The railway map of Russia is one of the largest and most extensive in the world. This type of transport is of exceptional importance in the organization and clear functioning of the state's commodity market. The second, but no less important destination is passenger transportation, which accounts for about 40% of the total number of railroad movements. Also important is the role of rail in establishing links with other states, and in particular with members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. But recently, tense relations with Ukraine have led to the project of building a route to bypass the neighboring country.
Historical information
The construction of an alternative path was engaged in distant Soviet times. This is a section of traffic along the Moscow – Adler highway (this is a railway bypassing Ukraine). Then there were no problems with crossing the borders of the republics, since in fact they were a single country. After the collapse of the USSR, there were also no special difficulties, because the countries remained in good relations and adopted an agreement that transit trains were not subject to border screening. That is, the composition was to follow without delay from the capital of Russia to the final destination - Adler.
But already in those days there were thoughts about how to improve high-speed traffic in this area. The reason for this was additional difficulties arising from any problem along the route of this train. After all, if this highway is blocked, then the closest possible route will be laid through Volgograd. The train will arrive at its destination with a delay of almost half a day.
The second problem was the impossibility of quality maintenance throughout the site. It is also very difficult to control the high-speed flow when crossing the border four times.
Since the Russian railways could not integrally develop without this branch, back in 2008, experts developed a project for replacing the route. It was predicted that construction will begin by 2018. But the events in Ukraine in 2014 led to the fact that all terms were maximally reduced and moved. Indeed, now another problem is being added - this is border and customs control. Under such conditions, it is impossible to ensure the comfort and safety of passengers on the road. Therefore, it was decided to build a similar highway, only on the territory of the Russian Federation.
Option selection
The construction of railways is a very delicate and costly business. The state initially allocated four hundred and eighty billion rubles for this project. These funds were supposed to go around the only section located in the neighboring country. At this interval of thirty-seven kilometers is the Zorinovka station, which will soon be cut off.
The first option of the backup line was the highway connecting Prokhorovka, Zhuravka, Chertkovo and Bataysk. In total, the length of this section is 750 kilometers. This would significantly increase the network bandwidth in the direction from the center of the country to the south. The development of the project was provided for by the program for the development of the transport system of the Russian Federation. The construction of this segment should have taken two years - from 2018 to 2020.
But due to the shortest possible time frame, the construction plan was revised. Specialists have developed several options for the project:
- the first - connects Zhuravka and Sheptukhovka, the length of the line is 149 kilometers;
- the second - passes through Kantemirovka and Sheptukhovka, the length of the line is 146 kilometers;
- the third will cross Zhuravka and Millerovo, the length of the line is 122 kilometers.
Among all three proposals, the shortest section of the railway network won. This was the decisive factor in making the decision. After all, the goal was not only to ensure safety, but also to make changes without any special sensation for passengers. People must get to their destination as comfortably as possible, but this cannot be ensured by lengthening the path.
Construction benefits
The railway bypassing Ukraine will allow the creation of many new stations. This in turn will lead to the creation of jobs, as well as to the revitalization of settlements located nearby. It has historically been the case that in those places where the railway is laid, the development of the area will certainly take place.
That is, such a positive result will soon be observed in Zaitsevka and Sergeevka of the Voronezh region, as well as Saving, Kuteikovo, Vinogradovka, Kolodezyakh and Bochenkovo of the Rostov region. It is also planned to build a bridge across the Belaya Kalitva River.
Construction disadvantages
Although initially it was believed that the railway bypassing Ukraine would be a good solution to the problem, however, not everything is so smooth. On the one hand, some settlements will receive an impetus in development, but others, on the contrary, will be isolated.
The railroad map will be arranged in such a way that a couple of districts in the Rostov and Lugansk regions will become cut off from life . Residents of Chertkov are especially grieving about this. For some, maintenance of the Chertkovo-Millerovo site was the only source of income. It was this station that fed the whole village. And if one half of the population worked directly on the railroad, then the others lived off the sales while the train stopped. Now, many people will be left without additional, and someone without basic earnings. The Russian railways of this direction made a special profit in the summer. For example, on this stretch, up to eighty trains passed per day during the resort period. The only solution to this issue is the ability to leave the Chertkovo-Millerovo train and use this line for freight trains.
Cons for Ukrainians
Naturally, the railway, bypassing Ukraine, is built, will lead to negative consequences for its residents. The population of the Markov, Belovodsky and Melovsky districts will especially suffer, as the people living there very often used Russian trains. It was very convenient, because in a short time you can cross the border.
While Ukrainians are forced to get to Chertkovo. Residents of the Melovsky district - it’s as easy as shelling pears, you just have to cross the bridge. The rest use the services of taxi drivers, who for one hundred and fifty rubles will be taken to their destination. However, this is for the time being. During the construction process, this station will be moved from the border for twenty-five kilometers. A map of the railways identified it near the village of Kuteynikovo. But the problem is that it will only be in transit. That is, the trains will not stop here. The nearest stations are located a hundred kilometers from Kuteikovo. From the village you will have to go either to Millerovo, Rostov Region, or to Cantemirovka of the Voronezh Region. If you overcome this distance by taxi, then it will cost a thousand rubles, which not everyone can afford.
2015 stage
It was in 2015 that the construction of railways bypassing Ukraine began. Then the first section was built, which should connect the settlements of Zhuravlevka and Millerovo. The work is carried out by the Railway Troops. The basis was prepared for two railway stations - Zaitsevka and Sergeyevka.
Stage 2016
At the next stage of construction, the first link of the rail-sleeper grid was laid. Russian Railways will connect two new stations. Earthworks were almost completed on time. The laying of tracks in the Voronezh region is completed.
2017 stage
The Russian Railways organization announces that fifty percent of the project has been completed by January 2017. Work in the Kantemirovsky and Bogucharsky districts has entered the final stage of construction. The Minister of Defense through the press center declares that the map of Russian railways by September of this year will replenish with a new line.