New locomotives, electrification to increase Belarusian Railways freight traffic up to 46%

- Electrification of sections of Pan-European Transport Corridor No.9 and purchase of Chinese electric freight locomotives will enable Belarusian Railways to increase the amount of cargo transported using electric motive power from 28% to 46% in the next few years, BelTA learnt from Belarusian Railways that cited experts’ preliminary estimations.

The press service of Belarusian Railways said that electrification of some sections and purchase of electric freight single-sectional locomotives is an important Belarusian-Chinese investment project which aims at the complex development of the Belarusian transportation corridor. During the visit of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to China, a loan agreement was signed with the Export-Import Bank of China in pursuance of the project named “Electrification of the Gomel-Zhlobin-Osipovichi section. The second phase. The Gomel-Zhlobin section.”

The specialists said that the Osipovichi-Bobruisk section had already been commissioned and works on the Bobruisk-Zhlobin section will conclude in September. Since April works have been carried out on the Gomel-Zhlobin section. Currently work is underway there to install contact system masts. The overall cost of electrification of that section is about $94.97 million. The Export-Import Bank of China will provide 85% of the required sum.

“There is a reason why we are working with the Chinese partners to electrify our railroad. Their equipment and quality of work meet the world’s best standards,” Chief Engineer of Belarusian Railways Valery Shubadyorov said. According to the specialist, the implementation of such a big project will have an effect on the cost of transportation. He said this might enable the company to provide more beneficial transportation terms for clients.

The press service of Belarusian Railways noted that the electrification of the Belarusian transportation corridor began 50 years ago. This electrification project is one of the most important ones for Belarusian Railways. It is also the biggest transportation and logistics project in Belarus.