TRANSPORTATION

• Railroads
• Motor Roads
• Air Lines

As far as Siberia itself is concerned, its foreign economic connections were complicated by new circumstances after the USSR disintegration. That is, the first, inevitable cargoes transit over the territories of the new sovereign states, which political and economic relations with are not finally settled yet. And the second, re-orientation to the seaports, which as Russia, as Siberia might make use of beyond control of the neighboring countries - the former USSR republics.

Railroads

TransSib, the backbone line in Eastern and, in particular, in Western Siberia, has, for today, no reserves either of passing, or of transport capability - even in view of last years reduction of freight turnover between western and eastern Russia's regions. Of three main railroads, which run from Siberia westward, the single one - TransSib - remains within Russia's boundaries. The other two (SredSib and YujSib) after the USSR disintegration came to be out of Russia, in the territory of the sovereign Kazakhstan. Moreover, the short length of the main travel of TransSib trespasses Kazakhstan territory along the Omsk-Ekaterinburg run (in the neighborhood of Petropavlovsk). The other TransSib travel along this run (through Tyumen) is weaker technically.

Among the most significant longitudinal lines there is Tyumen-Tobolsk-Surgut-Urengoi run, leading to the oil and gas bearing regions. Tomsk-Asino-Belyi Jar, Achinsk-Lesosibirsk, Jeleznogorsk-Ust Ilimsk runs give access to the main timber reserves areas. Tynda-Chulman will go north to Yakutsk. The south bound longitudinal lines links TransSib with SredSib and YujSib up.

As far as actual economies are concerned, a curtailment of state subsidies to the railways and energetics resulted in multiple rise in transportation rates. Conveyance scale went down sharply, and the railways do not manage invesments in technical modernization of the main lines. The consequences were speed reduction, frequent accidents, damage to cargoes.

There are no western standard highways in Siberia as yet. Regular motor roads are represented first of all with latitudinal way Tyumen-Omsk-Novosibirsk-Krasnoyarsk-Irkitsk-UlanUde-Chita - and down to Vladivostok. It runs for the most part along TransSib. The southern bound longitudunal runs duplicate mainly the railway net. There Chyujskii way - the backbone motor road in Moutain Altai - runs from Bijsk down to Mongolia. The northern bound ways are of lower class.

TransSiberian air lines will make it possible to cut the flight time between North America and countries of Asian-Pacific region by 2-6 hours. The Los Angeles-Bangkok route length may be reduced by 875 miles, Chicago-HongKong - by 2,300, New York-Seoul - by 2,600 miles. TransSiberian lines between Asian-Pacific region and Europe will bring the similar results. Fuel is saved, engines service life is prolonged; the reduction of flight time of intercontinental air liner by 15 minutes saves some $10 thousand.

There are several air passages layed over Siberia - Southern (along TransSib), Polar (along the Arctic coastline), Meridianal (along Yenisei) and Nothern. Negotiations (with foreign firms participation) are conducted and works on reconstruction and building of airports and air terminals have been started - in Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Chita, Barnaul, Kemerovo, Omsk and in other Siberian cities.

See also travellers.