Southwestern Railways
Encyclopedia
Southwestern Railways headquartered in Kiev
, the capital of Ukraine
, is a component part of the Ukrzaliznytsia
company. SWR's route map includes all the railroads in the Kiev
, Zhytomyr
, Chernihiv
, Vinnytsia
, Khmelnytskyi
and Sumy
oblasts
(provinces of Ukraine).
As of 2008, SWR's rail system included 4668 km (2,901 mi) of track, of which 93,3% were electrified. The SWR consists of five sections (directions), the Kyivska, Kozyatynska, Zhmerynska, Korostenska and Konotopska directions. There are 315 railway stations in the SWR system.
was a track from Odessa
to
Balta
. It was 213 km (132 mi) in length, and was built in 1865. This railroad connected the agricultural regions of the northern part of today's Odessa Oblast
with Odessa
, a seaport on the Black Sea
coast. In 1870 Kiev was linked with this railroad system by a line from Balta
to Kiev. In that year Kiev was also connected to the Russian Empire's railroad system by a track from Kiev to Kursk
. The history of the SWR began on 7 June 1870, when the construction of these railroads was launched. The Kiev Passenger Railway Station
, the main railway station of the SWR and the Ukrzaliznytsia
was also built in that year.
Between 1871 and 1876 lines from Zhmerynka
to Volochysk
and from Berdychiv
to Shepetivka
were added, and between 1890 and 1897, the lines from Zhmerynka
to Mohyliv-Podilskyi
, Kozyatyn to Uman
, Khrystynivka
to Shpola
and Berdychiv
to Zhytomyr
; 1897 was also the year when the Fastiv
Railways were added to the SWR. Volyn Railways were brought into the SWR in 1902, the same year that the line from Kiev to Korosten
was built. By the beginning of World War I
the total length of the SWR system was 3096 km (1,924 mi).
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, the capital of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, is a component part of the Ukrzaliznytsia
Ukrzaliznytsia
Ukrzaliznytsia , also known as Ukrainian Railways, is the State Administration of Railroad Transportation in Ukraine, monopoly that controls vast majority of the railroad transportation in the country with a combined total length of track of over 23,000 km, which makes Ukrainian railroad...
company. SWR's route map includes all the railroads in the Kiev
Kiev Oblast
Kyiv Oblast, sometimes written as Kiev Oblast is an oblast in central Ukraine.The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Kyiv , also being the capital of Ukraine...
, Zhytomyr
Zhytomyr Oblast
Zhytomyr Oblast is an oblast of northern Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Zhytomyr.-History:The oblast was created as part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic on September 22, 1937....
, Chernihiv
Chernihiv Oblast
Chernihiv Oblast is an oblast of northern Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Chernihiv.-Geography:The total area of the province is around 31,900 km²....
, Vinnytsia
Vinnytsia Oblast
Vinnytsia Oblast is an oblast of Ukraine. Its administrative center is Vinnytsia.-Geography:The area of the region is 26,500 km²; its population is 1.7 million....
, Khmelnytskyi
Khmelnytskyi Oblast
Khmelnytskyi Oblast is an oblast of western Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Khmelnytskyi.The current estimated population is around 1,401,140 .-Geography:...
and Sumy
Sumy Oblast
Sumy Oblast is an oblast in the northeastern part of Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Sumy.Other important cities within the oblast include Konotop, Okhtyrka, Romny, and Shostka....
oblasts
Administrative divisions of Ukraine
Ukraine is subdivided into 24 oblasts , one autonomous republic, and two "cities with special status".- Overview :...
(provinces of Ukraine).
As of 2008, SWR's rail system included 4668 km (2,901 mi) of track, of which 93,3% were electrified. The SWR consists of five sections (directions), the Kyivska, Kozyatynska, Zhmerynska, Korostenska and Konotopska directions. There are 315 railway stations in the SWR system.
History
The first railway to be built in the Ukrainian part of the Russian EmpireRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
was a track from Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
to
Balta
Balta
-Places:*Balta, Shetland, an island in Scotland*Balta Sound, a sound on the east coast of the island of Unst in the Shetland Islands, Scotland*Bâlta, a village in the town of Filiaşi, Dolj County, Romania*Bâlta, a village in Runcu, Gorj, Romania...
. It was 213 km (132 mi) in length, and was built in 1865. This railroad connected the agricultural regions of the northern part of today's Odessa Oblast
Odessa Oblast
Odesa Oblast, also written as Odessa Oblast , is the southernmost and largest oblast of south-western Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Odessa.-History:...
with Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
, a seaport on the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
coast. In 1870 Kiev was linked with this railroad system by a line from Balta
Balta
-Places:*Balta, Shetland, an island in Scotland*Balta Sound, a sound on the east coast of the island of Unst in the Shetland Islands, Scotland*Bâlta, a village in the town of Filiaşi, Dolj County, Romania*Bâlta, a village in Runcu, Gorj, Romania...
to Kiev. In that year Kiev was also connected to the Russian Empire's railroad system by a track from Kiev to Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
. The history of the SWR began on 7 June 1870, when the construction of these railroads was launched. The Kiev Passenger Railway Station
Kiev Passenger Railway Station
Kiev Passenger Railway Station is a complex of Kiev's Central Station and adjoining "Southern Station," plus the adjacent Suburban Station, together serving more than 170,000 passengers per day . "Southern Station" is a misnomer in virtually universal usage in Kiev, referring to an entrance on the...
, the main railway station of the SWR and the Ukrzaliznytsia
Ukrzaliznytsia
Ukrzaliznytsia , also known as Ukrainian Railways, is the State Administration of Railroad Transportation in Ukraine, monopoly that controls vast majority of the railroad transportation in the country with a combined total length of track of over 23,000 km, which makes Ukrainian railroad...
was also built in that year.
Between 1871 and 1876 lines from Zhmerynka
Zhmerynka
Zhmerynka [ʒ’mærınkɑ:] is a town in the Vinnytska Oblast of central Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Zhmerynsky Raion , the town itself is also designated as a separate community within the oblast, and is located at around .The current estimated population is around 37.000...
to Volochysk
Volochysk
Volochysk is a town located on the left bank of the Zbruch River in Khmelnytskyi Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Volochyskyi Raion .The current estimated population is 20 958 ....
and from Berdychiv
Berdychiv
Berdychiv is a historic city in the Zhytomyr Oblast of northern Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Berdychiv Raion , the city itself is of direct oblast subordinance, and is located south of the oblast capital, Zhytomyr, at around .The current estimated population is around...
to Shepetivka
Shepetivka
Shepetivka is a town located on the Huska River in the Khmelnytskyi Oblast of Western Ukraine. The city's population is 48,212 . Shepetivka is a town of oblast subordinance, and the administrative center of Shepetivka Raion .Shepetivka is an important railway junction with five intersecting...
were added, and between 1890 and 1897, the lines from Zhmerynka
Zhmerynka
Zhmerynka [ʒ’mærınkɑ:] is a town in the Vinnytska Oblast of central Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Zhmerynsky Raion , the town itself is also designated as a separate community within the oblast, and is located at around .The current estimated population is around 37.000...
to Mohyliv-Podilskyi
Mohyliv-Podilskyi
Mohyliv-Podilskyi is a city in the Mohyliv-Podilskyi Raion of the Vinnytsia Oblast , Ukraine. It is located at , on the border with Bessarabia, Moldova.-History:The first mention of the town dates from 1595...
, Kozyatyn to Uman
Uman
Uman is a city located in the Cherkasy Oblast in central Ukraine, to the east of Vinnytsia. The city rests on the banks of the Umanka River at around , and serves as the self-governing administrative center of the Umanskyi Raion ....
, Khrystynivka
Khrystynivka
Khrystynivka is a city in Cherkasy Oblast of Ukraine. Population is 11,650 ....
to Shpola
Shpola
Shpola is a city located in the Cherkasy Oblast in central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Shpoliansky Raion , and is situated at . As of 2004 the estimated population is 18,400.-History:...
and Berdychiv
Berdychiv
Berdychiv is a historic city in the Zhytomyr Oblast of northern Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Berdychiv Raion , the city itself is of direct oblast subordinance, and is located south of the oblast capital, Zhytomyr, at around .The current estimated population is around...
to Zhytomyr
Zhytomyr
Zhytomyr is a city in the North of the western half of Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Zhytomyr Oblast , as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Zhytomyr Raion...
; 1897 was also the year when the Fastiv
Fastiv
Fastiv is a city located in the Kiev Oblast in central Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Fastivskyi Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...
Railways were added to the SWR. Volyn Railways were brought into the SWR in 1902, the same year that the line from Kiev to Korosten
Korosten
Korosten is a historic city and a large railway node in the Zhytomyr Oblast of northern Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Korosten Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast, and is located on the Uzh River.The city was founded over a...
was built. By the beginning of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the total length of the SWR system was 3096 km (1,924 mi).