Russian Railways is a huge, state-owned monopoly. They occupy a number of buildings in and around the Square of Three Railway Stations in Moscow.

I’m pointing at the parking lot reserved for the Russian Railways officials. They spend lavishly on Land Rovers, Audis and Mercedes Benzes. Let’s see if they’re as generous when it comes to rails and sleepers.

December 19th, 2011

Vladimir Putin hammers a symbolic golden crutch into the sleeper of the 411-kilometre railway line Kuragino-Kyzyl to be constructed in Tuva, Siberia.

The head of Tuva Sholban Kara-ool (right) says in the interview that the railway link will help reduce unemployment in the region.

2012

No work has been done because more than $1 billion allocated for the construction of the railway line has been spent on preparing the right documentation.

2013

Additonal $3 billion are allocated for the construction of the railway line, but no work commences.

2014

Tuva native, minister of defence Mr. Shoigu proposes to extend the railway line from Kuragino to Mongolia and from there, to China. No work commences for the next three years.

2017

Russian Railways and Tuva Energy Industry Corporation signs a cooperation agreement to complete the railway line by 2022, and $1.5 billion is allocated from the state budget. No work commences. The golden crutch proves to be symbolic: sleepers and rails for that one rail track must have been made of pure gold.

2018

Construction is planned to start in fall, but soon moved to the end of 2023, because all the funds have been spent.

2019

Mr. Belozertsev, head of Russian Railways, promises that construction will start next year, and “will expand to a mighty scope, because we have secured more finances for this project.”

2020

No work has commenced, although additional $100 million have been allocated.

2021

Government of the Russian Federation issues the decree to postpone the commencement of work of the railway line to 2026, because there’re no funds left.

The Most Expensive Rail Track in the World.