In celebrating Railway Workers Day Aug. 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin laid out his vision for ever-increasing levels of scientific advance in rail development in Russia as well as worldwide. “I want to extend heartfelt greetings to all current and former railway workers and young specialists who have chosen this vocation, on their professional holiday, and thank you for your hard work and dedication. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM). I would like to once again congratulate everyone—and above all the participants in this legendary construction project—on this significant date.
“The BAM—like the Trans-Siberian Railway—became an unparalleled state, nationwide and national project. It opened up fundamentally new opportunities for the exploration and development of Siberia and the Far East, and for strengthening the country’s overall economic potential. Today, we see that the BAM in many ways determines the global logistics of the 21st century….
“At present, we are facing the tasks to further modernize the Eastern Railway Domain—the BAM and the Trans-Siberian Railway. Moreover, these mainlines should work in conjunction with the Northern Sea Route and such promising projects as the Northern Latitudinal Railway with access to Arctic ports.
“In general, we need to take Russia’s railway infrastructure to a new technological level, using the most advanced solutions. And in doing so, we should not only consider today’s needs, but also draw up a plan for the future, for decades to come. This is the way our great ancestors thought and worked.
