Zhenskeldava Branch Line

A BRK122 DMU, number 122003, waiting at Edreževa on a northbound RP service to Gladiorka.

## Technical

### Number of tracks

1 from Vagžara Junction to Edreževa, 2 between Edreževa and Ženskeldava

## Map

Schematic map of the branch line.

The Zhenskeldava Branch Line (*Ženskeldava Devernaja Lenja* in ruthenian) is a short branch line located on the south-east part of the Nigya-Sarvatkann oblast. It serves the Zhenskel Valley (*Ženskeldava* in ruthenian) along with the villages of Poredebra and Edreževa, and the town of Ženskeldava.

## History

The line has been first opened in 1887 aftern ten years of construction. It ran first until Ženskeldava High Station (*Ženskeldava Ędaja Strijeva* in ruthenian), which were a station situated approximately five kilometers east from the current terminus of the line. It was decided on 1971 to close the final section of the line between Ženskeldava Central (*Ženskeldava CS* in ruthenian) and the High Station, because of problems with track reliability. The then local authority judged that it would have been too costly to rebuild the line for a limited use only. Subsequently, Ženskeldava station has been rebuilt and modernised, consisting in a terminus station with two bay platforms. The second bay platform is now disused (but not officially closed).

## Specifications

The western terminus of the line is Vagzhara Triangle Junction (*Vag*ž*ara Trikari Krosivat’* in ruthenian), where it diverges from the Long Eastern Main Line by a northbound junction (toward Gladiorka) and a southbound one (toward Xeristoh). From there to Edreževa, the line is single track only, protected by the APAS signalling system, and has a top speed of 55 mph (90 km/h) except at the junction and at one tight curve south of Edreževa where it has a top speed of 30 mph (50 km/h). Poredebra station is situated on this single track portion. Just before Edreževa station there is a non-protected level crossing with a train speed limit of 10 mph (16 km/h) to avoid collisions.

At Edreževa, the line becomes double track and continue until Ženskeldava, protected by BNKS signalling system. It has a top speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) for a short section, and then 55 mph (90 km/h). The line now has more curves and a 70 step gradient. It follows the road until Ženskeldava, where there is a small junction to a large sawmill served by freight services. At Ženskeldava, the line ends at a bay platform (originally, there were two platforms, but the second is now disused. Ženskeldava has also a small depot that is normally not used (no unit is planned to spend night here).

## Services

All passenger services are operated by the RKP East-Sansek. It runs two commercial services on the line, both RP (Regional Trains) and there is no Express or Intercity Trains at all on the line. There is 1 tph to and from Gladiorka, operated by BRK122 DMU, and 1 tph to and from Xeristoh, operated by BRK161 DMU. On winter holidays week-ends, the RKP East-Sansek runs special services, which are direct trains to and from Tarna and Floeta.

EWS runs a reduced timber freight service to and from Ženskeldava sawmill. The line has a route availability of 7, which means that ARK66 locomotives cannot run on the line. EWS uses ARK131 instead.

## Future

There are no planned or proposed developments for the line. There is no plan to make Edreževa level crossing automatic. The RKP East-Sansek has announced that it will withdraw its BRK122 DMU and replace it by either cascaded BRK123 or BRK141 DMUs.