New Skovorodino–Reinovo railway to link Russia's Far East with China by 2026

Freight transport along the Skovorodino–Reinovo railway in Yakutia will begin operations in 2026. The new route will connect Russia's Far East directly to the Chinese border, cutting logistics costs and boosting regional trade. Authorities have already allocated funds for the first phase of reconstruction work.

The 2026 investment programme sets aside 800 million rubles (around $8.8 million) for repairs on the line. This funding will cover the first 20 kilometres of the 68-kilometre stretch, preparing it for freight services. Initially, goods will travel by rail to the 10-kilometre point before switching to road transport through the Dzhalinda border crossing into China.

The project forms a vital part of the Northeast Transport Corridor, linking Yakutia with Asia-Pacific markets. Open-top containers will handle the first shipments, simplifying loading and unloading. On the Chinese side, the Lianyung border checkpoint is ready, awaiting final preparations on the Russian section before full operations start. Since 2020, Russia and China have expanded cross-border infrastructure in the Far East. Upgrades at checkpoints like Lianyungang (Blagoveshchensk-Heihe) included new roads, bridges, and customs facilities. These improvements helped increase annual trade by roughly 20% by 2025, with projects such as the Amur Bridge modernisation and new rail links streamlining supply chains for energy, agriculture, and technology.

The Skovorodino–Reinovo railway will provide Yakutia with a direct trade route to China by 2026. The initial mixed transport scheme will later shift to full rail operations once reconstruction is complete. The corridor aims to lower shipping costs and strengthen economic ties across the Asia-Pacific region.