Kuznetsovsky Tunnel (Russian: Кузнецовский туннель) is a railroad tunnel on the Baikal Amur Mainline (BAM), on the Sikhote-Alin mountain range in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. The tunnel, as well as the Kuznetsovsky Pass it provides access to, and a nearby railway station, are all named after Arseny Kuznetsov, a construction engineer who found the suitable location for the railroad, but died during the construction of the tunnel.[1]

Kuznetsovsky Tunnel
Kuznetsovsky Tunnel is located in Khabarovsk Krai
Kuznetsovsky Tunnel
Overview
LineBaikal–Amur Mainline
Coordinates50°11′2″N 139°0′44″E / 50.18389°N 139.01222°E / 50.18389; 139.01222
StatusActive
CrossesSikhote-Alin
Operation
OpenedJune 1945 (1945-06) (old tunnel)
December 2012 (2012-12) (new tunnel)
Technical
Line length413 m (1,355 ft) (old tunnel)
3,890 m (12,760 ft) (new tunnel)
Track gauge1,520 mm (4 ft 11+2732 in) Russian gauge

That old tunnel was built during World War II and completed by 1945. It is 413 metres (1,355 ft) long.[2] Currently another tunnel is constructed nearby; with a length of 3,890 metres (12,762 ft) this new Kuznetsovsky Tunnel will be one of the longest in Russia.

The construction of the new tunnel will lead to a significant increase in freight traffic on the Eastern Baikal Amur Mainline, which connects Komsomolsk-on-Amur with the sea ports of Vanino and Sovetskaya Gavan. There is expected a growth from 12 million tons in 2009 to 24 million by 2015. The total cost of the project is estimated to be 59.8 billion rubles. The new tunnel was inaugurated in December 2012.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ На строительстве нового Кузнецовского тоннеля (Дальневосточная железная дорога) пройдено 150 метров. (in Russian). Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  2. ^ Руководство компании отметило качественную подготовку документов по реконструкции перегона Оунэ – Высокогорная ДВЖД со строительством нового Кузнецовского тоннеля. (in Russian). Retrieved 2010-01-06.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Kuznetsovsk tunnel shortens the BAM corridor // Railway Gazette