Commuter trains versus minibuses and subways. Will they solve the transport problems of St. Petersburg?

In the coming years, St. Petersburg and its transport traffic will face serious and sometimes radical changes. In the summer of 2020, it is planned to cancel commercial transport and replace it with new bus routes. Probably, one can only dream of opening new metro stations. At least, the actual projected dates were not announced. But the governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov, announced that in the near future electric trains can become urban transport. Will Russian Railways be able to solve the problem of public transport in the city, let's speculate.

Close cooperation between St. Petersburg and JSC "Russian Railways" should theoretically improve transport links in the city. At the moment, the first stage has been developed until 2024, which includes the repair of the Tsymbalinsky overpass, which connects Bela Kuna Street and Tsymbalina Street. Thus, it will connect the Frunzensky and Nevsky districts of the city. As part of the inclusion of electric trains in the public transport system, it is also planned to modernize transport hubs, as well as organize a connection between the city and the airport "Pulkovo".

In addition, this stage implies that transport will be provided accessibility of the Sestroretsk direction and the new business center "Lakhta Center". The number of suburban-city trains will increase to 90 pairs per day (round trip) and will connect 5 existing metro lines. These and other tasks will allow solving two railway rings that will connect Orienbaum with Toksovo and Beloostrov. The length of the Orienbaum – Beloostrov route will be about 109.7 kilometers. Travel time is 2 hours and 18 minutes. It is possible to stop at the airport "Pulkovo" and at other 38 points. But the estimated route to Toksovo should be 73 kilometers long, which includes 29 stops, without stopping at the airport. Travel time is 1 hour 32 minutes. Of course, so far all these figures and the proposed plan are still on paper. But the gradual implementation of the project begins.

The second stage of the introduction of electric trains into the urban transport system is also being developed. The concept implies improvements until 2030. Which may include the construction of 9 new transfer hubs near metro stations. And also to get freight traffic out of the city, railway bypasses are being developed: Pavlovo-on-Neva – Orekhovo and Mga – Vladimirskaya – Bronka. Thus, commuter train intervals will be reduced and additional pairs can be introduced.

According to the concepts that are being discussed between JSC "Russian Railways" and the government of St. Petersburg, the city is waiting for a number of positive changes. City trains will become, roughly speaking, a surface metro. Transport links will be provided to actively built-up residential areas. Such as, Piskarevka, Kushelevka. Ladoga railway station, Lakhta and others. Of course, due to the peculiarities of the city's soil, the construction of railway tracks is many times faster than the construction of new metro stations. Therefore, the governor of the city is counting on the prospects of this type of transport.

Of course, there are a number of difficulties for the introduction of electric trains into the daily life of citizens. Namely, the number of investments and a number of other problems related to the legislative framework and the transfer of a number of real estate objects to city ownership. Also, the specified dates in the concept sound very promising. The first steps are already being taken, long-term plans are being developed to improve urban transport. Many measures, unfortunately, are very radical, but there is a probability that they will bring a positive effect.