Goods train leaves Ulan Bator for Russian Pacific coast, launching new route

Up to this point, all freight routes from Mongolia via Russia went only to the West. The launch ceremony was attended by Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin, Mongolian Minister of Roads, Transport, Construction and City Planning Khaltmaa Battulga, and other officials.
Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin said in his speech at the ceremony: "Today we are witnessing an historic event. This is the result of a colossal amount of work carried out jointly by Russia and Mongolia. We and our Mongolian colleagues have developed the whole transport chain – from creating a modern, powerful locomotive and rebuilding infrastructure to setting competitive tariffs. The launch of rail freight services from Mongolia to Far East ports is a clear demonstration of the potential for diversifying sales of Mongolian products on world markets."
The Russian Railways president said the new route will allow coal to be delivered from mines in Mongolia to Japan and South Korea via Russia’s Far East ports, and also in the future via the developing port of Rajin. Through these measures, Mongolian freight is being given a reliable link to the coast.
The first "pilot" train, launched today, is led by a 2TE-116UM locomotive, specially built by Transmashholding to withstand the Mongolian climate, with towing capacity of 6,000 tons. Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin commented that the Mongolian State Great Khural’s approval in June this year of a policy bill on railway transport, under which the national railway network is to be developed on the 1520 mm gauge standard, sets a good foundation for mutually beneficial long-term cooperation between Russia and Mongolia in the transport sector.