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Baikal–Amur Mainline

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(Redirected fromBaikal Amur Mainline)

Russian rail road route

Baikal–Amur Mainline

RZD3TE25K2M hauling freight at the Baikal–Amur Mainline

Overview

Native name

Байкало-Амурская магистраль

Status

Operational

Owner

Russian Railways

Locale

Termini

Continues from

Trans-Siberian Railway

Service

Type

System

East Siberian Railway (Tayshet–Khani)
Far Eastern Railway (Khani–Sovetskaya Gavan)

Operator(s)

Russian Railways

Technical

Line length

4,324 km (2,687 mi)

Number of tracks

2–1

Track gauge

1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in)Russian gauge

Electrification

25kV 50Hz ACoverhead lines

Route map

Legend

Tayshet

East Siberian Railway

293

Anzyobi

(Bratsk)

Akulshet

Tayshet diversion line to Yurty

Kostomarovo

Toporok

Nevelskaya

Parchum

to Lesosibirsk via Kodinsk

117

Novochunka

124

Chuna River

129

Sosnovye Rodniki

(Oktyabrsky)

142

Chuna

(Chunsky)

154

Izykan

167

Targiz

177

Chuksha

191

Keshevo

210

Toreya

226

Ognevka

246

Turma

259

Balaga

269

Vikhorevka

284

Morgudon

toBratsk city centre

293

Anzyobi

(Bratsk)

toBratsk city centre

304

Galachinsky

310

Bratskoye More

326

Padunskoye Porogi

328

Energetik

329

Angara River

Bratsk Reservoir wall (4.4 km)

339

Gidrostroytel

369

Zyaba

378

Pashenny

403

Kezhemskaya

416

Mamyr

436

Rechushka

461

Vidim

480

Sokhaty

502

Chornaya

523

Seleznyovo

533

Ilim River (Ust-Ilimsk Reservoir)

535

Sredneilimskaya

541

Zhelezny

550

Korshunovsky-Tunnel (1.1 km)

552

Korshunikha-Angarskaya

(Zheleznogorsk-Ilimsky)

562

Sibirishnaya

573

Khrebtovaya

toUst-Ilimsk

589

Karstovaya

611

Semigorsk

620

Merelotnaya

646

Kaymonovo

652

Kuta River

661

Rychey

672

Yantal

685

Kuta

713

Ust-Kut

720

Lena

(Ust-Kut)

730

Yakurim

734

Lena-Vostochnaya

to Lensk

737

Lena River

739

Predlensky

759

Chudnichny

769

Kalpshny

784

Zvyozdnaya

805

Irdykan

823

Niya

853

Nebel

867

Marikta

874

Ukhanga

889

Kirenga

(Magistralny)

908

Okunaysky

915

Kirenga River

930

Ulkan

948

Umbella

960

Kalakachan

982

Kunerma

997

Delbichinda

1,010

Baikal (Daban) tunnel (6,686 m)

Irkutsk Oblast

Buryatia

1,014

Daban

1,028

Goudzhekit

1,043

Tyya

1,063

Severobaykalsk

1,067

4 tunnels (4.5 km total)

1,090

Nizhneangarsk

1,105

Kholodnaya

1,127

Kichera

1,164

Kiron

1,182

Angoya

1,193

Ogdynda

1,210

Ogney

1,228

Anamakit

1,235

Upper Angara River

1,242

Novy Uoyan

1,249

Bakany

1,277

Yanchuy

1,296

Churo

1,315

Kyukhelbekerskaya

(Yanchikan)

1,330

Kovokta

1,344

Angarakan

Severomuysky Tunnel bypass

1,354

Severomuysky Tunnel (15,343 m)

Severomuysky Tunnel bypass

1,370

Okusikan

1,374

Kasankan

(Severomuysk)

1,385

Severomuysk

1,397

Arkum

1,414

Ulgi

1,460

Muyakan

1,469

Taksimo

end of

electrification

↓planned electrification

1,492

Lodya

1,508

Aku

1,533

Shivery

1,535

1,543

Koyra

1,561

Kuanda

1,584

Taku

1,602

Balbukhta

1,617

Syulban

1,637

Naledny

1,645

Kodar tunnel (1,981 m)

1,650

Kodar

1,668

Leprindo

1,679

Sallikit

1,713

Chara River

to Chineyskoye mines

1,719

Novaya Chara

1,740

Kemen

1,757

Ikabya

1,770

Olongo

1,835

Zabaykalsky Krai

Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

1,864

Khani

Far-East Railway

1,866

Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

Amur Oblast

Olyokma

Tas-Yuryakh

1,918

Olyokma River

1,922

Amur Oblast

Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

1,927

Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

Amur Oblast

2,013

Yuktali

2,033

Taluma

2,058

Dyugabul

2,121

Chilchi

2,171

Lopcha

2,186

Elgakan

2,216

Larba

2,241

Lumbir

2,268

Khorogochi

2,309

Kuvykta

Trans-Siberian Railway
to Bamovskaya

2,348

Tynda

2,369

Shakhtaum

2,365

Gilyuy River

2,375

Bestuzhevo

Amur–Yakutsk Mainline

2,409

Gilyuy River

2,436

Marevaya

2,494

Unakha

2,511

Dipkun

2,560

Tutaul

to Elginskoye
(under construction)

2,687

Zeya River (Zeya reservoir)

2,690

Verkhnezeysk

2,706

Apetenok

2,734

Izhak

2,757

Ulyanovsky Stroitel

2,779

Ogoron

2,803

Moldavsky

2,833

Miroshnichenko

2,846

Tungala

2,865

Kamnega

2,894

Dugda

2,919

Nora

2,940

Meun

2,957

Drogoshevsk

2,983

Skalisty

3,000

Chervinka

3,012

Selemdzha River

3,017

Fevralsk

3,035

Zvonkoye

3,060

Demchenko

3,082

Isakan

3,101

Isa

3,129

Mustakh

3,149

Ulma

3,155

3,162

Etyrken

3,195

Shugara

3,247

Alonka

3,292

Bureya River

Trans-Siberian Railway
to Isvestkovy

3,298

Novy Urgal

3,312

Urgal-I

toChegdomyn

3,324

Chemchuko

3,339

Mugule

3,365

Soloni

3,384

Dusse-Alin

3,382

Dusse-Alin Tunnel (1.8 km)

3,402

Suluk

3,422

Mogdy

3,434

Orokot

3,456

Gerbi

3,481

Ukraltu

3,494

Badzhal

Amgun River (3 bridges)

3,513

Dzhamku

3,525

Sektali

3,542

Eanga

3,562

Amgun

3,579

Sonakh

3,595

Ebgun

3,615

Postyshevo

(Beryosovy)

Komsomolsk-on-Amur diversion line

to Chumikan & Magadan

3,621

Amgun River

3,638

Bolen

3,659

Moni

3,679

Evoron

3,702

Kharpichan

3,715

Gorin

3,740

Mavrinsky

3,750

Khurmuli

3,775

Lian

3,789

Khalgaso

3,799

Silinka

toKomsomolsk-on-Amur
andDzemgi

3,819

Komsomolsk-Sortirovochny

Komsomolsk–Dezhnyovka line
to Khabarovsk

Amur river

Pivan

Gayter

Kartel

Selikhino

to Sakhalin viaSakhalin Tunnel

Eldigan

Poni

Kun

112

Gurskoye

139

Uktur

160

Kenay

182

Oune

Kuznetsovsky tunnel (3,996 m)

220

Vysokogornaya

240

Datta

261

Kenada

274

Dzhigdasi

to De-Kastri & Sakhalin

303

Tuluchi

318

Akur

340

Tumnin

366

Khutu

376

Imbo

to Khabarovsk & Nakhodka

380

Ust-Orochi

399

Kamenny Ruchey

403

Landyshi

424

Toki

434

Vanino

Vanino–Kholmsk train ferry
toSakhalin

442

Sovetskaya Gavan-

Sortirovochny

458

Desna

468

Sovetskaya Gavan

Key

existing

Electrification

planned

phase number

TheBaikal–Amur Mainline (Russian:Байкало-Амурская магистраль,БАМ,Baikalo-Amurskaya magistral',BAM) is a1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in)broad-gauge railway line inRussia. TraversingEastern Siberia and theRussian Far East, the 4,324 km (2,687 mi)-long BAM runs about 610 to 770 km (380 to 480 mi) north of and parallel to theTrans-Siberian Railway.

TheSoviet Union built the BAM as a strategic alternative route to the Trans–Siberian Railway, seen as vulnerable especially along the sections close to the border withChina. The BAM cost $14 billion, and it was built with special, durable tracks since much of it ran overpermafrost. Due to the severe terrain, weather, length and cost, Soviet general secretaryLeonid Brezhnev described BAM in 1974 as "the construction project of the century".^[1]

If the permafrost layer that supports the BAM railway line were to melt, the railway would collapse and sink intopeat bog layers that cannot bear its weight. In 2016 and 2018 there were reports about climate change and damage to buildings and infrastructure as a result of thawing permafrost.^[2]^[3]

Route

[edit]

Map of major railways in Russia, withTrans-Siberian Railway shown in red, the Baikal-Amur Mainline in green and theAmur–Yakutsk Mainline (including "Little BAM") shown in orange

The BAM departs from the Trans-Siberian railway atTayshet, then crosses theAngara River atBratsk and theLena River atUst-Kut, proceeds pastSeverobaikalsk at the northern tip ofLake Baikal, pastTynda andKhani, crosses theAmur River atKomsomolsk-on-Amur and finally reaches thePacific Ocean atSovetskaya Gavan. There are 21 tunnels along the line, with a total length of 47 km (29 mi). There are also more than 4,200 bridges, with a total length of over 400 kilometres (250 mi).^[4]

Of the whole route, only the western Tayshet-Taksimo sector of 1,469 km (913 mi) is electrified. The route is largely single-track, although the reservation is wide enough for double-tracking for its full length, in the case of eventual duplication. The unusual thing about the railway is that it is electrified with a 27.5 kV, 50 Hz catenary minimum height at 6.5 metres (21 ft 4 in) above top of the rails to suit double-stacking under the overhead wires on theRussian gauge tracks, which requires rolling stock to be modified for service on the railway.

At Tynda the route is crossed by theAmur–Yakutsk Mainline, which runs north toNeryungri andTommot, with an extension toNizhny Bestyakh opened in 2019.^[5] The original section of the AYaM connecting the Trans-Siberian at Bamovskaya with the BAM at Tynda is also referred to as the "Little BAM".

During the winter the passenger trains go fromMoscow pastTayshet andTynda toNeryungri andTommot and there are also a daily trains from Tynda toKomsomolsk-on-Amur and from Komsomolsk-on-Amur toSovetskaya Gavan on thePacific Ocean viaVanino ("Vladivostok-Sovetskaya Gavan" train No.351Э). Travel time from Tayshet to Tynda is 48 hours.^[6] Travel time from Tynda to Komsomolsk-on-Amur is 36 hours.^[6] Travel time from Komsomolsk-on-Amur to Sovetskaya Gavan is 13 hours.^[6]

There are ten tunnels along the BAM railway, totaling 30 kilometres (19 miles) of route. They include:^[7]

Baikalsky tunnel 6,685 metres (4.154 mi)^[8]
Severomuysky Tunnel 15,343 metres (9.534 mi)
Kodar Tunnell 1,981 metres (1.231 mi)
Dusse Alin Tunnel 1,852 metres (1.151 mi)
Korshunovsky tunnel 950 metres (3,120 ft)

These are among the longest tunnels in Russia.

In addition, the route crosses 11 full-flowing rivers (including theLena,Amur,Zeya,Vitim,Olyokma,Selemdzha andBureya).^[7] In total, 2230 large and small bridges were built on it.

History

[edit]

Early plans and start of construction

[edit]

The route of the present-day BAM first came under consideration in the 1880s as an option for the eastern section of the planned Trans-Siberian railway.

In the 1930s,labor-camp inmates, in particular from theBamlag camp of theGulag system, built the section from Tayshet toBratsk. In a confusing transfer of names, the labelBAM applied from 1933 to 1935 to the project to double-track the Trans-Siberian east of Lake Baikal, constructed largely using forced labor.^[9]

1945 saw the finalisation of plans for upgrading the BAM for diesel or electric instead of steam traction, and for the heavier axle-loads of eight-axle oil tankers to carry new-found oil from Western Siberia.^[10] The upgrading required 25 years and 3,000 surveyors and designers, although much of the redesign work (particularly as regards the central section) took place between 1967 and 1974.^[9]

Construction project of the century

[edit]

A rally inUst-Ilimsk,Irkutsk Region, on the occasion of the arrival of a building team for construction of the Baikal-Amur Railway. 1979.

In March 1974, SovietGeneral Secretary Brezhnev proposed that the BAM would be one of the two major projects in theTenth Five Year Plan (1976–80).^[9] He famously stated that "BAM will be constructed with clean hands only!" and firmly rejected the suggestion to again useprison labor. A few weeks later, he challenged the Young Communist League (Komsomol) to join in "the construction project of the century".^[1] The 17thKomsomol congress (held in April 1974) announced the BAM as a Komsomolshock construction project, created the central Komsomol headquarters of BAM construction, and appointedDmitry Filippov the chief of the headquarters.

By the end of 1974, perhaps 50,000 young people of the 156,000 young people who applied had moved to the BAM service area. In 1975 and 1976, 28 new settlements were inaugurated and 70 new bridges, including the Amur and Lena bridges, were erected. And while 110 miles (180 km) of track was laid, the track-laying rate would have needed to nearly triple to meet the 1983 deadline.^[9]

In September 1984, a "golden spike" was hammered into place, connecting the eastern and western sections of the BAM. The Western media was not invited to attend this historic event as Soviet officials did not want any comments about the line's operational status. In reality, only one third of the BAM's track was fully operational for civilians, due to military reasons.^[11]

The BAM was again declared complete in 1991. By then, the total cost to build the line wasUS$14billion (RU₽106trillion).

Crisis

[edit]

Beginning in the mid-1980s, the BAM project attracted increasing criticism for having been poorly planned. Infrastructure and basic services like running water were often not in place when workers arrived. At least 60boomtowns developed along the route, but today many of these places are desertedghost towns and unemployment in the area is high. The building of the BAM has also been criticised for its complete lack of environmental protection.^[12]

When theSoviet Union was dissolved, numerous mining and industrial projects in the region were cancelled and the BAM was greatly underutilized until the late 1990s, running at a large operational deficit.^{[citation needed]}

In 1996, the BAM as a single operational body was dissolved, with the western section fromTayshet toKhani becoming theEast Siberian Railway and the rest transferred to the management of theFar Eastern Railway.^{[citation needed]}

During theRusso-Ukrainian War, on November 30, 2023, an explosion occurred in theSeveromuysky Tunnel. A second explosion happened soon thereafter on the bypass used as backup for the tunnel. TheSecurity Service of Ukraine claimed responsibility for the explosions.^[13]

Current situation and future prospects

[edit]

This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2019)

Baikal–Amur
Mainline extension

Legend

Baikal–Amur Mainline
to Tynda

to Khabarovsk

Komsomolsk-on-Amur

Khurmuli-Vostochnaya

Guga

to Nikolaevsk-on-Amur

Tugur

Komsomolsk diversion line
to Postyshevo

Chumikan

Ayan

Aldoma

Kekra

Ulya

Okhotsk

Inya

Balagannoye

Arman

Amur-Yakutsk Mainline
to Yakutsk

Magadan

Takhtoyamsk

Evensk

Gizhiga

Manily

Kamenskoye

Oklan

Slautnoye

Berozovo

Tambatney

Anadyr

Egvekinot

Bering Strait

Russia

USA

border

Koyukuk

Ruby

Manley Hot Springs

Fairbanks

USA

Canada

border

Fort Nelson

to Vancouver and Seattle

Edmonton

Winnipeg

← to Toronto
to Hudson Bay →

Armstrong

Grant

Hearst

Smooth Rock Falls

Matapedia

Moncton

Halifax

Selikhino–
Nakhodka line

Legend

Baikal Amur Mainline

to Komsomolsk-on-Amur
and Selikhino

Imbo

to Sovetskaya Gavan

Maysky-Zapadnaya

Innokentyevsky

to Khabarovsk
and Vyazemskaya

Grossevichi

Nelma

Peretychikha

Amgu

Terney

Dalnegorsk

Kavalerovo

Chuguevka

Sergeevka

to Partizansk
and Ussurysk

Nakhodka

Tikhookeanskaya

Mys Astafieva

A major improvement was the opening of the 15.34-kilometre (9.53 mi)Severomuysky Tunnel on 5 December 2003. It is up to 1.5 kilometres (nearly 1 mile) deep. Construction took 27 years to complete. Prior to this, the corresponding route segment was 54 km (34 mi) long, with heavy slopes necessitating the use of auxiliarybank engine locomotives.

With the resources boom of recent years and improving economic conditions in Russia, use of the line is increasing. Plans exist for the development of mining areas such asUdokanskoye andChineyskoye nearNovaya Chara, as well as one ofEurasia's largest coal deposits atElginskoye (Elga) in theSakha Republic (Yakutia). In connection with this, a number of branch lines have been built or are under construction.

In January 2012 the Russian mining companyMechel completed the construction of the 320-kilometre-long branch line to Elginskoye, branching from the BAM station Ulak, west of theZeya River crossing in northwesternAmur Oblast.^[14]^[15] The branch line connects theElginskoye coal mine to the Russian railroad network.

Currently under discussion is the construction of abridge or tunnel under theStrait of Tartary toSakhalin Island, with the possibility of the further construction of abridge or tunnel from Sakhalin to Japan. A tunnel from the mainland to Sakhalin was previously begun underJoseph Stalin, but was abandoned after his death. A second attempt in 2003 was also postponed during construction. Current economic conditions make the short-term completion of the tunnel doubtful, although Russian presidentDmitry Medvedev announced in November 2008 his support for a revival of this project.^[16]

The BAM now also attracts the interest of Western railway enthusiasts, with some tourist activity on the line.^[4]

Also, the BAM itself extension from Komsomolsk-on-Amur to Magadan (Okhotsk coastal route), full length electrification, full length track doubling, and double-stacking under the overhead wires on the Russian gauge tracks (with well cars to make 6.15m height) are proposed.

Tayshet diversion line
(Tayshet bypass)

Severo-Sibirskaya Mainline

Lena-Kamchatka Mainline

Tayshet
diversion line

Legend

Trans-Siberian Railway
to Krasnoyarsk

Yurty

Trans-Siberian Railway
to Tayshet

Staly Akulshet

Trans-Siberian Railway
to Tayshet

Kostomarovo

Trans-Siberian Railway
to Lena and Severobaykalsk

Severo–Sibirskaya
Mainline

Legend

					to Svecha & Vologda
					Kirov
					Zuevka
					to Yar & Balyezino
					Trans-Siberian Railway
					to Yar
					Stalnaya
					Lesnaya Polyana
					Kirs
					Verkhnekamskaya
					to Lesnaya, Krutoborka & Ukhta
					Batalovo
					Pushya
					Tuprunka
					Seyva
					Bondyug
					Krasnovishersk
					Vels
					Trans-Ural Tunnel
					to Serov
					Ivdel
					to Polunochnoe & Labytnangi
					Priobe
					Komsomolsky
					Kamennoe
					Khanty-Mansysk
					to Tyumen via Tobolsk
					Surgut
					to Novy Urengoy
					Nizhnevartovsk
					Aleksandrovskoe
					Kolpashevo
					Bely Yar
					to Lesosibirsk & Ust-Ilimsk
					Asino
					to Tomsk & Tayga
					Yagodnoe
					Kolyon
					Belogorodka
					to Yurga & Novosibirsk
					Mariinsk
					Achinsk
					to Lesosibirsk & Dudinka
					Krasnoyarsk
					to Lena & Severobaykalsk

Ust–Ilimsk branch

Legend

					to Surgut via Nizhnevartovsk
					Kolpashevo
					Bely Yar
					to Mariinsk via Asino
					Kataiga
					to Dudinka
					Eniseisk
					Lesosibirsk
					to Achinsk
					Novoangarsk
					Pinchga
					to Reshoty via Karabula
					Yarki
					Boguchany
					Kodinsk
					to Vikhorevka via Novochunka
					Ust-Ilimsk
					Nachalny
					to Bratsk
					Karstovaya
					to Severobaikalsk

Novochunka branch

Legend

					to Lesosibirsk via Yarki
					Kodinsk
					to Ust-Ilimsk
					Chervyanka
					Nevanka
					Bunbui
					to Krasnoyarsk
					Novochunka
					to Vikhorevka & Bratsk

Reshoty-Yarki Line

Legend

					to Krasnoyarsk
					to Yurty & Tayshet
					Reshoty II
					Pokanaevka
					Shelaevo
					Novobiryusinskaya
					Garevoi
					Novokhaiskaya
					Karabula
					to Lesosibirsk
					Yarki
					to Kodinsk & Severobaikalsk

Lena-Kamchatka
Mainline

Legend

					to Bratsk
					Lena
					Lena-Vostochnaya
					to Severobaikalsk
					Nepa
					Lensk
					to Aldan & Tommot
					Nizhny Bestyakh
					to Magadan

Along the BAM

[edit]

Tayshet toLake Baikal 1,064 kilometres (661 mi):^[4]

0	Tayshet: about 300 kilometres (190 miles) east ofKrasnoyarsk,Trans-Siberian Railway,M53 highway to Irkutsk
129	Sosnovye Rodniki: timber port;Chuna River
142	Chuna
269	Vikhorevka: railway administration
282	Anzebi: 20-kilometre (12 mi) spur line toBratsk
330	Railway runs across the top of theBratsk Dam
463	Vidim
546	Sredneilimskaya on theUst-Ilimsk reservoir
554	Zheleznogorsk-Ilimsky: mining town
575	Khrebetovaya: branch line north toUst-Ilimsk (see branches below); enters Lena basin;Kuta River
715	Ust-Kut: port on theLena River where goods are loaded onto boats for transport north; end of the line until 1974
736	Lena Vostochnaya: east of the Lena, start of the BAM proper from 1974; route turns east southeast
786	Zvyozdnaya: first new town built on the BAM
890	Kirenga: 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) east is the larger town of Magistralnyy;Kirenga River and bridge
931	Ul'kan: on the Ulkan branch of the Kirenga
1,005	Delbichenda: last stop before the 6.7-kilometre (4.2 mi) Baikal Mountain Tunnel (between 1979 and 1984 there was a 15-kilometre (9.3 mi) bypass over the mountain)
1,014	Daben
1,064	Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal toTynda 1,300 kilometres (810 mi):

1,064	Severobaykalsk; four small tunnels along the lake
1,104	Nizhneangarsk; leave Lake Baikal, northeast along theUpper Angara River valley
1,257	Novy Uoyan: there is talk of building a railroad south from here to the Trans-Siberian; enters Severomuysk Mountains; much permafrost from here to Tynda
1,385–1,400	Severomuysky Tunnel: 15.7 kilometres (9.8 mi) long, very difficult construction; leaves mountain; scenic section with mountains to north and south; much fog
1,484	Taksimo: end of electrified section;Muya River
1,548	Shivery: leavesBuryat Republic;Vitim River
1,577	Kuanda: official 'completion' of the BAM was celebrated here in September 1984; valley into mountains
1,664	Kodar: Kodar mountains, 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) tunnel
1,734	Novaya Chara
1,879	Khani: the only BAM town in theSakha Republic; northernmost point on the line; route turns south-southeast along theOlyokma River; enters Amur basin

Tynda toKomsomolsk 1,473 kilometres (915 mi):

2,364	Tynda: Branchrailway andhighway M56 north to Yakutsk; little BAM south to the Trans-Siberian
2,704	Bridge overZeya Reservoir; route heads southeast
3,205	Bureya River bridge
3,315	Novy Urgal: Branch south to Trans-Siberian
3,403	east toDusse-Alin Tunnel; northeast up theAmgun River
3,633	Postyshevo: east
3,697	Evoron Lake; southeast to km 3,837:Komsomolsk-on-Amur

Komsomolsk toSovetskaya Gavan 486 kilometres (302 mi):

This section was completed by prisoners duringWorld War II, except for the 19-kilometre (12 mi) section east of Komsomolsk which was completed in 1974.

3,819	Komsomolsk; 1,734-metre (5,689 ft)Amur River Bridge
0	Pivan (new zero point)
51	Selikhin: Branch
95–340	Sikhote Alin Mountains
403	Mongokhto
441	Vanino: port,train ferry to Sakhalin Island, practical end of passenger service
467	Sovetskaya Gavan: naval base

In April 2008 the state-owned Bamtonnelstroy corporation started work on the new 3.91-kilometre (2.43 mi) single-trackKuznetsovsky Tunnel to bypass an older tunnel built in 1943–1945.^[17] It was opened in December 2012. The old tunnel had difficult gradients; building the new tunnel relieved a bottleneck on the BAM.^[18] The 59.8 bn roubles (about $1.93 bn) project included 20 kilometres (12 mi) of new track. In 2010,Yakunin had said, the stretch between Komsomolsk and Sovetskaya Gavan was the weakest link on the BAM, which, he said, could be carrying 100 million tons of freight a year in 2050.^[19]

Branches

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575: Khrebtovaya to Ust-Ilimsk, 214 kilometres (133 mi): opened in 1970, it runs northeast to serve theUst-Ilimsk Dam.
1,257: Novy Uoyan: possible start of line south on east side to Lake Baikal.
2,364: Tynda to the Trans-Siberian at Bamovskaya, 180 kilometres (110 mi) (the 'Little BAM'): this branch was built by prisoners in 1933–37, torn up in 1942 and its rails shipped to the front and rebuilt in 1972–75.
2,364: Tynda to Yakutsk: seeAmur–Yakutsk Mainline.
3,315: Novy Urgal to the Trans-Siberian at Izvestovskaya, 328 kilometres (204 mi): in theBureya River basin, it was built mostly by Japanese POWs. There is a 32 kilometres (20 mi) branch north from Novy Urgal to theChegdomyn coal fields.
3,837: Komsomolsk south to Khabarovsk, 374 kilometres (232 mi); on east side (flood plain) of the Amur. 99 kilometres (62 mi) south:Lake Bolon.
51 (line km restart at Komsomolsk): Selikhin to Cherny Mys, 122 kilometres (76 mi): north along the Amur. Built 1950–53, it was planned to extend this to a tunnel to Sakhalin Island. There is talk of restarting it.

The BAM road

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Running approximately alongside the railway track is the BAM road, a railway service track. It is said to be in a very poor state, with collapsed bridges, dangerous river crossings, severe potholes and "unrelenting energy-sapping bogs". The narrow, dilapidated Vitim River Bridge (aka Kuandinsky Bridge)^[20] that crosses theVitim river has attracted attention since its first appearance on social media in 2009.^[21] The passage of the bridge is forbidden since 2016 but remains a common road for individuals to reach the town of Koanda.^[22]

The road is passable only by the most extremeoff-road vehicles andadventure motorcycles. In 2009, a group of three experienced motorcycle riders took a whole month to travel fromKomsomolsk (in the east) toLake Baikal.^[23]^[24]