TRANS-SIBERIAN TRUNK-LINE OFFERS NEW

SERVICE FOR CARGO OWNERS

New speedy trains «Moscow-Vladivostok» and «Vladivostok-Moscow» are on rails with container and cargo carriages as a part of them. In case of using the trains cargo owners could enjoy a full service of delivery including a "door from door" one. The launching of these trains became one more step of the Center of Transport service to attract additional cargo volumes, to reduce expanses and terms of delivery, and to improve the quality of service at Trans-Siberian route. The next step of the Center is to launch the regular cargo speedy trains between Moscow and Beijing with the same level of service for cargo owners. It should be pointed out that improving of service on this route is of great importance in attracting here additional volumes of cargo. To reduce the terms of delivery and to ensure regularity of trains are the first requirements of the potential clients who consider Trans-Siberian route as the way of cargo transit from Asian and Pacific region to West Europe. Because transit cargo carrying by railways of Russia (today the main cargo volumes go by sea skirting thus Russian territories) is a very important opportunity for Russian economy.

In fact the volumes of import and export transportation just reflect the situation on domestic Russian economy and could not be changed without its stabilization. Additional transit cargo (the logistical schemes of their transportation appear and disappear as well outside Russia) is a real possibility to increase the profit of railway companies and of the state budget in the whole without referring to the situation in the economy. That is the reason why a struggle between many states for transit freight traffic is the most cruel kind of competition.

The main obstacle for Trans-Siberian route to become popular enough is a political situation in Russia that is so rich of unpleasant surprises. So it is easy to understand the hesitations of cargo owners who are not in hurry to change their logistical schemes towards territories of unpeaceful Russia, even if it has a number of considerable advantages.

For the last period those who have any connections with railways seem to have realized the importance of the struggle for transit transportation through Russia. Ministry of Railways of Russia has already done a step to raise competitiveness of Trans-Siberian route. The measures are being taken to increase the speed of the container train «Nakhodka-Vostochnay Buslovskaya» (part of containers could be brought to Brest). The train has the same technological aspects as the passenger trains do.

At the session of Coordination Council of Trans-Siberian transportation that will take place in Helsinki the participants will have an opportunity to promote the new projects of railways of Russia, and especially those concerning Trans-Siberian line to the potential clients. The results of negotiation in Helsinki could be of great importance in the near future for it can influence the struggle for transit cargo delivery from Asian and Pacific region countries to West Europe between sea transport and land one using Transsib.

trunk-line — магистраль

competitive — конкурентоспособный

skirt — окружать

A TUNNEL UNDER THE TATAR STRAIT

The Russian Ministry of Railways is thinking of building a tunnel under the Tatar Strait and it might launch the construction to link the Island of Sakhalin with Eurasia. If another tunnel were laid subsequently to link Sakhalin and the Japanese island of Hokkaido, then the contemplated intercontinental Amsterdam-Tokyo railroad would become reality. The longest segment of this route will be Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway.

Why do we need a tunnel under the Tatar Strait? To begin with, the tunnel will make the Amsterdam-Tokyo railroad the shortest, quickest, and most reliable route linking Eurasia and the Far East. Currently, goods shipped from Europe to Far Eastern destinations have to be carried round the Asian continent via the Indian Ocean — a sea route that takes at least a month to cover, to say nothing of the piracy of the southern seas.

Second, reliable service between the Russian Far East and Sakhalin and further on can draw freight operations from the sea routes, sharply increasing the turnover of the Trans-Siberian Railway. This means extra revenues for the Railways Ministry and the state budget.

The Tatar Strait tunnel is to be built at the strait's narrowest section — the eight-kilometer long Gulf of Nevelsk. The idea originally emerged decades ago, in the 1950s, but then it was assumed that a ferry service between mainland Russia and Sakhalin would be more economical. And now the ferries that have been in service for over 20 years have become obsolete and cannot cope with today's massive cargo flows.

Indeed, to build a tunnel in an area prone to quakes and in the unstable, "floating" bed of the Tatar Strait is an extremely laborious job. Construction will cost an estimated $10 billion to $15 billion, and will last four to five years. Besides, simultaneously with the construction of the tunnel, it will be necessary to build a highway and a railroad from Komsomolsk-on-Amur to the Gulf of Nevelsky. New transport facilities will also have to be put up on Sakhalin. As soon as the Russians start the construction work, the Japanese will begin to lay an 18-km tunnel between Hokkaido and Sakhalin.

The project's designers have taken into account the experience of building the English Channel tunnel, which has been in service for a number of years. The Tatar Strait tunnel will accommodate trains as well as motor vehicles. Moreover, it will also have room for oil and gas pipelines. The existing pipelines from Sakhalin to Komsomolsk-on-Amur have been in use for 40 years. The tunnel's designers say there will be a safe distance between the tunnel for oil and gas lines and that for transport vehicles.

 Before starting work on the tunnel, it must be conclusively established whether it will still be in demand in 15 to 20 years' time, when the chief commodity will be information. It must also be determined what types of cargo can go through the tunnel, and whether the existing maritime routes are not best for transporting certain types of cargo. And finally, we have to see whether it is expedient to have Japan as the terminus of the intercontinental highway, for there are other Asian countries, after all, which might be interested in the project.

via — через

to say nothing — не говоря о

piracy — пиратство

turnover — грузооборот

revenue — доход

cope with — справляться

prone — подверженный

floating — плавающий

to take into account — принимать во внимание

English Channel — Ла-Манш (пролив)

commodity — продукт

maritime — морской

expedient — целесообразный