The Moscow Ring Railway (MKZD) is a railway ring laid along the outskirts of Moscow. In the diagram, the small ring of the MKZD railway looks like a closed line. The construction of the ring was completed in 1908. Until 1934, the railway was used for freight and passenger transportation, and after 1934 - only for freight. It is a link between ten federal routes that depart from the city in all directions. Since September 2016, it has also been used for intra-city passenger transportation related to the functioning of the Moscow Metro, which was reflected in the scheme of railway stations.
Modern reconstruction of the railway
From 2012 to 2016, the Moscow Ring Railway was adapted for passenger domestic transportation, which led to a significant change in the scheme of MKZhD. The work was carried out with federal funds, as well as with funds from Russian Railways, private companies and the Moscow government. In the process of reconstruction, railways were replaced with new ones, major repairs were made to bridges, stopping points for electric trains were built, and another track was laid for freight traffic. At the end of 2016, the work was almost completed.
In total, 31 stop stations were reconstructed (the MKZD scheme with the stations under construction is presented above). An individual project was developed for each station, and platforms were built.
Launch of the first electric trains
The first launch of the electric train in order to check the readiness of the railway was carried out in May 2016 on one of the sections of the MKZhD, and in July 2016, after completion of construction, along the entire length of the railway. The main electric train plying the route was the ES2G "Swallow". Ordinary Russian-made electric trains were also involved. Using them, there were some problems associated with the mismatch between the width of the cars and the electric locomotive of the classic models with the distance between the tracks and the platform on the railway. As a result, the platform at the Streshnev station even had to be shifted slightly to the side.
The first passenger electric train passed through the line on September 10, 2016, after which the passenger trains began to be launched regularly. The movement of freight trains was reduced, especially in the daytime, when trains run actively. The line is also used for the movement of individual long-distance trains that bypass Moscow. The movement of excursion trains on a locomotive traction was stopped.
Infrastructure and scheme
The MKZD railway ring includes 2 main railway lines belonging to the category of electrified. In the north of the ring is another third railway track, which is used for freight traffic. The total length of the railway ring is 54 km. Some sections of other routes are still not electrified.
The MKZD scheme is designed in such a way that it has connecting branches that allow moving trains between the ring railway and the radial branches of federal railways. They consist of either one or two paths (see the scheme of transfers MKZHD). Not all of them are equipped with energizing power lines. There are branches from the railroad freight routes to industrial facilities. There is also one branch for communication with the tram depot.
In total, on the MKZD scheme there are 31 operating platforms for domestic passenger transportation and 12 freight stations. There is 1 tunnel 900 m long.
Stations and platforms on the MKZD scheme
Stations were founded in 1908 and were originally used to work with freight transportation. Between them there were separate stop stations.
In the inner part of the railway ring there are currently unused classical stations with station-type buildings built in the early 20th century. Previously, the railway running along them was used for passenger traffic. Modern stations can be seen on the scheme MKZD with stations under construction.
On the outside of the MKZD built races for the parking of freight trains and buildings designed for railway work. All this is used to form freight trains.
In 2017, the total number of stations used (see the scheme of MKZD stations) was 12 units. Of these, 4 are located on the sections of branches from MKZhD. These include: Novoproletarskaya, Moscow-South Port, Northern Post.
The railway ring has 31 stopping points for urban electric trains. These stations are passenger platforms that were built in the period from 2012 to 2016 during the modern reconstruction of the railway. Unlike the stops related to the radial trunk lines of the railway, these have the status of intracity and are equipped accordingly. They work like public transport stops with uniform tickets for them.
Bridges on the railway
In total there are 6 active bridges, 4 of which cross the Moscow River. MKZD also crosses 32 highways and railways.
Traffic on the railway
At the moment, movement on MKZD is carried out at the expense of ES2G "Lastochka" electric trains. It consists of 5 passenger cars of a modern type, and with the coupled version - of 10 cars. In the future, the use of other locomotives (domestic production) is not excluded.
For freight transport, diesel locomotives are still mainly used. However, the main railway lines are now electrified and allow the use of electric locomotives for transit movement. Thanks to this, it is possible to move passenger and freight trains from one transit radial line of railways to another.