- At the beginning of this year, the Board of JSC "UBZhD" approved the annual work plan of the company. To what extent is it envisaged to fulfill the main indicators for 2025?
- This year, the Ulaanbaatar Railway, as in previous years, has set itself an ambitious goal - to exceed the record indicators of the previous year. For us, as a transit highway, the key indicator is cargo transportation. As you know, in 2024, UBZhD transported 33.4 million tons. This year, the goal is to transport at least 34 million tons.
- Of course, the increase in cargo transportation volumes should be preceded by infrastructure development. What work was completed in 2024 and what is planned for the current year?
- Last year, we expanded the Tsaidam, Khangai, Nogoon Tolgoi sidings and the 36th siding, and also updated about 45 km of the main line. These works allowed us to increase the capacity of stations and sidings, as well as increase the speed of trains. This year, we have plans to overhaul at least 34 km. Specific sections are currently being agreed upon. Of course, current repairs of the tracks are also carried out on an ongoing basis. Where necessary. As for border crossings, we are certainly modernizing them. Thus, in 2025, it is planned to put into operation a second narrow-gauge track at the Zamyn-Uud station on the border with China. Thus, the total number of border tracks will increase to four. Two broad-gauge and two 1435 mm wide. This will significantly increase the volume of transportation in this direction.
- How ready is the Ulan Bator Railway infrastructure today to receive and process container trains?
- The numbers speak for themselves: in 2024, more than 3,000 container trains were transferred via the Ulan Bator Railway infrastructure in transit traffic. This year, we plan to increase this figure to 4,000.
To do this, in addition to modernizing the infrastructure of stations and the main trunk line, we will also work on modernizing the container storage area at the Zamyn-Uud station, which is located on the border with China. Today, the maximum capacity of this terminal is 3.2 thousand containers, but we already see demand for container transportation and, accordingly, the need to increase the capacity of the site.
- How would you rate the transit potential of the Ulan Bator Railway and what steps need to be taken to implement it in "life"?
- The transit potential of the Ulaanbaatar Railway is best described by the plans approved by the trilateral commission, which includes representatives of Russia, Mongolia and China. According to them, the volume of cargo transported via the Ulan-Ude Railway will almost double in 2030, to 50 million tons, and almost triple in 2050, to 90 million tons. In addition, the trans-Mongolian railway corridor, of which the Ulan-Ude Railway is a key component, is the shortest railway route from Europe to Asia. As you know, the speed of delivery of goods is one of the most important criteria for shippers. Summarizing this, I can say that the transit potential of the Ulan-Ude Railway is very high. To implement this task, it is necessary to increase the carrying and throughput capacity of the highway. Currently, the company's development program until 2030 is pending approval by the Board of Directors of Ulan-Ude Railway. In terms of infrastructure, it is envisaged to build 300 km of second tracks and expand stations. It is also necessary to update and expand the fleet of rolling stock.
- How is the digitalization of the Ulan-Ude Railway and its infrastructure going? In your opinion, at what stage are you?
- First of all, we are working on the transition to paperless technology and the digital transformation of the main business processes of the railway. Currently, the development and automation of locomotive services, wagon facilities, the audit apparatus and others are underway.
The second large block is the organization of the Ulan-Ude Railway information and cybersecurity system, since the railway is recognized as an organization with critical infrastructure. The plans include the organization of the Road Safety Center.
As for the automation of the infrastructure, in 2025 we plan to transfer 10 small stations and sidings to dispatch centralization. What is important is that in the process we do not plan to reduce staff, but will redistribute them to other sidings and stations where there are vacancies. Thus, we will solve, in fact, two problems: we will retain personnel and automate the management of the road.
- Oleg Aleksandrovich, we smoothly moved on to the topic of personnel. How are you doing with their availability and where do you train specialists today?
- It is impossible to talk about a serious shortage of specialists today. In 2024, Ufa Railways hired more than 3 thousand young specialists. Nevertheless, in our personnel policy, we act strategically, for several years ahead. For example, we plan to open a specialized railway class to attract young people to the profession from school. We are already doing this work with one of the schools in Ulaanbaatar.
Our students are trained by both our educational institutions - the Railway Institute and College in Ulaanbaatar and their branches, and foreign ones. According to last year's data, 60 students were studying in railway specialties in Russia. At the end of January this year, we met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Mongolia Alexey Evsikov and discussed increasing the quota to 150 students. Students will study both on Mongolian state scholarships and on scholarships allocated by the President and the Government of Russia.
- Are there any other areas in the development of which you cooperate with Russian Railways?
- Ulaanbaatar Railway and Russian Railways have long-standing traditions of interaction and cooperation in almost all areas. The development program of Ulaanbaatar Railways until 2030, which I mentioned earlier, was also developed with the participation of Russian Railways specialists. We regularly exchange experience in transportation activities, fleet operation, and staff and student training. Thus, in November 2024, with the financial support of Russian Railways, we received 2 sets of virtual reality equipment for our educational institutions, and our volleyball team participated in the Lokovolei competition. In addition, Russian Railways actively participated in organizing the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Ulaanbaatar Railways.
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