Ust-Ilimsk

HISTORY OF SPEED TRAM UST-ILIMSK

Mister M presents
High-speed tram Ust-Ilimsk

Ust-Ilimsk high-speed tram museum

Ust-Ilimsk tram is the tram system of the city of Ust-Ilimsk in the Irkutsk region, one of the few in Russia officially called a high-speed tram because of the high-class technical characteristics of the suburban section of the route network. The last modern tram system completed in the USSR and Russia.
No later than 1980 a tram network project was developed
since 1982, construction work has begun at the objects of the first stage of the timber industry complex and branches in the depot
February-December 1987, 68 cars of model 71-605A, several snowplows and a rail transporter were delivered to the city for running-in on the high-speed line
August 1988, a tram depot for 100 carriages and substation No. 3 were put into operation, and running-in of cars began.
On September 12, 1988 the Ust-Ilimsk tramway acceptance certificate was signed.
On September 15, 1988, traffic was opened along the line of the first stage from Novy Gorod to the Timber Industry Complex with a length of 10.5 km (8 stations) and traction substations No. 1,2,4.
1989 the second batch of 6 cars 71-605A arrived
1992, traffic was opened along the line of the III stage from the Timber Industry Complex to the Severnaya TPP with a length of 4.1 km (2 stations). Traction substations No. 5 and 6 and 3 tram overpasses were installed to service the line.
The line connects the timber industry complex with residential areas of the city, and runs only along the right-bank part of the city. Trams run at intervals of 5 minutes at peak times and up to 70 minutes during peak times.

TIMELINE STORIES

MAPLINE routes

The Ust-Ilimsk tramway is one of the most distinctive tramway networks in Russia. The Ust-Ilimsk tram is one of the few high-speed trams.

The Ust-Ilimsk tram was opened on September 15, 1988, one of the last in the country. Two tram farms have a later opening date: a short seasonal line in the village of Molochnoe, opened in 1989, and a line between the village of Cheryomushki and the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP, opened in 1991. Further there was supposed to be a Tobolsk tram, but they did not manage to open it.

[as of 2010]

Location: 5 188 km. east of Moscow, in the Irkutsk Region, 855 km. north of Irkutsk.
Founded: 1966 (a status of the city since: 1973)
Population: 96 300 (2010)
All-time maximum population: 113 500 (1992)

A modern city consisting of two developments of apartment blocks on the opposite banks of the Angara River: the Stariy Gorod (the Old Town) on the left bank (built in the 1960-70s), and the Noviy Gorod (the New Town) on the right bank (built in the 1980s), the latter being the city’s main administrative and business center. The Ust-Ilimskaya damn and the hydroelectric plant are located in-between. An industrial park and the (highly polluting) Lumber Industrial Combine are located to the north of Noviy Gorod, about 9 km. away from residential areas. 

The route of the Ust-Ilimsk tram is one of the few in Russia that can be called high-speed. Report of the Ust-Ilimsk TV and Radio Company