On two sections of the eastern branch of the Baikal-Amur Mainline, the first trains will be launched in test mode by the end of this year. Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov told reporters about this during a working trip to the region on Friday.
“All preparatory work has been completed. The most important task now is to open up the labor movement in two sectors. That is, to complete the construction of the railway and start the movement of trains, “Bulgakov said during an inspection by railway troops of the reconstruction of the highway (quoted by Interfax). He also said that almost half of the second line – a 339 km section on the Ulak-Fevralsk stretch – will be open for train traffic next year.
The reconstruction of the BAM was started in August this year. The goals of the project are to increase the throughput of the highway and increase the volume of transit traffic. In total, it is planned to build nine double-track inserts, nine sidings and a second main track. About 1,700 servicemen and 900 units of automobile and special equipment are involved in the site. It was originally planned that the reconstruction will be completed in 2024, but in August Bulgakov announced that the dates would be shifted to the end of 2023.
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