The greatest railroad project in the world, the Baikal Amur Railroad, known as BAM, has been a dream of Russians for most of this century. A second Trans Siberian Railroad, secure from the Chinese threat, driven into the heart of Siberian Resources, is so close to completion, and yet so far. After 60 years of heroic, wonder-of-the-world scale construction by prisoners and the best forces of Russia, it may not be completed. Five thousand of miles of track, driven through five mountain ranges and over seventeen rivers, approximately 250 miles north of the old Trans- Siberian Railroad, is only 200 feet from completion, but is stalled and facing disaster in the last tunnel near Severobaikalsk, Siberia.
The problem is mainly money, millions, perhaps billions are needed to complete the plan, which includes numerous cities along the way, and huge mines and mills. The problem also is the extremely tough going in the last tunnel. It is flooded, has caving ground, freezing temperatures and 100 times the safe levels of radon gas due to poor ventilation deep in the mountain.
The government is unable to do much for the Baminvest operated project, which could be completed in two years if help arrives. But help may not arrive because foreign investment is being discouraged by numerous factors. Funding for developing the greatest natural resources in the world are not popular with the environmentalists who have tremendous influence over international funding. Also, funding is now being focused on saving and developing Asian countries and resources. It is a problem of tremendous consequence. If the world financial community doesn't support the struggling democratic Russians, and supports the dictatorships of Asia, the world will be taking a serious turn for the worst. The Chinese Communists could become the most powerful country in the world, except perhaps for the USA.
So, will the world come to the rescue and help the Russians finish the last 200 feet of tunnel and develop these great resources, or will these resources be lost to the free world, which will become dependent on minerals and timber from Asian dictators?
The railroad will have 10 major industrial centers along the route to process its timber, coal, gold, silver, copper, jade, lead, zinc, iron, titanium, cadmium, vanadium, magnesium and other minerals. So far only a little coal is being shipped east to Japan for steel making.
The railroad is loosing money because it has to detour around the final tunnel. The engineering difficulties remainig seem insurmountable to outside investors. The current high freight and passenger costs are also a problem. Also, political instability and corruption are weighing on investment decisions. Environmentalists are also against the project because it passes along the north side of Lake Baikal, the world's largest pristine fresh water lake, and the numerous mines and logging projects planned along the route.
The remaining railroad workers are mostly out of work, starving, freezing, without supplies, struggling to survive in shacks without utilities. Many live on less than $75 a month. They are unable to leave because they don't have train fare. The little towns are becoming ghost towns and are being cannabalized for firewood and parts. This is what the entire world could face without the development of these vast desperately needed resources. Imagine how much poorer the world would be if the USA hadn't completed the Trans-Continental Railroad or the Panama Canal? Is it the beginning of the end, or the beginning of a new prosperous millenium for the world?