50 Billion. Under the plans, 235 facilities were built, of which 11 facilities are where competitions will be held, the rest being locations and infrastructures necessary to the development of the event and of the city. 70% of necessary works have been completed in Russia with investments rising to USD 36.7 Billion.
According to the declarations of President Vladimir Putin, USD 3 Billion of total amount was granted by the government and the remainder was represented by contributions of investors. As regards the transport system, since 2010 Russian Railways is the general partner of the 22nd edition of the Olympic Games which made it responsible for the implementation of infrastructure projects in Sochi region – the construction of road and railway infrastructure, the modernisation and construction of new stations, the operation of a switchyard station. The most important of these projects were the construction of the railway and road infrastructure from Adler to Alpika-Servis, the construction of Tuapse-Adler and Adler-Sochi lines (to the airport), the switchyard stations in Imeretinskaya, the passenger terminals in Dagomys, Sochi, Matsesta and Khosta. Overall, RZD was responsible for the construction of 157 km of transport lines and 12 tunnels with a total length of 30 km.
A complex project is the “Alpika-Servis” project as it represents the main transport artery and develops the regional infrastructure by connecting a motorway, road hubs and railway infrastructure. Railway works included the construction of 48 km of electrified line, two new stations and passenger terminals (Esto-Sadok and Alpika-Servis), tunnels and bridges.
Another important line was Sochi – Adler – the Olympic Park (Veseloe), commissioned in 2012 and connecting three stations. Works included the construction of two tunnels and bridges (over 4 rivers). To increase the capacity of Tuapse-Adler line, RZD has additionally constructed railway sections which resulted in the significant increase of train frequency from 54 (in 2008) to 70 (in 2011). Until 2013, the line was dedicated to shipping construction materials with a volume of 44.1 million tonnes for the construction works necessary for the Olympic Games and 20.5 million tonnes for the modernisation and development of the city of Sochi. The travel time has been reduced by 40-50 minutes.
Sochi – Adler – Sochi Airport line is vital to ensuring transport to Alder, as over 60% of passengers arriving for participation in the Olympic Games will be able to use high-speed trains (Lastochka). In January, 50% of electric trains were already put in operation.
Moreover, in January, RZD departments in charge announced that tests on 6 stations used during the Olympic Games were completed: Olympic Park, Krasnaya Polyana, Esto-Sadok, Adler, Sochi and Khosta. Also, the company’s Vice President, Oleg Toni, said that “in 5 years, RZD has met its objectives regarding the development of the transport infrastructure for the Olympic Games”.
Share on:
