Second Severomuysky Tunnel to boost Eastern range capacity by 1.5 times

Eastern range capacity is set to expand significantly as Russian Railways begins construction of a major new tunnel on the Baikal-Amur Mainline.

Russian Railways (RZD) has announced the start of construction of the second Severomuysky Tunnel on the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM). The project will increase rail freight volumes on the Eastern range by 1.5 times, from the current 180 mio t to 270 mio t by 2032.

The new tunnel will be more than 15 km long. Tunneling began on September 2, with four tunnel-boring machines operating simultaneously from the western and eastern sides. Completion is scheduled for the end of 2032. Once finished, the structure will become Russia’s longest railway tunnel, surpassing the existing Severomuysky Tunnel, which took more than 25 years to build and was commissioned in 2003.

The existing tunnel remains one of the key bottlenecks on BAM. Due to technical constraints, trains must be split or require additional locomotives, slowing traffic in the eastbound direction.

The project is part of the third stage of the Eastern range modernization program. Alongside the Severomuysky Tunnel, the list of priority facilities includes the Kodarsky and Kuznetsovsky tunnels, as well as a bridge over the Amur River. Achieving the target will also require construction of additional second railway tracks and electrification of certain sections.

Expanding the Eastern range’s capacity is essential to remove infrastructure constraints on cargo delivery to Russian Far Eastern ports. The current railway capacity is insufficient to ensure the full export volume is transported eastwards.

Source: CCA