A land backup for the Northern Sea Route based on uST technology 

The solution for the transportation development of the Arctic region is presented by Anatoli Unitsky and specialists from UST Inc., in a scientific article published in the Russian journal “Innovatsionnyy transport” (Innovative Transport). 

The Arctic region of Russia has vast resources and is of high geopolitical significance. However, today, the territory needs to develop a transportation network because the existing modes of transport in the Far North, such as road, rail, sea, and aviation, face serious limitations due to extreme climate conditions, a short navigation season, and high costs.

The scientific article proposes a solution to these issues - a land alternative to the Northern Sea Route that is more than 10,500 kilometers long. The uST-based transportation corridor from Murmansk to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky will enable the continuous transportation of approximately 100 million tons of cargo and 100 million passengers each year at speeds up to 400 km/h (and in the future, up to 500 km/h).

For efficient transportation in the challenging conditions of the Arctic, the developers have proposed implementing a double-track air tunnel with a membrane-type structure, inside which unmanned electric rail vehicles with steel wheels (uPods) will travel. A significant benefit of this system is its adaptability: the main oil and gas pipelines, as well as power transmission lines, can be installed on the supports of the tunnel, allowing for a comprehensive and cost-effective development of the Arctic resources.

Thus, uST technology has the potential to become the basis for the socio-economic revival of the Russian North by providing a network of fast, safe, and environmentally friendly transportation routes that are independent of harsh weather conditions.

The full version of the scientific publication can be accessed at the link.