Belarus - General Information: Difference between revisions

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==National railway system==
==National railway system==
*Belarusian: BČ - Belaruskaja Čyhunka / БЧ - Беларуская Чыгунка
*Belarusian: BČ - Belaruskaja Čyhunka (or BCh Belaruskaya Chyhunka) / БЧ - Беларуская Чыгунка
*Russian: BŽD - Belorusskaja Železnaja Doroga / БЖД - Белорусская Железная Дорога
*Russian: BŽD - Belorusskaja Železnaja Doroga (or BZD Belorusskaya Zheleznaya Doroga) / БЖД - Белорусская Железная Дорога


==Official Website==
==Official Website==
Line 10: Line 10:


==Language==
==Language==
Since a referendum in 1995, the country has had two official languages: Belarusian and Russian. However, all station names are exclusively in Belarusian, apart from a few large stations which are bilingual - Russian or Łacinka,  Belarusian rendered in the Latin alphabet.
Since a referendum in 1995, the country has had two official languages: Belarusian and Russian. However, all station names are exclusively in Belarusian, apart from a few large stations which are bilingual Belarusian and Russian. Some are displayed also with the official transliteration in Latin script. This transliteration is based on Łacinka,  Belarusian rendered in the Latin alphabet, with little modifications. This is also the transliteration used by the official BČ website in English. For consistency, this system is used in the EGTRE pages relevant to Belarus.


==Currency==
==Currency==
Line 23: Line 23:


===Downloadable Timetable===
===Downloadable Timetable===
None.
*[https://railwayz.info/timetables/pass/ Long distance trains] from different years.
*[https://railwayz.info/timetables/suburban/ Regional trains] from different years.


===Printed Timetable===
===Printed Timetable===
None.  
A free printed timetable was available in 2017 and may still be. The book shows all trains in Belarus (including international ones operated by LG/RZD/CFM/UZ etc) and is split up into five sections - 1. City Lines (suburban trains around Minsk) / 2. Regional Lines Economy (regional slow stopping trains) / 3. Regional Lines Business (regional fast express services) / 4. Inter Regional Lines (fast long distance intercity trains) / 5. International Lines (all International trains except the slow regional DMU/EMU ones). Some maps are included.
 
===Engineering Information===
===Engineering Information===
None.
None.
Line 36: Line 38:
===Web-based Maps===
===Web-based Maps===
*The basic routes are overlaid on a simple map given at the bottom of the [http://rasp.rw.by/en/ Train timetable] linked page.
*The basic routes are overlaid on a simple map given at the bottom of the [http://rasp.rw.by/en/ Train timetable] linked page.
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_belarus.php Map of Belarus] - dating from October 2008.
*[https://railwayz.info/photolines/rw/13 clickable railway map] leading to information on the line selected.
*[https://www.mrl.ucsb.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/belarus_en.html Boris Chomenko's Belarus railway map] dated December 2019.
*[[Maps and Plans#Belarus|Maps and Plans - Belarus]]


==Ticketing==
==Ticketing==
Line 50: Line 54:
===Gauge===
===Gauge===
"Russian" gauge (1520mm)
"Russian" gauge (1520mm)
Tram systems are 1524 mm gauge.


===Electrification===
===Electrification===
25kV 50Hz, except for the cross-border Brest - Terespol and Grodno - Kuźnica Białostocka lines to Poland, which are 3 kV DC.
25kV 50Hz, except for the cross-border standard gauge lines to Poland, Brest - Terespol and Hrodna (Grodno) - Kuźnica Białostocka, which are 3 kV DC.


===Rule of the road===
===Rule of the road===
Line 58: Line 64:


===Distances===
===Distances===
No known source.
The [https://railwayz.info/timetables/suburban/ Regional train pdf timetables] (see Downloadable Timetable) give kilometre posts of each station served.


==Other railways==
==Other railways==
Line 64: Line 70:


==Tourist lines==
==Tourist lines==
The narrow gauge K.S. Zaslonov Children's Railway is located in Chelyuskinites Park in Minsk. More information at the Children's Railways 'Dyetsky Zelegny Dorogy' (DZD)Web site (partly in English) [http://www.dzd-ussr.ru/towns/minsk/index-eng.html Minsk Children's Railway].
The 750 mm narrow gauge K.S. Zaslonov Children's Railway is located in Chelyuskinites Park in Minsk. More information at the Children's Railways 'Dyetsky Zhelezny Dorogy' (DZD)Web site (partly in English) [http://www.dzd-ussr.ru/towns/minsk/index-eng.html Minsk Children's Railway].
 
The [http://750mm.by/ Narrow Gauge Railways] site gives details [in Cyrillic] of excursions on some narrow gauge peat networks.


==Metro==
==Metro==
Minsk.
Minsk.


A metro track map is available at [https://www.mrl.ucsb.edu/~yopopov/rrt/trackmaps/ Popov Metro maps] captioned in Cyrillic.
Operated by [http://metropoliten.by/ Minsk Metropolitan] - site uses Cyrillic


==Trams==
A metro track map is available at [http://www-personal.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/trackmaps/ Popov Metro maps] captioned in Cyrillic.
Minsk, Mazyr/Mozyr, Novopolotsk, Vicebsk [Russian: Vitebsk].


Some tram track maps are available at [https://www.mrl.ucsb.edu/~yopopov/rrt/trackmaps/ Popov maps] captioned in Cyrillic.
==Trams/LRT-Systems==
Minsk, Mazyr/Mozyr, Navapolack/Novopolotsk, Viciebsk/Vitebsk.
 
The [http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/euromet.htm UrabnRailNet] site has basic diagrams of tramway systems along with links to the local operators.
 
Some tram track maps are available at [http://www-personal.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/trackmaps/ Popov maps] captioned in Cyrillic.


==Recent and future changes==
==Recent and future changes==
Electrification of the 72km line from Molodechno to Kena in Lithuania was completed in Autumn 2017 with freight operations commencing from 6 September 2017 and a through electric passenger service on 10 December 2017.
The first 3.5 km phase of Minsk Metro Line 3 was inaugurated on 6 November 2020.
 
Electrification of the 72km line from Maladziečna/Molodechno to Kena in Lithuania was completed in Autumn 2017, with freight operations commencing from 6 September 2017 and a through electric passenger service on 10 December 2017.


The new 'Strizh' Moskva - Berlin Talgo service started operation on 17 December 2016. It uses a new Talgo gauge-changer at Brest station, which has reduced considerably the time taken to change gauge.
The new 'Strizh' Moskva - Berlin Talgo service started operation on 17 December 2016. It uses a new Talgo gauge-changer at Brest station, which has reduced considerably the time taken to change gauge.


Electric Services between Minsk and Homel commenced on 17 June 2016. The scheme allegedly also included the branch off it from Zhlobin to Kalinkavichy so information if this is also completed '''would be appreciated by the Compilers'''.  
Electric Services between Minsk and Homieĺ commenced on 17 June 2016.


A cross-border service between Grodno/Гродна and Kuźnica Białostocka (Poland) was reinstated from 4 Sept 2016, with a Kraków <> Grodno portion of the Krakow <> Mockava (Lithuania) train. Local services were discontinued at the December 2015 timetable change as they were to be replaced by PKP IC services between Warszawa and Grodno, which never ran owing to funding issues.
A cross-border service between Гродна/Гродно (Hrodna/Grodno) and Kuźnica Białostocka (Poland) was reinstated from 4 Sept 2016, with a Kraków <> Hrodna/Grodno portion of the Krakow <> Mockava (Lithuania) train. Local services were discontinued at the December 2015 timetable change as they were to be replaced by PKP IC services between Warszawa and Hrodna/Grodno, which never ran owing to funding issues.


One train each way between Grodno/Гродна and Vilnius at weekends only was reintroduced on 6 June 2015, reopening the Benjakonī/Беняконі - Stasylos (Lithuania) border crossing, but withdrawn after 8 November.
One train each way between Гродна/Гродно (Hrodna/Grodno) and Vilnius at weekends only was reintroduced on 6 June 2015, reopening the Беняконі/Бенякони (Bieniakoni/Benyakoni) - Stasylos (Lithuania) border crossing, but withdrawn after 8 November.


==Special Notes==
==Special Notes==

Revision as of 00:34, 11 January 2021

Country Name

Belarus (officially The Republic of Belarus) (Беларусь)

National railway system

  • Belarusian: BČ - Belaruskaja Čyhunka (or BCh Belaruskaya Chyhunka) / БЧ - Беларуская Чыгунка
  • Russian: BŽD - Belorusskaja Železnaja Doroga (or BZD Belorusskaya Zheleznaya Doroga) / БЖД - Белорусская Железная Дорога

Official Website

Belarusian Railway

Language

Since a referendum in 1995, the country has had two official languages: Belarusian and Russian. However, all station names are exclusively in Belarusian, apart from a few large stations which are bilingual Belarusian and Russian. Some are displayed also with the official transliteration in Latin script. This transliteration is based on Łacinka, Belarusian rendered in the Latin alphabet, with little modifications. This is also the transliteration used by the official BČ website in English. For consistency, this system is used in the EGTRE pages relevant to Belarus.

Currency

Belarusian ruble (BYR).

UIC code

numeric 21; alpha BLR.

Timetable

Journey Planner

Train timetable

Downloadable Timetable

Printed Timetable

A free printed timetable was available in 2017 and may still be. The book shows all trains in Belarus (including international ones operated by LG/RZD/CFM/UZ etc) and is split up into five sections - 1. City Lines (suburban trains around Minsk) / 2. Regional Lines Economy (regional slow stopping trains) / 3. Regional Lines Business (regional fast express services) / 4. Inter Regional Lines (fast long distance intercity trains) / 5. International Lines (all International trains except the slow regional DMU/EMU ones). Some maps are included.

Engineering Information

None.

Maps

Printed Maps

Web-based Maps

Ticketing

There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

There does not appear to be an Infrastructure Authority although BČ has a Track Facilities Department and an Electricity Supply Department.

Network Statement

None known

Gauge

"Russian" gauge (1520mm)

Tram systems are 1524 mm gauge.

Electrification

25kV 50Hz, except for the cross-border standard gauge lines to Poland, Brest - Terespol and Hrodna (Grodno) - Kuźnica Białostocka, which are 3 kV DC.

Rule of the road

Right.

Distances

The Regional train pdf timetables (see Downloadable Timetable) give kilometre posts of each station served.

Other railways

None.

Tourist lines

The 750 mm narrow gauge K.S. Zaslonov Children's Railway is located in Chelyuskinites Park in Minsk. More information at the Children's Railways 'Dyetsky Zhelezny Dorogy' (DZD)Web site (partly in English) Minsk Children's Railway.

The Narrow Gauge Railways site gives details [in Cyrillic] of excursions on some narrow gauge peat networks.

Metro

Minsk.

Operated by Minsk Metropolitan - site uses Cyrillic

A metro track map is available at Popov Metro maps captioned in Cyrillic.

Trams/LRT-Systems

Minsk, Mazyr/Mozyr, Navapolack/Novopolotsk, Viciebsk/Vitebsk.

The UrabnRailNet site has basic diagrams of tramway systems along with links to the local operators.

Some tram track maps are available at Popov maps captioned in Cyrillic.

Recent and future changes

The first 3.5 km phase of Minsk Metro Line 3 was inaugurated on 6 November 2020.

Electrification of the 72km line from Maladziečna/Molodechno to Kena in Lithuania was completed in Autumn 2017, with freight operations commencing from 6 September 2017 and a through electric passenger service on 10 December 2017.

The new 'Strizh' Moskva - Berlin Talgo service started operation on 17 December 2016. It uses a new Talgo gauge-changer at Brest station, which has reduced considerably the time taken to change gauge.

Electric Services between Minsk and Homieĺ commenced on 17 June 2016.

A cross-border service between Гродна/Гродно (Hrodna/Grodno) and Kuźnica Białostocka (Poland) was reinstated from 4 Sept 2016, with a Kraków <> Hrodna/Grodno portion of the Krakow <> Mockava (Lithuania) train. Local services were discontinued at the December 2015 timetable change as they were to be replaced by PKP IC services between Warszawa and Hrodna/Grodno, which never ran owing to funding issues.

One train each way between Гродна/Гродно (Hrodna/Grodno) and Vilnius at weekends only was reintroduced on 6 June 2015, reopening the Беняконі/Бенякони (Bieniakoni/Benyakoni) - Stasylos (Lithuania) border crossing, but withdrawn after 8 November.

Special Notes

None.

See also