According to Pavel Shestakov, Deputy General Director of the Institute for Transport Economics and Development (IEDT), the total investment required to implement the project is estimated at approximately RUB 5 trillion (excluding VAT).

“Despite the capital-intensive nature of the project, its implementation could ensure growth in freight traffic volumes, including through the creation of an additional outlet of the railway network to the Pacific Ocean, and significantly facilitate logistics for general-purpose cargo in terms of supplying населённые пункты and enterprises located within the line’s catchment area,” the expert noted.

In his opinion, the construction of the railway will face challenges that can be grouped into four categories: lack of guaranteed funding sources; insufficient exploration of the project areas (requiring large-scale geological and geodetic surveys before active construction begins); the need to use more expensive technologies and materials to ensure durability and safety of the track, as well as their delivery; and a shortage of qualified specialists not only for construction but also for subsequent operation of the line.

Source: Gudok.