Belarus - General Information
Country Name
Belarus (officially The Republic of Belarus) (Беларусь)
National railway system
- Belarusian: BČ - Belaruskaja Čyhunka / БЧ - Беларуская Чыгунка
- Russian: BŽD - Belorusskaja Železnaja Doroga / БЖД - Белорусская Железная Дорога
Official Website
http://www.rw.by/ (in Russian)
Language
Since a referendum in 1995, the country has had two official languages: Belarusian and Russian.
Currency
Belarusian ruble (BYR).
UIC code
numeric 21; alpha BLR.
Timetable
Journey Planner
None.
Downloadable Timetable
Passenger trains and regional lines
Printed Timetable
None.
Engineering Information
None.
Maps
Printed Maps
- European Railway Atlas by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)
Web-based Maps
- Thorsten Büker's Map of Belarus
Gauge
"Russian" gauge (1520mm)
Electrification
25kV 50Hz.
Rule of the road
Right.
Other railways
None.
Tourist lines
The narrow gauge K.S. Zaslonov Children's Railway is located in Chelyuskinites Park in Minsk.
Metro
Minsk.
Trams
Minsk, Vicebsk [Russian: Vitebsk], Mazyr, Novopolotsk.
Recent and future changes
One train each way between Grodno/Гродна and Vilnius at weekends only was reintroduced on 6 June 2015, reopening the Benjakonī/Беняконі - Stasylos (Lithuania) border crossing.
A Talgo gauge-changer has been installed at Brest station for use by the Moskva - Berlin (- Paris) service which should start in mid 2016; certification was expected in the first quarter of 2015.
The 72km line from Molodechno to Kena in Lithuania is to be electrified, which will eliminate diesel traction on services from Vilnius to Minsk
Special Notes
None.