Murmansk–Nikel Railway

Murmansk–Nikel Railway
Overview
OwnerRussian Railways
Termini
Stations11
Service
TypeRailway
SystemRussian Railways
Operator(s)Russian Railways
History
Opened1936
Technical
Line length206 km
CharacterFreight
Track gauge1,520 mm (4 ft 11+2732 in) Russian gauge
ElectrificationNo
Operating speed40 km/h
Murmansk–Nikel line
Vikhodnoj
original line to Murmashi
Tuloma River
original line to Murmashi
Tuloma
to Lawna
Pyayve
Nyal
to Zaozersk
Titovka
Luostari
Arctic Railway
to Nikel and Sodankylä
Pechenga
Russia
Norway
border
Arctic Railway
to Rovaniemi via Nikel
Kirkenes
to Skibotn via Lakselv

The Murmansk–Nikel Railway is a 206 km long railway between Murmansk and Nikel in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, primarily for freight from the nickel mine at Nikel, with the passenger service east of Kola currently suspended. The railway was completed in 1968 and is not electrified. A part was built 1936.[1] In 1961 the line Kola - Pechenga was opened and in 1968 to Nikel.

Proposed expansion

[edit]

The Norwegian Kirkenes World Port Group consortium has proposed connecting the Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Line mining railway to the Murmansk–Nikel Railway at Zapolyarny, linking the Russian rail network to the Norwegian port of Kirkenes, to reduce port congestion at Murmansk. So far the Russians prefer using their own port, which has also been expanded.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kirkenes Word Port Group. "Kirkenes Havn og Jernbanetilknytning" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2007-10-20. Retrieved 2007-04-04.