Location: 5 188 km. east of Moscow, in the Irkutsk Region, 855 km. north of Irkutsk.
Founded: 1966 (a status of the city since: 1973)
Population: 96 300 (2010)
All-time maximum population: 113 500 (1992)

A modern city consisting of two developments of apartment blocks on the opposite banks of the Angara River: the Stariy Gorod (the Old Town) on the left bank (built in the 1960-70s), and the Noviy Gorod (the New Town) on the right bank (built in the 1980s), the latter being the city’s main administrative and business center. The Ust-Ilimskaya damn and the hydroelectric plant are located in-between. An industrial park and the (highly polluting) Lumber Industrial Combine are located to the north of Noviy Gorod, about 9 km. away from residential areas. The lumber industry is the primary employer and developer in the city.

The suburban tramway line connects the Noviy Gorod development of apartment blocks and the Lumber Industrial Combine (LPK) located to the north of the city, outside the city limits. The tramway is owned and operated by the Combine. The network is officially designated as a Light Rail system (the “Speed Tram” in Russian).

The tramway operation is meant to serve the Lumber Industrial Combine. Up to 90% of ridership (up to 100% in the winter months) is generated by the Combine. The rest is attributed to the summer houses’ developments in the immediate vicinity of the city. The tram line is not convenient for traveling within the city as it is built at the outer fringes of the residential areas. Moreover, the trams serve only a part of the Lumber Complex due to a huge territory occupied by the latter. Some trips to the Combine involve two transfers: a bus to a tram transfer within the city, followed by the tram to another bus transfer within the Combine. Consequently, up to 40% of the Combine’s workers are transported by buses, not trams.

There are three tariff zones: (1) within the city; (2) between the city and the Depot; (3) between the Depot and LPK. The highest applicable payment for the given zone is collected even when traveling within the zone. Most passengers are traveling with passes issued by the Combine.

In some places the tram line traverses the virgin taiga forest. Trams operate under the harshest weather conditions in the world, with winters extending from the early October to the late April. Trams officially operate unless temperatures reach -57C or below.

15.09.1988: The section 9-y Mikrorayon (Gorod) – Agrofirma “Angara” opens;
1992: The section Agrofirma “Angara” – Severnaya TETS (LPK) opens.

Guage: 1524 mm.
Track length: 19,1 km.

A 100% segregated right-of-way built up to the Light Rail standards. The tramway stops are referred to as the tramway stations. There are two bi-level crossings over the highway and one bi-level crossing over the railroad in the north of the system. Within the residential area the tramway tracks are laid 100 m. away from the nearest housing.

The hours of operation reflect the shift schedule at the combine. The rush hours are 6:30-8:30 and 15:30-21:00 with the morning rush hour being more compressed, boasting the shortest headways.

Peak hours: 25 two-car trains operate on up to the 3-4 minute headway.
Off-peak hours: 2 single cars operate on the 30 minute headway.

The operating speed of 60 km/h and higher is a routine. The average operating speed is 26 km/h.

[2004]

Selected off-peak trips are operated between the city and Agrofirma “Angara” only.

[2009]

Selected off-peak trips are operated between the city and the Depot only.

[2010]

The 09.2010 Timetable

Weekdays:
Peak hours: 7-8 two-car trains operate on the 5-20 minute headway.
Off-peak hours: 1 single car operates on the 45-75 minute headway.

Weekends:
Peak hours: 3-4 two-car trains operate on the 10-20 minute headway.
Off-peak hours: 1 single car operates on the 45-70 minute headway.

Selected off-peak trips are operated between the city and the Depot only. Selected off-peak trips are operated between the city and LPK through the Depot.

[2010]

KTM-5M3 (1987, 1990) single-ended motor cars:
1987: 70 cars
1990: 76 cars
2000: 67 cars
2010: 61 cars

All cars are being maintained in an exemplary working order.