OREANDA-NEWS. May 12, 2014. Two trains with coal weighing 7,100 tons each departed from Tayshet station on East Siberian Railways and bound for Vanino station on Far Eastern Railways.

Both trains carried on board test-brake laboratories supplied by Far Eastern Railways, as well as dynamometric laboratories from East-Siberian and Trans-Baikal Railways.

The main objective of the test trips was to determine the possibility of dispatching train formations with increased weight on the Baikal-Amur Mainline. The previous record amounted to 6,300 tons, while the standard norm is set at 4,800 tons.

Two articulated 2ES5K Ermak series electric locomotives pulled each experimental train to Taksimo station on East Siberian Railways, while 2 articulated 2TE25A Vityaz locomotives manufactured by the Tyndinsky operational locomotive depot took the trains on to their final destination.

These powerful locomotives ensured that the trains successfully overcame the most difficult part of the route, from Oune to Vysokogornoi via Kuznetsovsky pass.

It has become possible to negotiate this section without the track breaking up due to the weight of heavy trains following the reconstruction of the railway lines and the introduction and commissioning of the New Kuznetsovsky Tunnel. Work is currently continuing to modernise the site.

The two freight trains with their record weight reached their destination station Vanino without any problems.

The continuation of the experiment will be decided in the near future.