RAILWAY CONNECTION TO SAKHALIN ISLAND: EXPEDIENCY AND PROSPECTS OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
A.S. KHOLIN
Pacific Geographical Institute, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690041, Vladivostok, ul. Radio, 7, Russia, a_kholin@dvo.ru
Keywords: Sakhalin, Kholmsk, bridge, tunnel, Nevelskoy Strait, railway
Abstract
A feasibility study is made of the planned railway connection to the mainland Russian Federation and Sakhalin Island, based on a comparative analysis of currently available data and calculated characteristics obtained in the course of this study. The research was carried out in the following areas: comparative analysis of cargo transportation along the Vladivostok-Kholmsk route, calculation of payback based on the most modern reporting data, comparative analysis of historical projects, recent government documents and existing technical projects. Data of a comparative analysis of cargo transportation in terms of three parameters (distance, travel time and volume of cargo transportation) of the existing railway-ferry service and the planned railway connection along the Vladivostok-Kholmsk route, taking into account the specifics of the ferry service, were obtained and used as a basis to draw the economic-geographical conclusion. A calculation of the recoupment of the planned railway connection was done according to average statistical information. A comparative analysis was made of the historical projects beginning in 1875, and also an analysis of recent state documents (plans, strategies and programs). A comparative analysis was made of the current modern technical projects from the “bridge-tunnel” alternative, and their advantages and disadvantages; on its basis, the technical conclusion was made about the possibility and prospects of construction.
|
