China considers construction of high-speed railroad to Russia’s Far East
A 180km-long high-speed railroad could soon link China’s city of Suifenhe in southeastern Heilongjiang province with Russia’s Vladivostok in the Far East.
The project is worth $7 billion, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev, who is the presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District. “A Chinese company considered everything in detail and came to the conclusion that the construction of the railroad is cost-effective...” he told reporters.
There are still several issues to be resolved by the Russian side, he said, adding that the Chinese company has almost completed a feasibility study.
“The most important issue is the width of the track,” said Trutnev. He explained that both sides had considered different options, including a dual gauge. However, the Russian Ministry of Transport and Russian Railways (RZD) insist on laying domestic track with a width of 1520mm.
The new railroad will be part of the Mudanjiang-Vladivostok high-speed rail link, the development of which was agreed earlier this year. The $12-billion project will involve the construction of more than 380km of rail, incorporating an estimated 12 new stations, and an undetermined number of bridges and tunnels. The operating speed of trains on the line is expected to reach 250kph.
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