Railroad Gauge In Belarus: Standard Measurements And More

Belarus has a national railway network of 5,512km, with a track gauge of 1,520mm, also known as Russian gauge or broad gauge. This is the distance between the inner faces of the rails, and it is wider than the standard gauge of 1,435mm. Belarus inherited this gauge from the former Soviet Union, and it is also used in several other countries, including Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. The country's railway network is owned by the national rail company BŽD/BČ and includes important lines such as Minsk-Gomel and Orsha-Vitebsk.

The standard railroad gauge in Belarus is 1,520 mm, also known as Russian gauge

The railroad gauge in Belarus falls into the category of broad gauge, which is any gauge wider than the standard 1,435 mm. Broad-gauge railways are common in Russia and other former Soviet Union countries due to historical and logistical reasons. The large size of Russia's territory led engineers to choose a different gauge from other European countries to prevent foreign countries from freely invading the flat Russian hinterland.

Belarus has a railway network of 5,512 km, with 874 km of it being electrified. The country's railway system is owned by the national rail company BŽD/BČ (Bielaruskaja Čyhunka/Belorusskaja Železnaja Doroga). The first railway line crossing the country was the Saint Petersburg–Warsaw Railway, which began operating in late 1862 and included a station in Hrodna. Important rail lines in Belarus include the Minsk-Gomel line to Kyiv, the Orsha-Vitebsk line to Saint Petersburg, and the Minsk-Vilnius line.

In addition to the standard railroad gauge, Belarus also has some narrow-gauge railways, particularly associated with the peat extraction industry. For example, the Rudensk peat railway, which opened in 1929, has a gauge of 750 mm.

Belarus's rail network is 5,512 km long, with 874 km electrified

Belarus' rail network is owned by the national rail company BŽD/BČ, and it is an extensive system. The network consists of 5,512 km of track, with a gauge of 1,520 mm (Russian broad gauge), and 874 km of this network is electrified. The first line to cross the country was the Saint Petersburg–Warsaw Railway, which began operating in 1862 and included a station in Hrodna. There are also other important lines, such as the Minsk-Gomel line to Kyiv, the Orsha-Vitebsk line to Saint Petersburg, and the Minsk-Vilnius line.

The country's rail network has international connections, with lines linking Berlin and Warsaw to Moscow, passing through Brest and Orsha. Belarus also has rail links with neighbouring countries, including Poland and Ukraine.

In addition to the national network, Belarus has a number of industrial narrow-gauge railways, particularly those associated with the peat extraction industry. The Minsk pioneer railway, with a gauge of 750 mm, opened in 1955 and is still operational today. Another example is the Rudensk peat railway, which opened in 1929 and has 40 km of operational track out of a total of 111 km.

The tram network in Belarus is also noteworthy, with Minsk, Vitebsk, Mazyr, and Novopolotsk being the only cities that have tramway systems.

The country's rail transport is owned by the national company BŽD/BČ

The BŽD/BČ company name is a combination of the Belarusian and Russian names for the Belarusian railway network. The network has two official languages: Belarusian and Russian. However, all station names are exclusively in Belarusian, except for a few large stations, which are bilingual. Some stations also display the official transliteration in Latin script, based on Łacinka (Belarusian rendered in the Latin alphabet with minor modifications). This transliteration system is used by the official BČ website in English and is also used on the EGTRE pages relevant to Belarus.

The BŽD/BČ network has no high-speed lines and is not served by high-speed trains. However, Minsk, the capital, is the only city with a subway system, the Minsk Metro. The network consists of three lines: Awtazavodskaya, Maskoŭskaja, and Zelenaluzhskaya. Minsk, along with Vitebsk, Mazyr, and Novopolotsk, are the only cities with tramway systems.

Belarus has rail links with neighbouring countries, including Poland and Ukraine.

Minsk is the only city with a subway system, the Minsk Metro

The standard railroad gauge in Belarus is 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in), also known as "Russian broad gauge. This gauge is used across the country's national railway network, which spans 5,512 km, with 874 km of electrified tracks.

Now, focusing on Minsk's subway system:

Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is the only city in the country with a subway system, known as the Minsk Metro. It is a rapid transit system that opened on June 29, 1984, and currently consists of three lines: Awtazavodskaya, Maskoŭskaja, and Zelenaluzhskaya. The network spans 40.8 kilometres (25.4 mi) with 33 stations in total.

The construction of the Minsk Metro began in 1977, driven by the city's growing population, which had surpassed one million during the 1950s-1970s. The initial eight-station section has expanded over the years, with the system now comprising 33 stations across three lines. The latest expansion, the first phase of Line 3 (Zelenaluzhskaya Line), opened on November 6, 2020, adding four new stations.

The Minsk Metro is unique in its proximity to the surface. Due to high groundwater levels, the stations are located just 10-17 meters underground. This is in contrast to most ex-Soviet cities, which typically have deep-level stations. The shallow depth of the Minsk Metro stations is a result of the city's level surface and dry soils.

The metro system is known for its architectural design, with each station featuring a distinct architectural style. Some stations, like Niamiha, showcase Belarusian national motifs, while others emphasize Soviet socialist themes. In recent years, there has been a shift towards high-tech decorations.

The Minsk Metro is highly accessible, with stations located near the surface and equipped with stairs, escalators, and lifts to accommodate passengers with limited mobility. The stations are designed with the safety and security of passengers in mind, featuring CCTV, emergency communication devices, and blast inhibitors.

The metro network is easy to navigate, forming a rough "X" shape with the two existing lines. The stations are numbered, making it simple for passengers to identify their location. Additionally, all stations except Pieršamajskaja have island platforms, eliminating the need to worry about which side of the train to exit.

The Minsk Metro is a convenient and fast mode of transportation in the city, carrying approximately 800,000 passengers daily. During rush hours, trains arrive frequently, with wait times ranging from 2 to 3 minutes. The average speed of the trains is 45 km/h, reaching up to 80 km/h in certain sections.

The Minsk Metro plays a crucial role in the city's transportation network, ranking fourth among the 16 metro systems of the Commonwealth of Independent States in terms of passenger numbers. It is surpassed only by the metro systems of Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Kyiv.

The development plans for the Minsk Metro include a total of four lines, 63 stations, and an overall length of 87.9 km. A fourth (Circle) line is expected to connect the densely populated southern and northern parts of the city, adding 17 new stations and further enhancing the efficiency of this vital transportation system.

Belarus has tramway systems in four cities: Minsk, Vitebsk, Mazyr, and Novopolotsk

The standard railroad gauge in Belarus is 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27/32 in) or 1,524 mm (5 ft), known as the Russian broad gauge. This gauge is used across the country's railway network, which totals 5,512 km in length, with 874 km electrified.

Vitebsk, Mazyr, and Novopolotsk also have tramway systems. Novopolotsk's tramway has a gauge of 1,524 mm (5 ft), the same as some of the tramlines in Minsk.

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