Rail network Transport in the Soviet Union

a soviet envelope celebrating 150th anniversary of first railways

the soviet union had non-industrial railway network of 147,400 kilometres (91,600 mi), of 53,900 kilometres (33,500 mi) electrified. quality of rail transport continued deteriorate, in part because of russian civil war, within soviet leadership claimed railways not sustainable if congestions continued increase. advocated enlargement of rail transport felt increased investment , lengthening of established rail tracks solve ongoing congestion crisis. majority agreed on increasing investments, there no clear consensus on how these investments used. there believed in recapitalisation of railways. gosplan economists in meantime advocated rationalisation of railways, coupled tariffs based on actual cost, reduce traffic demand , provide funds investment. leadership unable reach conclusion , rail system continued deteriorate. in 1931, in central committee (cc) resolution, decided increased investments coupled introduction of newer trains solve crisis. resolution never carried out, , yet again, system continued deteriorate.

the central committee ordered lazar kaganovich solve railway crisis in 1935. kaganovich first prioritised bottleneck areas on other less-traveled areas; second priority investing in heavy traffic lines, , thirdly, least efficient areas of rail network left themselves. problem facing rail transport massive industrialisation efforts pushed on authorities. industrialisation proved heavy burden on railways, , vyacheslav molotov , kaganovich admitted 18th party congress. so, soviet government continued industrialisation efforts better prepare future war germany, became reality in 1941.

russian locomotive class u - u-127 lenin s 4-6-0 oil burning compound locomotive preserved @ museum of moscow railway @ paveletsky rail terminal

soviet rail transport became, after great patriotic war, 1 of developed in world, surpassing of first world counterparts. soviet railway system growing in size, @ rate of 639 km year 1965 1980, while growth of rail transport in first world countries either decreasing or stagnating. steady growth in rail transport can explained country s need extract natural resources, of located close to, or in siberia. while problems railways had been reported soviet press, soviet union boast of controlling 1 of electrified railway systems @ time. during of country s later lifespan, trains carried coal, oil, construction material (mostly stone, cement , sand) , timber. oil , oil products 1 of key reasons building railway infrastructure in siberia in first place.

the efficiency of railways improved on time, , 1980s had many performance indicators superior of united states. 1980s soviet railways had become intensively used in world. soviet citizens did not own private transport, , if did, difficult drive long distances due poor conditions of many roads. explanation has soviet policy, first being autarkic model created joseph stalin s regime. stalin s regime had little interest in rail transport, or other form transport, , instead focused of country s investments in rapid industrialisation. stalin s regime not interested in establishing new railway lines, decided conserve, , later expand, of existing railways left behind tsars. however, lev voronin, first deputy premier of soviet union, noted in speech supreme soviet of soviet union in 1989; railway sector main negative sector of economy in 1989 . industrial output declined in late-1980s did demand transportation, led decline in freight transport in return.

rail transit

the soviet rapid transit system seen quickest, cleanest , cheapest way of urban transport, , point acquired greater significance; authorities allocate resources automobile industry rapid transit sector , save substantial volume of country s diesel , petrol. because rapid transit system cheaper operate , less energy consuming, soviet authorities managed construct 20 rapid transits nationwide, further 9 in construction when soviet union collapsed. twenty other stations under construction in 1985. country s rapid transit system intensively used in world.