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{{Short description|Railway line in Russia}}
[[File:Sinevo.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Sinyovo]]
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 300px
| name = Saint Petersburg–Hiitola railway
| other_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| logo_alt =
| image = File:Sinevo.JPG
| image_width = 300px
| image_alt =
| caption = [[Elektrichka]] at Sinyovo railway station
| type = [[Commuter rail]]<br/>[[Freight rail]]
| system =
| status =
| locale =
| start = [[Finland Station|Finlyandsky Rail Terminal]]
| end = [[Khiytola]]
| stations = 47
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| ridership2 =
| planopen =
| open = January 1917
| yearcommenced =
| yearcompleted =
| close =
| event1label =
| event1 =
| event2label =
| event2 =
| event3label =
| event3 =
| owner = [[Russian Railways]]
| operator = [[Russian Railways]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength_km =
| linelength_mi =
| linelength = 178 km
| tracklength_km =
| tracklength_mi =
| tracklength =
| tracks = 2
| gauge = {{Track gauge|1520mm|allk=on}}
| old_gauge =
| load_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| routenumber =
| linenumber =
| electrification = {{nowrap|[[25 kV AC railway electrification|25 kV 50&nbsp;Hz AC]]}} [[overhead line]]
| speed_km/h =
| speed_mph =
| speed =
| signalling =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft =
| elevation =
| website =
| map =
| map_name = map_name
| map_state = uncollapsed
| embedded =
}}


The '''Saint Petersburg-Hiitola Railway''' is a {{convert|170|km|sp=us|adj=on}} long railway with {{Track gauge|1520mm|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] located in [[Saint Petersburg|St.&nbsp;Petersburg]], [[Leningrad Oblast]] ([[Karelian Isthmus]]) and [[Republic of Karelia]], which links [[Finlyandsky Rail Terminal]] to [[Khiytola]] ({{lang-fi|Hiitola}}) through [[Devyatkino (railroad station)|Devyatkino]], [[Vaskelovo]], [[Sosnovo, Leningrad Oblast|Sosnovo]], [[Priozersk]] and [[Kuznechnoye]]. Originally built by [[Finnish State Railways]] in the [[Grand Duchy of Finland]], the railway was part of a trunk line from [[Vaasa]] by the [[Gulf of Botnia]] to St.&nbsp;Petersburg. In the 1940 [[Moscow Peace Treaty]] the territory was ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union. The railroad is now operated by the [[Russian Railways]]. The railroad is used by [[passenger train]]s between St.&nbsp;Petersburg and [[Sortavala]]. The track between Khiytola and Sortavala is a part of the [[Vyborg–Joensuu railroad]] completed in 1894.
The '''Saint Petersburg–Hiitola railway''' is a {{convert|170|km|sp=us|adj=on}} long railway with {{Track gauge|1520mm|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] located in [[Saint Petersburg|St.&nbsp;Petersburg]], [[Leningrad Oblast]] ([[Karelian Isthmus]]) and [[Republic of Karelia]], which links [[Finlyandsky Rail Terminal]] to [[Khiytola]] ({{langx|fi|Hiitola}}) through [[Devyatkino (railroad station)|Devyatkino]], [[Vaskelovo]], [[Sosnovo, Leningrad Oblast|Sosnovo]], [[Priozersk]] and [[Kuznechnoye]]. Originally built by [[Finnish State Railways]] in the [[Grand Duchy of Finland]], the railway was part of a trunk line from [[Vaasa]] by the [[Gulf of Botnia]] to St.&nbsp;Petersburg. In the 1940 [[Moscow Peace Treaty]] the territory was ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union. The railroad is now operated by the [[Russian Railways]]. The railroad is used by [[passenger train]]s between St.&nbsp;Petersburg and [[Sortavala]]. The track between Khiytola and Sortavala is a part of the [[Vyborg–Joensuu railroad]] completed in 1894.


As the Russian part of the [[Riihimäki–Saint Petersburg Railway]] is planned to be renovated to handle [[high-speed rail|high-speed]] international trains operated by [[Karelian Trains]] and to be used exclusively for passenger traffic, so the cargo traffic between Finland and Russia—mostly lumber, granite rubble and oil—is expected to be switched to the Saint Petersburg–Hiitola railroad. This would make the railway a part of the [[Northern East-West Freight Corridor]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch5en/conc5en/NEW_Corridor_Freight.html | title = The Northern East-West Freight Corridor (Eurasian Landbridge) | author = Jean-Paul Rodrigue | accessdate = 2009-04-15 }}</ref>
As the Russian part of the [[Riihimäki–Saint Petersburg railway]] is planned to be renovated to handle [[high-speed rail|high-speed]] international trains operated by [[Karelian Trains]] and to be used exclusively for passenger traffic, so the cargo traffic between Finland and Russia—mostly lumber, granite rubble and oil—is expected to be switched to the Saint Petersburg–Hiitola railroad. This would make the railway a part of the [[Northern East-West Freight Corridor]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch5en/conc5en/NEW_Corridor_Freight.html | title = The Northern East-West Freight Corridor (Eurasian Landbridge) | author = Jean-Paul Rodrigue | accessdate = 2009-04-15 }}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The railway connected [[Khiytola|Hiitola]] (Khiytola) on the [[Vyborg–Joensuu Railway]] with [[Finland Station]] in [[Saint Petersburg|St.&nbsp;Petersburg]], bypassing the [[Riihimäki – Saint Petersburg Railway|Riihimäki-Vyborg-Saint Petersburg trunk line]] of Finnish railways. Construction of the railway had been completed by January 1917, although some works continued until 1919. The line was constructed from [[Rautu]] (Sosnovo) to Hiitola, as single line railway which is used in both directions.<ref>This makes the traffic logistically inefficient, although there are a number of short multi-track sections at some key stations (Petäjärvi, Gromovo, Myllypelto, Priozersk, Kuznechnoye).</ref> The part of the railway south of Raasuli (Orekhovo) was on the Russian side of the Finnish-Russian border.
The railway connected [[Khiytola|Hiitola]] (Khiytola) on the [[Vyborg–Joensuu railway]] with [[Finland Station]] in [[Saint Petersburg|St.&nbsp;Petersburg]], bypassing the [[Riihimäki – Saint Petersburg Railway|Riihimäki–Vyborg–Saint Petersburg trunk line]] of Finnish railways. Construction of the railway had been completed by January 1917, although some works continued until 1919. The line was constructed from [[Rautu]] (Sosnovo) to Hiitola, as single line railway which is used in both directions.<ref>This makes the traffic logistically inefficient, although there are a number of short multi-track sections at some key stations (Petäjärvi, Gromovo, Myllypelto, Priozersk, Kuznechnoye).</ref> The part of the railway south of Raasuli (Orekhovo) was on the Russian side of the Finnish-Russian border.


In 1918, after [[Finnish independence]] and during the [[Finnish Civil War]], communications between Finland and [[Russian SFSR|Soviet Russia]] ceased. In spring 1918, troops under [[Georg Elfvengren]] blew up the track to prevent supplies reaching [[Red Guard (Finland)|Red Guard]] units operating near Rautu.<ref name="kannas">[http://kannas.nm.ru/priozersk_district2.htm История некоторых населенных пунктов - Приозерского района Ленинградской области] {{ru icon}}</ref><ref>[http://terijoki.spb.ru/history/templ.php?page=pykkenelf_fi&lang=en Kannaksen sankari] {{fi icon}}</ref> The railway was cut between Nuijala (67th km) and Lembolovo and 1.7 kilometers of track was removed on the Finnish side.<ref>[http://runeberg.org/pieni/3/0644.html Rautu] - [[Pieni Tietosanakirja]], page 1171 {{fi icon}}</ref> The [[Leningrad]]&nbsp;– Lembolovo part became part of NKPS Soviet Railways 1919 - 1939. This section was operated by at first by Nikolai Railway and later, after name change, the [[October Railway]].
In 1918, after [[Finnish independence]] and during the [[Finnish Civil War]], communications between Finland and [[Russian SFSR|Soviet Russia]] ceased. In spring 1918, troops under [[Georg Elfvengren]] blew up the track to prevent supplies reaching [[Red Guard (Finland)|Red Guard]] units operating near Rautu.<ref name="kannas">[http://kannas.nm.ru/priozersk_district2.htm История некоторых населенных пунктов - Приозерского района Ленинградской области] {{in lang|ru}}</ref><ref>[http://terijoki.spb.ru/history/templ.php?page=pykkenelf_fi&lang=en Kannaksen sankari] {{in lang|fi}}</ref> The railway was cut between Nuijala (67th km) and Lembolovo and {{convert|1.7|km}} of track was removed on the Finnish side.<ref>[https://runeberg.org/pieni/3/0644.html Rautu] - [[Pieni Tietosanakirja]], page 1171 {{in lang|fi}}</ref> The [[Leningrad]]&nbsp;– Lembolovo part became part of NKPS Soviet Railways 1919 - 1939. This section was operated by at first by Nikolai Railway and later, after name change, the [[October Railway]].


In 1940, after the [[Winter War]] and again in 1944 after the [[Continuation War]] the [[Karelian Isthmus]] with the railway was [[Territories ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union|ceded to the Soviet]] Union in the [[Moscow Peace Treaty]], [[Moscow Armistice]] and [[Paris Peace Treaties, 1947|Paris Peace Treaty]].
In 1940, after the [[Winter War]] and again in 1944 after the [[Continuation War]] the [[Karelian Isthmus]] with the railway was [[Territories ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union|ceded to the Soviet]] Union in the [[Moscow Peace Treaty]], [[Moscow Armistice]] and [[Paris Peace Treaties, 1947|Paris Peace Treaty]].
Line 19: Line 87:
[[File:FinnishCivilWarMapBegin.svg|thumb|[[Finnish State Railways]] in 1918, at the time of the [[Finnish Civil War]]]]
[[File:FinnishCivilWarMapBegin.svg|thumb|[[Finnish State Railways]] in 1918, at the time of the [[Finnish Civil War]]]]
[[File:Petajarvi.jpg|thumb|The Petäjärvi railway station in the 1930s]]
[[File:Petajarvi.jpg|thumb|The Petäjärvi railway station in the 1930s]]
[[File:Map Железная дорога Санкт-Петербург — Хийтола 2020-04-07.svg|thumb|Map of Saint_Petersburg–Hiitola railway]]

The construction year and original [[Finnish language|Finnish]]/Karelian name are given in brackets. Stops of the diesel-engined train are bolded.
The construction year and original [[Finnish language|Finnish]]/Karelian name are given in brackets. Stops of the diesel-engined train are bolded.


*'''Saint Petersburg&nbsp;– [[Finlyandsky Rail Terminal]]''' (1870) 0&nbsp;km
*'''Saint Petersburg&nbsp;– [[Finlyandsky Rail Terminal]]''' (1870) {{convert|0|km}}
*Kushelevka (1912) as a freight terminal from so called Connection Line. 5&nbsp;km
*Kushelevka (1912) as a freight terminal from so called Connection Line. {{convert|5|km}}
*Piskaryovka (Piskarjevka, 1914) 9&nbsp;km
*Piskaryovka (Piskarjevka, 1914) {{convert|9|km}}
*Ruchyi (Rutshi, 1917) 12&nbsp;km
*Ruchyi (Rutshi, 1917) {{convert|12|km}}
*Murino (Muurola)
*Murino (Muurola)
*[[Devyatkino (railroad station)|Devyatkino]] (Vanha Miina, 1917) 17&nbsp;km
*[[Devyatkino (railroad station)|Devyatkino]] (Vanha Miina, 1917) {{convert|17|km}}
*Lavriki (Suur Laurikkala. 1932)
*Lavriki (Suur Laurikkala. 1932)
*Kapitolovo (Kopittara, 1957) 23&nbsp;km
*Kapitolovo (Kopittara, 1957) {{convert|23|km}}
*Kuzmolovo (Kuismala, 1929)
*Kuzmolovo (Kuismala, 1929)
*[[Toksovo]] (Toksava / Toksova, 1917) 29&nbsp;km
*[[Toksovo]] (Toksava / Toksova, 1917) {{convert|29|km}}
*Kavgolovo (Kaukola, 1929)
*Kavgolovo (Kaukola, 1929)
*Oselki (Osselki / Osselkä, 1929)
*Oselki (Osselki / Osselkä, 1929)
*Peri (1924) 42&nbsp;km
*Peri (1924) {{convert|42|km}}
*39th km (Lieskola)
*39th km (Lieskola)
*Gruzino (Rokansaari, 1917). Branch line to Zavodskoy (Kuivaisi). 50&nbsp;km
*Gruzino (Rokansaari, 1917). Branch line to Zavodskoy (Kuivaisi). {{convert|50|km}}
*47th km (Varsala)
*47th km (Varsala)
*[[Vaskelovo]] (Juskela, 1917) 57&nbsp;km
*[[Vaskelovo]] (Juskela, 1917) {{convert|57|km}}
*54th km [[Lembolovo]] (Lempäälä) (Orimäki, 1916) (9&nbsp;km after the station, railway reached to former Finnish/Russian border)
*54th km [[Lembolovo]] (Lempäälä) (Orimäki, 1916) ({{convert|9|km}} after the station, railway reached to former Finnish/Russian border)
*Orekhovo / Orehovo (Raasuli, 1916) 65&nbsp;km
*Orekhovo / Orehovo (Raasuli, 1916) {{convert|65|km}}
*67th km (Nuijala)
*67th km (Nuijala)
*69th km (Kelliö)
*69th km (Kelliö)
*'''[[Sosnovo, Leningrad Oblast|Sosnovo]]''' (1916, Rautu) ex VR station 79&nbsp;km
*'''[[Sosnovo, Priozersky District, Leningrad Oblast|Sosnovo]]''' (1916, Rautu) ex VR station {{convert|79|km}}
*78th km (Mäkrä, now Razdolye <ref>http://www.docstoc.com/docs/49092752/Exonymoi Exonyms of Eastern Europe</ref>)
*78th km (Mäkrä, now Razdolye <ref>http://www.docstoc.com/docs/49092752/Exonymoi Exonyms of Eastern Europe</ref>)
*'''[[Petyayarvi]]''' (1916, Petäjärvi) 91&nbsp;km
*'''[[Petyayarvi]]''' (1916, Petäjärvi) {{convert|91|km}}
*[[Losevo, Leningrad Oblast|Losevo]] (1916, Kiviniemi)
*[[Losevo, Leningrad Oblast|Losevo]] (1916, Kiviniemi)
*'''[[Gromovo]]''' (1916, Sakkola) 107&nbsp;km
*'''[[Gromovo]]''' (1916, Sakkola) {{convert|107|km}}
*Sukhodolye (1916, Haitermaa)
*Sukhodolye (1916, Haitermaa)
*[[Otradnoye, Priozersky District, Leningrad Oblast|Otradnoye]] (1916, Pyhäjärvi) 120&nbsp;km
*[[Otradnoye, Priozersky District, Leningrad Oblast|Otradnoye]] (1916, Pyhäjärvi) {{convert|120|km}}
*'''Myullyupelto''' (1916, Myllypelto) 130&nbsp;km
*'''Myullyupelto''' (1916, Myllypelto) {{convert|130|km}}
*Sinyovo (1916, Näpinlahti)
*Sinyovo (1916, Näpinlahti)
*'''[[Priozersk]]''' (1916, Käkisalmi) 145&nbsp;km
*'''[[Priozersk]]''' (1916, Käkisalmi) {{convert|145|km}}
*148th km (Granitnoye) (1916, Kapisalmi)
*148th km (Granitnoye) (1916, Kapisalmi)
*152nd km (Bogatyri) (1916, Paukkunen)
*152nd km (Bogatyri) (1916, Paukkunen)
*'''[[Kuznechnoye]]''' (1916, Kaarlahti) 160&nbsp;km
*'''[[Kuznechnoye]]''' (1916, Kaarlahti) {{convert|160|km}}
*159th km
*159th km
*'''168th km''', Kulikovo (1892, Kirkko Hiitola)
*'''168th km''', Kulikovo (1892, Kirkko Hiitola)
*'''[[Khiytola]]''' (1892, Hiitola) 178&nbsp;km
*'''[[Khiytola]]''' (1892, Hiitola) {{convert|178|km}}


==Electrification==
==Electrification==
[[File:ER2 emu.jpg|thumb|[[Elektrichka]] at [[Vaskelovo]]]]
[[File:ER2-1347.jpg|thumb|[[Elektrichka]] at [[Vaskelovo]]]]


:1951: Finlyandskiy Rail Terminal&nbsp;– Piskaryovka
:1951: Finlyandskiy Rail Terminal&nbsp;– Piskaryovka
Line 70: Line 138:
:1976: Priozersk&nbsp;– Kuznechnoye
:1976: Priozersk&nbsp;– Kuznechnoye


==Finnish statistics for Hiitola – Raasuli – Border Line==
==Finnish statistics for Hiitola–Raasuli–Border line==
Public Timetable 1938:
Public Timetable 1938:
*Hiitola 0&nbsp;km station 55.62 metre above sea level
*Hiitola {{convert|0|km}} station {{convert|55.62|m}} above sea level
*Vaavoja 5&nbsp;km stopping place (5.4&nbsp;km)
*Vaavoja {{convert|5|km}} stopping place ({{convert|5.4|km}})
*Veijala 8&nbsp;km platfort switch (8.3&nbsp;km)
*Veijala {{convert|8|km}} platform switch ({{convert|8.3|km}})
*Kopsala 11&nbsp;km stopping place in 1944 timetable (11.1&nbsp;km)
*Kopsala {{convert|11|km}} stopping place in 1944 timetable ({{convert|11.1|km}})
*Sirsjärvi 14&nbsp;km stopping place (14.4&nbsp;km)
*Sirsjärvi {{convert|14|km}} stopping place ({{convert|14.4|km}})
*Kaarlahti 18&nbsp;km station (18.2&nbsp;km) 11.89 metre above sea level
*Kaarlahti {{convert|18|km}} station ({{convert|18.2|km}}) {{convert|11.89|m}} above sea level
*Suokkala 21&nbsp;km stopping place (21.6&nbsp;km)
*Suokkala {{convert|21|km}} stopping place ({{convert|21.6|km}})
*Kapeasalmi 26&nbsp;km platform switch (26.1&nbsp;km) 14.29 metre above sea level
*Kapeasalmi {{convert|26|km}} platform switch ({{convert|26.1|km}}) {{convert|14.29|m}} above sea level
*Käkisalmi 33&nbsp;km station (33.6&nbsp;km) 10.02 metre above sea level
*Käkisalmi {{convert|33|km}} station ({{convert|33.6|km}}) {{convert|10.02|m}} above sea level
*Näpinlahti 43&nbsp;km platform switch (43.6&nbsp;km) 10.02 metre above sea level
*Näpinlahti {{convert|43|km}} platform switch ({{convert|43.6|km}}) {{convert|10.02|m}} above sea level
*Myllypelto 48&nbsp;km station (48.7&nbsp;km) 22.67 metre above sea level
*Myllypelto {{convert|48|km}} station ({{convert|48.7|km}}) {{convert|22.67|m}} above sea level
*Rajasuo 52&nbsp;km stopping place in 1944 timebable (51.9&nbsp;km)
*Rajasuo {{convert|52|km}} stopping place in 1944 timetable ({{convert|51.9|km}})
*Pyhäjärvi 58&nbsp;km station (58.7&nbsp;km) 23.84 metre above sea level
*Pyhäjärvi {{convert|58|km}} station ({{convert|58.7|km}}) {{convert|23.84|m}} above sea level
*Noitermaa 65&nbsp;km platform switch (65.1&nbsp;km) 32.61 metre above sea level
*Noitermaa {{convert|65|km}} platform switch ({{convert|65.1|km}}) {{convert|32.61|m}} above sea level
*Sakkola 71&nbsp;km station (71.6&nbsp;km) 46 metre above sea level
*Sakkola {{convert|71|km}} station ({{convert|71.6|km}}) {{convert|46|m}} above sea level
*Viiksanlahti 76&nbsp;km stopping place
*Viiksanlahti {{convert|76|km}} stopping place
*Kiviniemi 79&nbsp;km station (79.5&nbsp;km) 16.05 metre above sea level
*Kiviniemi {{convert|79|km}} station ({{convert|79.5|km}}) {{convert|16.05|m}} above sea level
*Suvantola 81&nbsp;km stopping place
*Suvantola {{convert|81|km}} stopping place
*Petäjärvi 88&nbsp;km station (88.0&nbsp;km) 52.11 metre above sea level
*Petäjärvi {{convert|88|km}} station ({{convert|88|km}}) {{convert|52.11|m}} above sea level
*Mäkrä 95&nbsp;km stopping place
*Mäkrä {{convert|95|km}} stopping place
*Rautu 99&nbsp;km station (99.8&nbsp;km) 64.44 above sea level
*Rautu {{convert|99|km}} station ({{convert|99.8|km}}) {{convert|64.44|m}} above sea level
*Raasuli border 8941,6 metre from Rautu. Highest point of the line, 97.61 metre above sea level.
*Raasuli border {{convert|8,941.6|m}} from Rautu. Highest point of the line, {{convert|97.61|m}} above sea level.


==Branches==
==Branches==
The [[Finlyandsky Rail Terminal]] also serves the railroads heading toward [[Zelenogorsk, Saint Petersburg|Zelenogorsk]] and [[Vyborg]], among others. Further, after Piskaryovka, the road branches into three ways, two others heading south and east. After Murino there is a link to Pargolovo (Vyborg direction), along which a section of the [[Saint Petersburg Ring Road]] has been constructed.
The [[Finlyandsky Rail Terminal]] also serves the railroads heading toward [[Zelenogorsk, Saint Petersburg|Zelenogorsk]] and [[Vyborg]], among others. Further, after Piskaryovka, the road branches into three ways, two others heading south and east. After Murino there is a link to Pargolovo (Vyborg direction), along which a section of the [[Saint Petersburg Ring Road]] has been constructed.


By 1930 in Finland a railroad linking [[Viipuri]] (Vyborg), [[Heinjoki]] (Veshchevo), [[Ristseppälä]] (Zhitkovo) and [[Valkjärvi]] (Michurinskoye) had been built, which was expected to be continued to Rautu (Sosnovo). The Russians started to build the missing section between Rautu and Valkjärvi. The Finns considered also to build this missing link but they found the difference in turns of highest maximum up grade too big (Valkjärvi station was 111.89 metre above sea level). The up grade from River Saija would have been more than 15 pro mille. That was too much for this proposed line and the project was cancelled. In 1941 6&nbsp;km of the track bed had been completed by the Russians in August 1941. This section was never completed. However, in the 1950s Soviet authorities demolished the track between Zhitkovo and Michurinskoye, but the track bed remains, and the rails between Veshchevo and Zhitkovo were also dismantled in 2001. However, the roadbed from Veshchevo to Sosnovo has remained until now.
By 1930 in Finland a railroad linking [[Viipuri]] (Vyborg), [[Heinjoki]] (Veshchevo), [[Ristseppälä]] (Zhitkovo) and [[Valkjärvi]] (Michurinskoye) had been built, which was expected to be continued to Rautu (Sosnovo). The Russians started to build the missing section between Rautu and Valkjärvi. The Finns considered also to build this missing link but they found the difference in turns of highest maximum up grade too big (Valkjärvi station was {{convert|111.89|m}} above sea level). The up grade from River Saija would have been more than 15 pro mille. That was too much for this proposed line and the project was cancelled. In August 1941, {{convert|6|km}} of the track bed had been completed by the Russians. The remainder of this section was never completed. However, in the 1950s Soviet authorities demolished the track between Zhitkovo and Michurinskoye, but the track bed remains, and the rails between Veshchevo and Zhitkovo were also dismantled in 2001. However, the roadbed from Veshchevo to Sosnovo has remained until now.


At Käkisalmi was a short industrial {{Track gauge|1524mm}} railway to German owned Waldhof Cellulose Factory. This line was connected with VR built short Käkisalmi Harbour Line.
At Käkisalmi was a short industrial {{Track gauge|1524mm}} [[5 ft and 1520 mm gauge railways|broad gauge]] railway to the German-owned Waldhof Cellulose Factory. This line was connected with VR built short Käkisalmi Harbour Line.


As of 2007, projects are being discussed to construct a cargo railway along the northern shore of the [[Vuoksi River]] from Losevo to [[Kamennogorsk]] to ship crude oil to the sea port of [[Primorsk, Leningrad Oblast|Primorsk]] bypassing the Saint Petersburg&nbsp;– Vyborg line. An alternative is reconstruction of the Sosnovo&nbsp;– Michurinskoye&nbsp;– Zhitkovo&nbsp;– Vyborg railway.
As of 2007, projects are being discussed to construct a cargo railway along the northern shore of the [[Vuoksi River]] from Losevo to [[Kamennogorsk]] to ship crude oil to the sea port of [[Primorsk, Leningrad Oblast|Primorsk]] bypassing the Saint Petersburg&nbsp;– Vyborg line. An alternative is reconstruction of the Sosnovo&nbsp;– Michurinskoye&nbsp;– Zhitkovo&nbsp;– Vyborg railway.
Line 129: Line 197:


==Accidents==
==Accidents==
⚫
{{Portal|Railways}}
In 1983 in Sosnovo there was a cargo train crash resulting in a large [[oil spill]].
In 1983 in Sosnovo there was a cargo train crash resulting in a large [[oil spill]].


==See also==
==See also==
⚫
{{Portal|Railways}}
{{Commons category|St. Petersburg–Hiitola railway}}

*[[Vyborg-Joensuu railway]]
*[[Vyborg-Joensuu railway]]


Line 143: Line 209:


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://terijoki.spb.ru/railway/rw_dir_priozersk.php Вокзалы и станции Приозерского направления] (Stations on the Priozersk railway) {{ru icon}} Images
*[http://terijoki.spb.ru/railway/rw_dir_priozersk.php Вокзалы и станции Приозерского направления] (Stations on the Priozersk railway) {{in lang|ru}} Images


{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Petersburg - Hiitola railroad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Petersburg - Hiitola railroad}}
[[Category:Railway lines in Russia]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Russia]]
[[Category:Former railway lines in Finland]]
[[Category:Former railway lines in Finland]]
[[Category:Karelia]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Leningrad Oblast]]
[[Category:Transport in Leningrad Oblast]]
⚫
[[Category:Karelian Isthmus]]
[[Category:Finland–Soviet Union relations]]
[[Category:1520 mm gauge railways in Russia]]
[[Category:1520 mm gauge railways in Russia]]
[[Category:5 ft gauge railways in Finland]]
[[Category:5 ft gauge railways in Finland]]
⚫
[[Category:Oktyabrskaya Railway]]
[[Category:Rail transport in the Republic of Karelia]]

Latest revision as of 19:04, 8 November 2024

Saint Petersburg–Hiitola railway
Elektrichka at Sinyovo railway station
Overview
OwnerRussian Railways
Termini
Stations47
Service
TypeCommuter rail
Freight rail
Operator(s)Russian Railways
History
OpenedJanuary 1917
Technical
Line length178 km
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Russian gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead line

The Saint Petersburg–Hiitola railway is a 170-kilometer (110 mi) long railway with 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) broad gauge located in St. Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast (Karelian Isthmus) and Republic of Karelia, which links Finlyandsky Rail Terminal to Khiytola (Finnish: Hiitola) through Devyatkino, Vaskelovo, Sosnovo, Priozersk and Kuznechnoye. Originally built by Finnish State Railways in the Grand Duchy of Finland, the railway was part of a trunk line from Vaasa by the Gulf of Botnia to St. Petersburg. In the 1940 Moscow Peace Treaty the territory was ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union. The railroad is now operated by the Russian Railways. The railroad is used by passenger trains between St. Petersburg and Sortavala. The track between Khiytola and Sortavala is a part of the Vyborg–Joensuu railroad completed in 1894.

As the Russian part of the Riihimäki–Saint Petersburg railway is planned to be renovated to handle high-speed international trains operated by Karelian Trains and to be used exclusively for passenger traffic, so the cargo traffic between Finland and Russia—mostly lumber, granite rubble and oil—is expected to be switched to the Saint Petersburg–Hiitola railroad. This would make the railway a part of the Northern East-West Freight Corridor.[1]

History

[edit]

The railway connected Hiitola (Khiytola) on the Vyborg–Joensuu railway with Finland Station in St. Petersburg, bypassing the Riihimäki–Vyborg–Saint Petersburg trunk line of Finnish railways. Construction of the railway had been completed by January 1917, although some works continued until 1919. The line was constructed from Rautu (Sosnovo) to Hiitola, as single line railway which is used in both directions.[2] The part of the railway south of Raasuli (Orekhovo) was on the Russian side of the Finnish-Russian border.

In 1918, after Finnish independence and during the Finnish Civil War, communications between Finland and Soviet Russia ceased. In spring 1918, troops under Georg Elfvengren blew up the track to prevent supplies reaching Red Guard units operating near Rautu.[3][4] The railway was cut between Nuijala (67th km) and Lembolovo and 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) of track was removed on the Finnish side.[5] The Leningrad – Lembolovo part became part of NKPS Soviet Railways 1919 - 1939. This section was operated by at first by Nikolai Railway and later, after name change, the October Railway.

In 1940, after the Winter War and again in 1944 after the Continuation War the Karelian Isthmus with the railway was ceded to the Soviet Union in the Moscow Peace Treaty, Moscow Armistice and Paris Peace Treaty.

In 1939, as the war had begun, the population along the railway was evacuated, mostly to Pieksämäki. In 1941 some of them returned. In June 1944 during the final stages of the Continuation War, a train of Karelian evacuees was bombed by the Soviet Air Force in Petäjärvi.[3]

The second parallel track between Sosnovo and Losevo, which is expected to be linked to Kamennogorsk and Vyborg, has been under construction since 2008 to handle the increasing freight traffic bypassing the connection between Saint Petersburg and Vyborg.

Railway stations

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Finnish State Railways in 1918, at the time of the Finnish Civil War
The Petäjärvi railway station in the 1930s
Map of Saint_Petersburg–Hiitola railway

The construction year and original Finnish/Karelian name are given in brackets. Stops of the diesel-engined train are bolded.

  • Saint Petersburg – Finlyandsky Rail Terminal (1870) 0 kilometres (0 mi)
  • Kushelevka (1912) as a freight terminal from so called Connection Line. 5 kilometres (3.1 mi)
  • Piskaryovka (Piskarjevka, 1914) 9 kilometres (5.6 mi)
  • Ruchyi (Rutshi, 1917) 12 kilometres (7.5 mi)
  • Murino (Muurola)
  • Devyatkino (Vanha Miina, 1917) 17 kilometres (11 mi)
  • Lavriki (Suur Laurikkala. 1932)
  • Kapitolovo (Kopittara, 1957) 23 kilometres (14 mi)
  • Kuzmolovo (Kuismala, 1929)
  • Toksovo (Toksava / Toksova, 1917) 29 kilometres (18 mi)
  • Kavgolovo (Kaukola, 1929)
  • Oselki (Osselki / Osselkä, 1929)
  • Peri (1924) 42 kilometres (26 mi)
  • 39th km (Lieskola)
  • Gruzino (Rokansaari, 1917). Branch line to Zavodskoy (Kuivaisi). 50 kilometres (31 mi)
  • 47th km (Varsala)
  • Vaskelovo (Juskela, 1917) 57 kilometres (35 mi)
  • 54th km Lembolovo (Lempäälä) (Orimäki, 1916) (9 kilometres (5.6 mi) after the station, railway reached to former Finnish/Russian border)
  • Orekhovo / Orehovo (Raasuli, 1916) 65 kilometres (40 mi)
  • 67th km (Nuijala)
  • 69th km (Kelliö)
  • Sosnovo (1916, Rautu) ex VR station 79 kilometres (49 mi)
  • 78th km (Mäkrä, now Razdolye [6])
  • Petyayarvi (1916, Petäjärvi) 91 kilometres (57 mi)
  • Losevo (1916, Kiviniemi)
  • Gromovo (1916, Sakkola) 107 kilometres (66 mi)
  • Sukhodolye (1916, Haitermaa)
  • Otradnoye (1916, Pyhäjärvi) 120 kilometres (75 mi)
  • Myullyupelto (1916, Myllypelto) 130 kilometres (81 mi)
  • Sinyovo (1916, Näpinlahti)
  • Priozersk (1916, Käkisalmi) 145 kilometres (90 mi)
  • 148th km (Granitnoye) (1916, Kapisalmi)
  • 152nd km (Bogatyri) (1916, Paukkunen)
  • Kuznechnoye (1916, Kaarlahti) 160 kilometres (99 mi)
  • 159th km
  • 168th km, Kulikovo (1892, Kirkko Hiitola)
  • Khiytola (1892, Hiitola) 178 kilometres (111 mi)

Electrification

[edit]
Elektrichka at Vaskelovo
1951: Finlyandskiy Rail Terminal – Piskaryovka
1958: Piskaryovka – Peri
1959: Peri – Vaskelovo
1959: Vaskelovo – Sosnovo
1975: Sosnovo – Priozersk
1976: Priozersk – Kuznechnoye

Finnish statistics for Hiitola–Raasuli–Border line

[edit]

Public Timetable 1938:

  • Hiitola 0 kilometres (0 mi) station 55.62 metres (182.5 ft) above sea level
  • Vaavoja 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) stopping place (5.4 kilometres (3.4 mi))
  • Veijala 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) platform switch (8.3 kilometres (5.2 mi))
  • Kopsala 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) stopping place in 1944 timetable (11.1 kilometres (6.9 mi))
  • Sirsjärvi 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) stopping place (14.4 kilometres (8.9 mi))
  • Kaarlahti 18 kilometres (11 mi) station (18.2 kilometres (11.3 mi)) 11.89 metres (39.0 ft) above sea level
  • Suokkala 21 kilometres (13 mi) stopping place (21.6 kilometres (13.4 mi))
  • Kapeasalmi 26 kilometres (16 mi) platform switch (26.1 kilometres (16.2 mi)) 14.29 metres (46.9 ft) above sea level
  • Käkisalmi 33 kilometres (21 mi) station (33.6 kilometres (20.9 mi)) 10.02 metres (32.9 ft) above sea level
  • Näpinlahti 43 kilometres (27 mi) platform switch (43.6 kilometres (27.1 mi)) 10.02 metres (32.9 ft) above sea level
  • Myllypelto 48 kilometres (30 mi) station (48.7 kilometres (30.3 mi)) 22.67 metres (74.4 ft) above sea level
  • Rajasuo 52 kilometres (32 mi) stopping place in 1944 timetable (51.9 kilometres (32.2 mi))
  • Pyhäjärvi 58 kilometres (36 mi) station (58.7 kilometres (36.5 mi)) 23.84 metres (78.2 ft) above sea level
  • Noitermaa 65 kilometres (40 mi) platform switch (65.1 kilometres (40.5 mi)) 32.61 metres (107.0 ft) above sea level
  • Sakkola 71 kilometres (44 mi) station (71.6 kilometres (44.5 mi)) 46 metres (151 ft) above sea level
  • Viiksanlahti 76 kilometres (47 mi) stopping place
  • Kiviniemi 79 kilometres (49 mi) station (79.5 kilometres (49.4 mi)) 16.05 metres (52.7 ft) above sea level
  • Suvantola 81 kilometres (50 mi) stopping place
  • Petäjärvi 88 kilometres (55 mi) station (88 kilometres (55 mi)) 52.11 metres (171.0 ft) above sea level
  • Mäkrä 95 kilometres (59 mi) stopping place
  • Rautu 99 kilometres (62 mi) station (99.8 kilometres (62.0 mi)) 64.44 metres (211.4 ft) above sea level
  • Raasuli border 8,941.6 metres (29,336 ft) from Rautu. Highest point of the line, 97.61 metres (320.2 ft) above sea level.

Branches

[edit]

The Finlyandsky Rail Terminal also serves the railroads heading toward Zelenogorsk and Vyborg, among others. Further, after Piskaryovka, the road branches into three ways, two others heading south and east. After Murino there is a link to Pargolovo (Vyborg direction), along which a section of the Saint Petersburg Ring Road has been constructed.

By 1930 in Finland a railroad linking Viipuri (Vyborg), Heinjoki (Veshchevo), Ristseppälä (Zhitkovo) and Valkjärvi (Michurinskoye) had been built, which was expected to be continued to Rautu (Sosnovo). The Russians started to build the missing section between Rautu and Valkjärvi. The Finns considered also to build this missing link but they found the difference in turns of highest maximum up grade too big (Valkjärvi station was 111.89 metres (367.1 ft) above sea level). The up grade from River Saija would have been more than 15 pro mille. That was too much for this proposed line and the project was cancelled. In August 1941, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) of the track bed had been completed by the Russians. The remainder of this section was never completed. However, in the 1950s Soviet authorities demolished the track between Zhitkovo and Michurinskoye, but the track bed remains, and the rails between Veshchevo and Zhitkovo were also dismantled in 2001. However, the roadbed from Veshchevo to Sosnovo has remained until now.

At Käkisalmi was a short industrial 1,524 mm (5 ft) broad gauge railway to the German-owned Waldhof Cellulose Factory. This line was connected with VR built short Käkisalmi Harbour Line.

As of 2007, projects are being discussed to construct a cargo railway along the northern shore of the Vuoksi River from Losevo to Kamennogorsk to ship crude oil to the sea port of Primorsk bypassing the Saint Petersburg – Vyborg line. An alternative is reconstruction of the Sosnovo – Michurinskoye – Zhitkovo – Vyborg railway.

The old Karelian railroad links Vyborg and Kamennogorsk (in turn linked by railway to Imatra, Finland) to Hiitola.

Besides, a number of short military and industrial railways a few km long branch off from this line, e.g. a track between Orekhovo and Lembolovo westwards to Steklyannyi (Riskanmäki), between Gruzino and 47th km eastwards, between Otradnoye and Myllypelto westwards. At Priozersk eastwards to the Priozersk Pulp and Paper Mill, (former Waldhof Factory), as well as at Kuznechnoye (Kaarlahti) to the shore of Lake Ladoga) harbour.

Trains

[edit]
Cargo train

The railway is used to ship petroleum to the ports of the Gulf of Finland through Hiitola, lumber and iron ore pellets from Karelia, as well as granite rubble from Kuznechnoye. Besides, it is a popular passenger line.

Passenger trains

[edit]

Electric

[edit]
(elektrichkas)
Saint Petersburg – Vaskelovo (about 1 h 25 min with all stops as of 2007)
Saint Petersburg – Sosnovo (about 2 h with all stops as of 2007)
Saint Petersburg – Priozersk (about 2 h 50 min with all stops as of 2007)
Saint Petersburg – Kuzhechnoye (about 3 h 25 min with all stops as of 2007)
Devyatkino – Vaskelovo (about 50 min with all stops as of 2007)
Devyatkino – Sosnovo (about 1 h 20 min with all stops as of 2007)
Kuznechnoye – Sortavala (about 25 min from Kuznechnoye to Hiitola with all stops as of 2007)

Diesel-engined

[edit]
Saint Petersburg (Ladozhsky Rail Terminal) – Hiitola – Sortavala – Kostomuksha (about 3 h 35 m from Saint Petersburg to Hiitola)

Accidents

[edit]

In 1983 in Sosnovo there was a cargo train crash resulting in a large oil spill.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  • VR History 1862 - 1937, Helsinki 1937
  1. ^ Jean-Paul Rodrigue. "The Northern East-West Freight Corridor (Eurasian Landbridge)". Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  2. ^ This makes the traffic logistically inefficient, although there are a number of short multi-track sections at some key stations (Petäjärvi, Gromovo, Myllypelto, Priozersk, Kuznechnoye).
  3. ^ a b История некоторых населенных пунктов - Приозерского района Ленинградской области (in Russian)
  4. ^ Kannaksen sankari (in Finnish)
  5. ^ Rautu - Pieni Tietosanakirja, page 1171 (in Finnish)
  6. ^ http://www.docstoc.com/docs/49092752/Exonymoi Exonyms of Eastern Europe
[edit]
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