The railway system of Russia provides high-quality freight and passenger transportation. The year of its origin is considered to be 1837, when the first paths were laid between Tsarskoye Selo and St. Petersburg. Today the railways of Russia form a dense network that covers the entire territory of the country. The length of the roads of this system is approximately 86,151 km.
Characteristics of the railway sector
In our state, passenger traffic is carried out more intensively than in many other countries. There are 510 railway stations in Russia, of which 45 are of great importance. Rail transport in the Russian Federation is the world's largest rail network, second in length to the United States. Today, more than half of the tracks are electrified - 43 thousand km, which puts Russia in first place among other countries. There is an opinion that the railway system is a hopeless branch of the national economy. In fact, it is of the utmost importance for the Russian economy. Freight and passengers are transported by rail. Thanks to them, many enterprises can fully operate. Timely delivery of goods is an important component of the activities of industrial production.
The largest and most famous railway company in the country is the Russian Railways OJSC. This organization was formed in 2003 and continues to function successfully. The company includes seventeen railways. About 20% of Russian Railways' income goes to the state (approximately 180 billion rubles a year). In addition to branches, the company has subsidiaries that provide passenger and cargo transportation. In the suburbs, communication takes place thanks to suburban passenger companies, which were formed jointly by the constituent entities of the federation and Russian Railways.
What trains are used
The number of railways in the country continues to increase. The government plans to gradually replace the old tracks with new ones, as well as to completely replace the rolling stock. After the renovation, the railway sector will be able to operate at a new level and provide high-quality service. Information about trains and tickets can be found on the Russian Railways website - rzd.ru.
Currently, Russian railways use wagons, locomotives and special equipment that were made in the USSR. The new equipment is produced under the control of the state-owned Uralvagonzavod and private enterprises (Sinar group, Transmashholding). In 2009, the operation of high-speed trains created by Siemens began on the Moscow - St. Petersburg line. For the St. Petersburg - Helsinki route, Russian Railways planned to purchase trains manufactured by Alstom.
