Today at the railway station in Orsha, the first cross-border suburban train from Smolensk was ceremoniously welcomed. The movement of direct suburban electric trains between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus symbolically resumed on the 30th anniversary of the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and Belarus.
The electric train arrived in Orsha exactly on schedule: 16:07, having covered the distance in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Among the first passengers were honored guests from the Russian Federation: Deputy Head of the Main Department of the Smolensk Region for Youth Affairs Svetlana Rassolenko, Head of the Youth Policy Department of the Administration of the City of Smolensk Violetta Korolkova. The delegation was mainly composed of active and talented youth.
At the station platform, guests were greeted by the district leadership represented by the chairperson of the Orsha District Council of Deputies Inna Khomutovskaya, representatives of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Belarusian Railways, vibrant activists of the district committee of the BRSM, students of the Orsha College – a branch of BelGUТ, employees of structural divisions of the Orsha railway hub, and other residents of Orsha. Creative performances were prepared by the artists of the House of Culture of Railway Workers.
As a tribute to the common history and memory of our fraternal peoples, the participants of the event laid flowers at the monument to the Hero of the Soviet Union Konstantin Sergeyevich Zaslonov – the legendary leader of the partisan movement in the Orsha region during the Great Patriotic War.
– It is symbolic that today such passenger transport is being resumed, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Union Treaty between Belarus and Russia. During this time, a single economic space has been created, and we are united by a common historical memory. Orsha cooperates with 14 regions of Russia, and sister city ties have been established with them. Only in 2025, our enterprises increased supplies to the neighboring country by 13.5%. But the most important thing is when people come together. Many residents of Orsha live in Smolensk, and those from Smolensk live in our city. We are connected not only by friendship but also by family ties, – noted Inna Khomutovskaya.
Electric trains from Smolensk to Orsha and Vitebsk and back will now make up to three trips a day in both directions. Modern four-car electric trains EP3D of increased comfort, equipped with climate control systems, lifts, and fixtures for wheelchair users, as well as convenient sanitary rooms, have started to operate in Orsha. Journalists from the "Arshanskaya Gazeta" confirmed this by walking through the train and even peeking into the driver's cabin. "Everything is comfortable for the train crews here too," noted the "driver" of the arriving train Denis Kazakov – the driver of the motor car depot "Smolensk-1", where this train is registered. In the future, it is planned to launch comfortable "Swallows" or "Finists".
The introduction of direct routes allows for the elimination of transfers at the Osinovka and Zaolsha stations, thus saving passengers time on the road and making trips between border regions more comfortable. Discount categories of passengers from Russia and Belarus will be able to use discounts for travel along the entire route of the trains. For students and schoolchildren, a 50% discount is provided on this train throughout the year, and children under 7 years old accompanied by adults can travel for free.
The decision to organize cross-border suburban passenger transport by rail between the adjacent border territories of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus was made by the Council of Ministers of the Union State. Preparation for the launch was carried out in close cooperation between the railway workers of the two countries.
Sergey SLEPTSOV.
Photo by the author.
Source: orshanka