Russian Railway Troops

Railway Troops of the Russian Armed Forces (Russian: Железнодорожные войска ВС России, romanized: Zheleznodorozhnyye voyska VS Rossii)^[1] are a railway troops service in the Logistical Support of the Russian Armed Forces.^[2] They are involved in ensuring the defense of Russia. Railway Troops perform the tasks of rail services (preparation, construction, reconstruction and protection of railway infrastructure). It is the oldest such force in the world, established in 1851, as a unit in the engineering corps of the Imperial Russian Army.^[3] The professional holiday of the Troops is celebrated on August 6.

Железнодорожные войска ВС России Railway Troops of the Russian Armed Forces
Flag, great and small emblem
Active	6 August 1851 (as of the Russian Empire) – present
Country	Russian Federation
Branch	Logistical Support of the Russian Armed Forces (earlier Rear Services of the Armed Forces of Russia)
Role	Railway transport and protection
Size	28,500 (approx)
Garrison/HQ	Smolensk
Anniversaries	August 6
Engagements	Crimea War January Uprising Russo-Japanese War World War I Polish–Soviet War Battles of Khalkhin Gol Great Patriotic War Soviet–Japanese War (1945) Hungarian Revolution of 1956 Prague Spring Soviet–Afghan War First Chechen War Second Chechen War South Ossetia war 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant General Oleg Kosenkov (since 2010)

History

Railway Troops were first established August 6, 1851 by decree of Emperor Nicholas I. In accordance with the document "Regulations on the Management of St. Petersburg – Moscow railway" was formed by 14 separate companies of military-workers, 2 companies of conductors and 1 telegraphy company. The total number reached 4,340 people.

The task of the first military railway units was to support the working conditions of railway tracks, crossings, bridges, and their protection. Railroad became part of the Corps of Engineers since its inception in 1870. Initially, they were organized as train teams, and from 1876 onward, as railroad battalions. Railway troops remained part of the Corps of Engineers until 1908. They were then designated in a separate category and are subject to military service messages (Military Communications of the Red Army, VOSO) of the General Staff.

During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, the Railway Troops provided a continuous supply line to the Russian army via railways specially built by the force, including the Bender – Galati route. During World War I, the personnel of the units built about 300 kilometers of broad gauge railway and up to 4,000 km of narrow gauge. They also restored more than 4,600 kilometers of track and nearly 5,000 kilometers of telephone and telegraph lines associated with railway tracks.

Organization

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Railway Troops at the Cathedral Square, Moscow Kremlin, 21 February 2002

In connection with the reorganization of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, located in the territory of the Russian Federation Presidential Decree signed on 18 April 1992 №392 "On the Railway Troops of the Russian Federation" General Directorate of railway troops, units, agencies, military and educational institutions and enterprises of railway troops, stationed in the Russian Federation, have been taken under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation.

Presidential Decree of 30 September 1992 №1148 "On the structure of the central bodies of federal executive power" General Directorate of Railway Troops of the Ministry of Architecture, Building and Housing of was reorganized into the Federal Railway Troops of the Ministry of Railways of the Russian Federation, by thus taking them out of the Armed Forces control.

On 7 August 1995 Federal Law of 5 August 1995 N 126-FZ "On the Railway Troops of the Russian Federation" entered into force. According to Presidential Decree №903 signed on September 7, 1995 the Federal Railway Troops of the Ministry of Railways of the Russian Federation were reorganized into the Federal service of railway troops of the Russian Federation.

In accordance with Presidential Decree signed on 3 March 2004 №314 "On the system and structure of federal executive agencies" the Federal Railway Troops Service was abolished and its functions transferred to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The provisions of the decree concerning the Federal Railway Troops of the Russian Federation entered into force after the entry into force of the federal law (Federal Law of 29 June 2004 N 58-FZ). On October 5, 2004 the troops became subordinated to the Russian Armed Forces Rear Service.

Units (2017)

• 5th Separate Railway Brigade (Abakan)
• 7th Separate Railway Brigade (Komsomolsk-on-Amur)
• 9th Separate Railway Brigade (Syzran)
• 29th Separate Railway Brigade (Bryansk)
• 34th Separate Railway Brigade (Ryazan)
• 37th Separate Railway Brigade (Nevinnomyssk, Georgiyevsk)
• 38th Separate Railway Brigade (Vologda)
• 39th Separate Railway Brigade (Krasnodar)
• 43rd Separate Railway Brigade (Yekaterinburg)^[4]
• 48th Separate Railway Brigade (Omsk)
• 50th Separate Railway Brigade (Svobodny)
• 333rd Separate Railway Brigade (Volgograd)
• 118th Separate Pontoon-Bridge Railway Battalion (Khabarovsk)^[5]
• 333rd Separate Pontoon-Bridge Railway Battalion (Volgograd)

Equipment

Russian Railway Troops' military personnel use the UKA pile driver, 2016

At the disposal of railway troops are complex high-performance machines and tools, advanced design and equipment for rehabilitation and construction of railways. The complex includes:

• track machines
• pile-driving and blasting equipment
• overhead traveling cranes
• railway cranes^[6]
• collapsible structure and support
• inventory collapsible trestle
• specialized equipment floating bridges
• armoured trains

Further reading

• Железнодорожный транспорт: Энциклопедия / Гл. ред. Н. С. Конарев. —М.: Большая Российская энциклопедия.

See also

• Awards and emblems of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation