The construction of the second Baikal tunnel - the most important of the Baikal-Amur Main Line (4344 km from Siberia to the East) and Trans-Siberian modernisation programme - is nearing completion.

In January the advance forward was 6,372 m of the tunnel’s total length of 6,682m, with an average daily rate of 12m. The Lovat tunnel-boring machine, RM 394DS cutting diameter of 10.2 m,  has almost reached the eastern portal. The tunnel’s breakthrough is expected to occur by the end of the first quarter of 2018.

In November 2017, the drilling of the eastern and western drainage shafts was completed by rock tunnelling. Their lengths are 1,747m and 1,500m respectively. The construction of the second Baikal tunnel began in 2014 and the deadline for commissioning the facility is 2019. For further information please visit  http://eng.rzd.ru. 05/18.