Murmansk–Nikel Railway

Murmansk–Nikel Railway
Overview
Type	Railway
System	Russian Railways
Termini	Murmansk Nikel
Stations	11
Operation
Opened	1936
Owner	Russian Railways
Operator(s)	Russian Railways
Character	Freight
Technical
Line length	206 km
Track gauge	1,520 mm (4 ft 11 5⁄6 in) broad gauge
Electrification	No
Operating speed	40 km/h

The Murmansk–Nikel Railway is a 206 km long railway between Murmansk and Nikel in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, primarily for freight from the nickel mine at Nikel, but also open to passengers. The railway was completed in 1968 and is not electrified. A part was built 1936.^[1] In 1961 the line Kola - Pechenga was opened and in 1968 to Nikel.

Proposed expansion

The Norwegian Kirkenes World Port Group consortium has proposed connecting the Kirkenes-Bjørnevatnbanen mining railway to the Murmansk-Nikel Railway at Zapoljarnij, linking the Russian rail network to the Norwegian port of Kirkenes, to reduce port congestion at Murmansk. So far the Russians prefer using their own port, which has also been expanded.

References

1. ^ Kirkenes Word Port Group. "Kirkenes Havn og Jernbanetilknytning" (in Norwegian). http://www.wpk.no/report.asp. Retrieved 2007-04-04.