Sakhalin Tunnel

The Sakhalin Tunnel (Russian: Сахалинский тоннель) is an incomplete and currently postponed construction project, which after completion would connect the island of Sakhalin with mainland Russia via a tunnel of approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) under the Nevelskoy Strait (the narrowest part of the Strait of Tartary). On January 16, 2009, it was suggested by the Russian government the link could be completed with a bridge, rather than tunnel.[4]

Sakhalin Tunnel
Planned profile of the Sakhalin Tunnel
Overview
Official nameRussian: Сахалинский тоннель
Russian: Строительство № 507
LineBaikal-Amur Mainline and Sakhalin Railway
LocationRussia (Sakhalin Oblast, and Khabarovsk Krai)
StatusPostpone project
SystemOAO RZhD
CrossesNevelskoy Strait
StartCape Lazarev
EndCape Pogibi
Operation
Work begunSeptember 6, 1950[1]
ClosedMay 26, 1953 [2]
TrafficRailway
Characterfreight
Technical
Length11.750 km (7.301 mi)[3]
No. of trackssingle-track
Track gauge1,520 mm (4 ft 11 2732 in) (Russian gauge)
Highest elevation5.7 m (19 ft)
Lowest elevation−60 m (−200 ft)
Route map
The Sakhalin Tunnel location

History

Early proposals and planning

The concept of a tunnel under the Nevelskoy Strait has existed since the 19th century, although it was never seriously pursued due to economic reasons. Studies into the feasibility of the project were first undertaken by the Soviet Union in the late 1930s, although World War II made progress at this time impossible. Joseph Stalin later announced in 1950 his intention to build a railway link to Sakhalin, either via rail ferry, a causeway, or a tunnel. A decision to construct a tunnel was announced by the Soviet government on May 5, 1950, along with a rail ferry link to serve as a temporary solution. The project was intended primarily to serve a military purpose, allowing better connection between Sakhalin and the mainland for sections of the Red Army stationed on the island.

Construction

The construction of the railway connection from Selikhino near Komsomolsk-on-Amur to the intended mainland tunnel portal at Cape Lazarev was assigned to the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the Ministry of Transport in charge of the tunnel itself. In 1952, the project was transferred to the full management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The planned route on Sakhalin was intended to run 327 kilometers (203 mi) from Cape Pogibi, where the tunnel should resurface, to the then northern terminus of the Sakhalin rail network at Pobedino (formerly known as "Koton" under Japanese rule), 10 kilometers (6 mi) north of Smirnykh. The length of the tunnel between Cape Pogibi and Cape Lasarev was planned to be around 10 kilometers (6 mi). On the mainland, a rail line was to be constructed to the railway connecting Komsomolsk-on-Amur with Sovetskaya Gavan, now a section of the Baikal-Amur Mainline.

The project was planned for completion by the end of 1953 and to be in full operation by the end of 1955. Annual goods traffic on the line was projected to reach four million tonnes.

The project included three separate constructions—mainland and island railway links, connecting with the rest of railroad network (Building 507 and 506 respectively) and tunnel itself (Building 6 of the MPS). Railway characteristics were very poor; in fact, it was a temporary railway, which was to be followed by capital rebuilding after construction.

Tunnel works (Building 6 of MPS) were a different story. It was to be constructed by military engineers and Metrostroy tunnel specialists.

After the death of Stalin, work on the project stopped, with the tunnel allegedly almost halfway across the straits, although later investigation has shown that just two shafts were built. The shafts have a depth of about 55 meters and a diameter of about 9 meters, with the trunk concreted and lined with cast-iron tubing, fastened to each other by bolts.[5] While the reasons for cancellation of the project are not fully clear, some sources have indicated that because of numerous amnesties granted to prisoners after Stalin's death, there was no longer the required workforce. Tunnel workers waited eight months after cancellation, but without linking railways, the tunnel had no purpose.[6]

Completed sections of the project

Around 120 kilometres (75 miles) of track along the right bank of the Amur River from Selikhino to Chyorny Mys was completed, although this was still well short of the planned tunnel entrance at Cape Lazarev. The Selikhino-Chyorny Mys railway was later used for transport of lumber by the Soviet forestry industry, but was closed in the 1990s and the track has been largely dismantled.

Remains of the tunnel entrance are still visible around Cape Lazarev. No new track was built on Sakhalin, although preparatory earthworks on the planned route were used in the construction of a road from Nysh to Pogibi.

Current operations and future prospects

Sakhalin Tunnel routes
Selikhino-Sakhalin railway
Selikhino
Machtovy
Bimil
Oktyabrsky
Aksyan
Khalsan
Nizhnetambovskoye
Shelekhova
Chyorny Mys
planned
to
Tuluchi, Vanino,
Khabarovsk & Nakhodka
De-Kastri
Lazarev
to
Nikolaevsk-on-Amur &
Okha (Sakhalin bridge)
Nevelskoy
Strait
planned
to Okha
Nogliki
Selikhino-Sakhalin railway
bridge alternative
to Selikhino, Tuluchi & De-Kastri
Lazarev
to Sakhalin Tunnel
planned
Amur river
to Chumikan & Magadan
Nikolaevsk-on-Amur
Nevelskoy
Strait
planned
to Moskalvo
Okha
Tungor
Neftegorsk
to Sakhalin Tunnel
Nogliki
Khabarovsk-Sakhalin railway
Trans-Siberian Railway
to Volochaevka & Birobidzhan
Khabarovsk
Korfovskaya
to Vyazemskaya & Ussurysk
planned
Sita
to Nakhodka
Durmin
Mukhen
to Nakhodka
Innokentyevsky
Maysky-Zapadnaya
planned
to Sovetskaya Gavan
Imbo
Tuluchi
to
Selikhino &
Komsomolsk-on-Amur
planned
to Selikhino
De-Kastri
to Lazarev & Sakhalin

Since 1973, a train ferry has connected Vanino (on the mainland near Sovetskaya Gavan) with the town of Kholmsk on Sakhalin.

Even after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, there have been calls from politicians for a revival of the project, although there have been concerns that its cost would outweigh the benefits.[7] However, there have been signs that the link is under serious consideration, including an announcement of support from Russian President Dimitry Medvedev in November 2008.[8] The project is proposed to be completed by 2030.

New plans would see the connection in Sakhalin at Nogliki, which has in the meantime been connected to the island's rail network. Work is under way to convert the island's narrow-gauge rail system, a legacy of the previous Japanese administration of the southern half of the island, to the broader Russian standard gauge.[9]

There have also been proposals to connect the southern tip of Sakhalin to the Japanese island of Hokkaido via a 40-kilometre-long (25 mi) bridge or tunnel, providing a direct land transport link for container traffic from Japan to the Asian mainland and Europe.[10][11]

In July 2018, Russia's president Vladimir Putin commissioned an analysis of a proposal to build a bridge from the Russian mainland to Sakhalin. Putin said that the project was very important for Sakhalin residents and would be a major factor in encouraging people to remain in the region. It would also boost the development of Khabarovsk Territory. He said that he had instructed the government to analyze this matter, particularly its economic aspects.[12]

See also

References

  1. http://www.rzd-expo.ru/history/sakhalin_tunnel_construction_506/
  2. https://vladnews.ru/ev/vl/3011/25907/tayna_tonnelya
  3. Наука и жизнь №03,1996
  4. "Sakhalin link proposed". Railway Gazette International. January 16, 2009. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012.
  5. Сахалинский тоннель
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. International Railway Journal - Sakhalin rail link too expensive
  8. "Russian President wants to connect Sakhalin with the Mainland" (in Russian). Prima Media. November 19, 2008.
  9. "Railway a Gauge of Sakhalin's Future". The Moscow Times. July 7, 2008. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012.
  10. "Plan for Tunnel to Sakhalin Unveiled". St. Petersburg Times. November 28, 2000.
  11. "Sakhalin-Hokkaido Tunnel Project Discussed in Sakhalin". Interfax. September 29, 2005.
  12. "Russia moves forward with plan for bridge to Sakhalin Island". Bridge design & engineering Magazine. July 25, 2018.

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