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<keyword id="20018917" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Capital-expenditure" source="keywords">Capital expenditure</keyword> on the <keyword id="19914937" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Railways" source="keywords">Railways</keyword> has increased by 77 per cent over the past five years with significant investments in the construction of <keyword id="22505706" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-lines" source="keywords">new lines</keyword>, <keyword id="20375816" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gauge-conversion" source="keywords">gauge conversion</keyword> and doubling, the <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Economic-Survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> 2023-24 said on Monday. According to the survey tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword>, in the financial year 2019-2020, the capital expenditure was 1.48 lakh crore which was increased to ₹2.62 lakh crore in 2023-24. "<keyword id="19909154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Railways" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Railways" meta.hostid="346" meta.entityid="Indian Railways">Indian Railways</keyword>, with over 68,584 route km (as of March 31, 2024) and 12.54 lakh employees (as of April 1, 2024), is the fourth largest network in the world under single management," the survey said. Highlighting the initiatives taken by the Railway Ministry for the enhancement of operations and services, the survey mentioned Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project and Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) with the progress made in these respective <keyword id="19900581" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="projects" source="keywords">projects</keyword>. According to the survey, Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, launched in August 2023 for development of stations on a continuous basis, involves preparation of master plans and its phased implementation to improve amenities, building improvements, multimodal integration, and sustainability. It said that 1,324 stations have been identified for upgradation so far. Talking about another initiative, Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, the survey said that under this 508-km project, executed with cooperation from the government of Japan, land acquisition and civil conduct award have been completed. "Overall physical progress of 41.7 per cent has been achieved and financial expenditure of ₹59,291 crore was incurred until 31st March, 2024," the survey said. "Two DFCs are under implementation namely the eastern DFC with route length of 1,337 kilometre and the western DFC with route length of 1,506 kilometre," it added. It further stated that by the end of FY24, 96.1 per cent of the total DFC route length has been completed. Highlighting other major achievements, the survey said that the Railways achieved its highest-ever production for both locomotives and wagons in FY24. "Fifty one pairs of <keyword id="19922877" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vande-bharat" source="keywords">Vande Bharat</keyword> have been introduced until March 2024. The fast pace of infrastructure augmentation has been the result of a substantial increase in financial allocation along with close project monitoring and regular follow-up with stakeholders for expeditious land acquisition and clearances," the survey said. It added, "High-speed, long-distance Vande sleeper trainset coaches having features like quick acceleration, diffused lighting, automatic doors and global positioning system-based passenger information system are under development." According to the survey, the Railways is also planning to introduce Vande metro trainset coaches with features such as sealed wider gangways, centrally controlled automatic sliding doors, CCTVs for safety and surveillance, route map indicator, passenger information and infotainment system, fire detection system and aerosol-based fire suppression system. "The first lot is expected to be turned out in FY25," it said. "Railways has taken several initiatives for providing a clean environment in and around railway stations and trains, such as replacement of conventional toilets with bio-toilets on coaches leading to clean tracks, segregation of bio-degradable/non bio-degradable waste, solid waste management and discouraging use of single use plastic," the survey added.

Capital expenditure on Railways increased by 77% over 5 years: Economic Survey

<ul><li>The <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Economic-Survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> 2023-24 was tabled by the <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Finance Minister" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Finance Minister">Finance Minister</keyword> in the Lok Sabha.</li><li>The report was tabled a day before FM Nirmala Sitharaman is slated to present the budget.</li><li>The report has highlighted the need for private investments in infrastructure.</li></ul>Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday tabled the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2024-live-news-top-things-every-indian-should-know-about-the-economic-survey-2023-24/articleshow/111918064.cms">Economic Survey</a> 2023-2024 in the Lok Sabha, a day ahead of the Budget being tabled. According to the report, India’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 8.2% in FY24. The report has revealed that large-scale infrastructure projects in the country have largely been funded by <keyword id="22504538" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-sector-investment" source="keywords">public sector investment</keyword> in recent years. The government has highlighted a need for private sector investment in infrastructure building. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111923191" title="Economic Survey 2024 – industries grow by 9.5%, fueling economic growth to 8.2%" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> In the five years between 2019 and 2023, the central and state Governments contributed 49% and 29% of the total investments in infrastructure, while, the private sector's contribution was just 22%. “There is significant scope for boosting India’s <keyword id="20018651" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="private-investment" source="keywords">private investment</keyword>, especially in the context of investment requirements facing the Indian economy in the areas of infrastructure, green transition, etc,” as per the Economic Survey 2024. <h2>National highways triple, railways receive a boost</h2>In the last decade, the pace of construction of national highways has reportedly tripled. According to the Economic Survey 2024, the pace of construction of national highways has increased from 11.7 km per day in FY14 to around 34 km per day by FY24. The capital expenditure in railways has increased by 77% in the last five years, with significant investments directed at the construction of new lines, gauge conversion and doubling. The passenger handling capacity at airports in the country has increased by 62 million passengers per annum in FY24 with new terminal buildings being opened at 21 airports. There is now a need to add more airports and expand the existing airports. The clean energy sector in India saw new investment of ₹8.5 lakh crore between 2014 and 2023. <h2>Metro and rapid train connectivity to soon double</h2>At present, 945 km of metro rail or RRTS lines are operational, out of which 86 km was added in FY24. This is set to soon double as 993 km of metro and RRTS lines are under construction in 27 cities across the country. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2024-live-news-top-things-every-indian-should-know-about-the-economic-survey-2023-24/articleshow/111918064.cms">Economic Survey highlights: Top 10 things every Indian should know from the Economic Survey 2023-24</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/economic-survey-2024-industries-grow-by-9-5-fueling-economic-growth-to-8-2/articleshow/111923191.cms">Economic Survey 2024 – industries grow by 9.5%, fueling economic growth to 8.2%</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/article/economic-survey-2023-2024-highlights-emerging-job-trends-in-ai-cybersecurity-3d-printing-and-web-development/articleshow/111923746.cms">Economic Survey 2023-2024 highlights emerging job trends in AI, Cybersecurity, 3D Printing and Web Development</a>

Economic Survey highlights public sector investment's role in driving infra growth; Underlines need for private sector to step up

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia is fortifying the Kerch Bridge with barges, says the UK's defense ministry.</li><li>The barges will help "to defend the bridge and shipping channel" from Ukrainian attacks, per the UK.</li></ul>Russia is shoring up the defenses for the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-knows-putin-crimea-kerch-bridge-doomed-atacms-ukraine-official-2024-6">Kerch Bridge</a> with barges, the UK's defense ministry said on Saturday."Analysis of imagery has identified the installation of eight barges on the southern side of the Kerch Bridge," the UK's defense ministry wrote in its <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/DefenceHQ/status/1799347576157651027">intelligence dispatch</a>."These barges were placed by Russian forces in an attempt to defend the bridge and shipping channel, reducing the angles of approach for Ukrainian Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)," the ministry said.According to the ministry, the barges were installed between May 10 and May 22. This isn't the first time barges have been placed near the bridge, which connects Russia to occupied Crimea, per the UK's defense ministry."Previously installed barriers have been damaged by storms, reducing their effectiveness," the intelligence dispatch said.The Kerch Bridge has been a key military artery for the Russians, who rely on it to transport their military freight into occupied Crimea and southwestern Ukraine.But Ukrainians view the bridge, which was built in 2018 after the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-russia-took-crimea-2015-3">Russians had annexed Crimea</a> in 2014, as an <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191220104943/https://undocs.org/pdf?symbol=en%2FS%2F2018%2F474">illegal construction</a>. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the Ukrainians have managed to damage the bridge in two successful attacks.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-hints-sabotage-russia-crimea-kerch-bridge-putins-70th-birthday-2022-10">first attack</a> occurred in October 2022, when a fuel tank explosion saw the bridge's road section collapse. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/12-mile-bridge-crimea-lifeline-russia-constant-attacks-headache-2023-7">second attack</a> took place in July when it targeted the bridge's support struts with sea drones.The repeated attacks appear to have caused the Russians to<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-no-longer-using-kerch-crimea-bridge-military-supply-molfar-2024-5"> stop using the bridge</a>. According to a <a target="_blank" href="https://molfar.com/en/blog/chomu-bilshe-nemae-potreby-atakuvaty-krymskyi-mist">report</a> from the open-source intelligence organization Molfar last month, Russian military freight trains weren't seen on the bridge between February and mid-April.Instead, the Russians seem to have placed their hopes on a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-knows-putin-crimea-kerch-bridge-doomed-atacms-ukraine-official-2024-6">new railway route</a> that runs along the Azov Sea. The route passes through Russian-occupied Mariupol and Berdiansk before ending in Crimea."The railway along the land corridor is recognition on the part of the Russian occupiers that the Crimean Bridge is doomed," Dmitry Pletenchuk, a spokesman for Ukraine's southern military command, told The Economist in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/06/02/in-crimea-ukraine-is-beating-russia">story</a> published on June 2."They are looking for a way to hedge their bets because they are aware that sooner or later, they will have a problem," he continued.Representatives for Russia's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Russia is attempting to protect a vital bridge and supply line with a set of barges, UK intelligence says

Human activities and their urban expansion are increasingly intruding upon wildlife habitats. This has forced animals into dangerous proximity with human infrastructure, resulting in a tragic surge of accidental deaths among animal populations. The situation is no different in Tamil Nadu, which has been grappling with the issue of <keyword id="21240191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="elephant-deaths" source="keywords">elephant deaths</keyword> on and near its railway tracks. The southern state has recorded at least 36 fatalities from train collisions over the past decade. In response to this pressing issue, the state's high court mandated collaborative efforts between the forest department and railways to curb these incidents. To address this issue, Tamil Nadu has now sought help from the phenomenon that promises to change the world as we know it: <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="keywords">artificial intelligence</keyword> (<keyword id="6355999" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI" source="Orion">AI</keyword>). Installing 12 towers equipped with advanced <keyword id="7885611" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-cameras" source="Orion">AI cameras</keyword> along two key rail tracks near Madukkarai, the state forest department aims to detect and prevent elephant-train collisions, particularly along routes intersecting the elephants' migratory paths. Each tower is outfitted with AI cameras capable of thermal and visible light imaging, comparable to those deployed by the Indian Army along the nation's borders. These cameras are programmed to detect elephants and humans near railway lines. When elephants are spotted within 100 feet of the tracks, alerts are swiftly relayed to forest and railway authorities, enabling them to mitigate risks by slowing down trains and guiding the animals away from harm's way. The project has been executed at a cost of ₹7.2 crore since its launch in February this year, Supriya Sahu, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, told the BBC. But the AI-based surveillance system has proved its worth by demonstrating promising results, detecting nearly 400 instances of elephants approaching railway tracks and facilitating timely interventions to prevent potential accidents. This proactive approach marks a significant improvement over traditional methods, such as regular patrols by forest personnel, which often proved inadequate in ensuring elephant safety. Encouraged by the success of this initiative, Tamil Nadu plans to expand the AI-based system to five additional vulnerable areas across the state, including Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Hosur and Gudalur. This strategic expansion underscores the state's commitment to safeguarding wildlife and mitigating <keyword id="20694291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="human-wildlife-conflicts" source="keywords">human-wildlife conflicts</keyword> through innovative technological solutions. Moreover, Tamil Nadu's adoption of AI technology reflects a broader trend in India, where initiatives like the Gajraj project — spearheaded by the federal railway ministry — aim to protect wildlife in elephant corridors across multiple states. By leveraging AI-based surveillance systems to monitor animal movements near railway tracks, these initiatives strive to prevent accidents and foster better coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Tamil Nadu is using army-grade AI surveillance to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks, and it’s working!

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia is investing in rail transportation to bypass Western sanctions.</li><li>Key rail lines are being upgraded to link Russia with China, India, Iran, and countries in the Persian Gulf.</li></ul>Forget ships — Russia is turning to rail transportation to skirt Western sanctions.Moscow was already planning to pour billions of dollars into <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/russia-china-trade-oil-rail-system-sanctions-west-ukraine-war-2024-3">upgrading two key eastern rail lines</a> that connect Russia with China, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-07/russia-to-bolster-famed-eastern-railroads-as-china-trade-booms">Bloomberg</a> reported last week.And it's now also linking south toward India and countries in the Persian Gulf, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/13/world/europe/russia-trade-economy-ukraine.html">The New York Times</a> reported on Wednesday. This includes a new 100-mile stretch of railway that costs $1.7 billion and is designed to link up Russia and ports in Iran — which in turn will help Russia connect to the Indian trading hub of Mumbai, the Times reported. The construction of the railway is scheduled to start this year.Russia hyped its train line with Iran as a new link that could rival the Suez Canal as a major trade route, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/russias-putin-irans-raisi-oversee-railway-deal-signing-2023-05-17/">Reuters</a> reported in May when the two sides signed a deal for the railway.In addition, Russia is also restoring another railway line that would allow it to access Turkey, the Times reported on Wednesday.Russia's push for rail freight follows two years of Western sanctions against the country over its war in Ukraine. The restrictions hit Russia's trade with Europe, traditionally its single largest market.But Russia has managed to keep its economy humming by pivoting its trade to alternative markets including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-divert-oil-exports-europe-india-china-circumvent-sanctions-2023-12">India, China</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/dedollarization-russia-iran-agreement-us-dollar-currency-bilateral-trade-2023-12">Iran</a>, the last of which is also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statista.com/chart/27015/number-of-currently-active-sanctions-by-target-country/">heavily sanctioned</a> by the West.The new rail connections stand to help Russia maintain imports amid sanctions.As Ram Ben Tzion, the CEO of the freight-vetting platform Publican, told the Times, Russia is creating "a trade route for the pariahs.""Developing relations with the global south is basically one of Russia's biggest priorities," David Szakonyi, a political-science professor at George Washington University, told Business Insider.Szakonyi, who's the author of "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-64876-20&amp;h=475f26c5df082792371de5350bda738415a028e68a7931dcb0cbb4875ef3676e&amp;postID=65f258b148eec3d3e78987fb&amp;postSlug=russia-economy-building-trade-route-train-rail-india-iran-2024-3&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPolitics-Profit-Elections-Policymaking-Comparative%2Fdp%2F1108491634">Politics for Profit: Business, Elections, and Policymaking in Russia</a>," said the new trade links wouldn't just aid Russia's oil and gas sales to alternative markets but would also help the country import goods that it cannot produce itself because of a lack of advanced technology or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-lacks-workers-ukraine-war-labor-crisis-worker-shortage-2023-12">manpower</a>."To have this economy not collapse, the Russian government needs to continue to cultivate strong ties with just about any country that is not sanctioned yet," he said. "So I think we're going to see a lot more of that type of economic diplomacy in the next couple of years."Russia has been creative in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-putin-preparing-west-sanctions-decade-since-ukraine-crimea-annexation-2022-6">skirting sanctions</a> since it annexed Crimea in 2014, so the West should "think like they do" and be one step ahead of Moscow to beat them at their game, Szakonyi said."We should expect the Russians to adapt and evolve," he said, "rather than pretend that this current set of measures is going to fix the problem forever."

Russia's grand railway plan to get around Western sanctions is about to get even bigger

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Monika Michalska was the first person to officially drive a <keyword id="11893239" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="train" source="Orion">train</keyword> on <keyword id="11897569" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="london" source="Orion">London</keyword>'s $25 billion <keyword id="13417123" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="elizabeth-line" source="Orion">Elizabeth line</keyword>.</li><li>She loves the <keyword id="11893504" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="job" source="Orion">job</keyword> and her coworkers, there's only one snag which is the early morning shifts.</li></ul>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/london-railway-elizabeth-line-train-years-build-uk-crossrail-station-2022-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">Elizabeth line</a>, London's brand-new <keyword id="11900137" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="railway" source="Orion">railway</keyword> that took 23 years to build and opened in late May. I was the first person to drive one of the trains for the $25 billion project.Before becoming an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elizabeth-line-railway-commute-train-cost-arrive-work-early-london-2022-6?r=US&amp;IR=T">Elizabeth line</a> <keyword id="11956277" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="driver" source="Orion">driver</keyword>, I didn't have any experience in operating trains. I used to work in hospitality until my husband saw an advertisement for female train drivers at Crossrail and I decided to apply.I was quite concerned before jumping into the rail sector. I thought the culture wasn't for me. I thought it would be intimidating and unwelcoming, especially for a woman. But it was the exact opposite from day one.<div type="image" title="Monika Michalska in front of the Paddington station sign for the Elizabeth line." height="1368" width="1824" msid="92916692" hostid="261" sizebytes="57860"></div>After nine months of training, I walked down the station platform at Abbey Wood, south east London, ready to drive the first Elizabeth line train to Paddington, a main hub in central London, at 6 a.m. Many train enthusiasts had gathered at Abbey Wood station to watch the train roll on the tracks for the first time.Given that it was such a big moment for the railway company Crossrail, the enthusiasts, and myself as a driver, I did a countdown for the train departing the station.<div type="image" title="Inside the drivers' cab of an Elizabeth line train." height="2658" width="3544" msid="92916693" hostid="261" sizebytes="468708"></div>I still can't believe that it was actually me who had the opportunity to be the first person to drive a train for the line, which was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II.Even though it was a huge construction project and requires a lot of responsibility, I'm not scared about the job. I feel proud. I think, "Wow, I'm in charge of this shiny, beautiful train and I'll take the passengers wherever they need to go."Having said that, I dread the early morning shifts. Whenever I see my name on the roster for 2 a.m., I'm not a happy bunny. Some shifts are long and you have to focus — even if you want to go to bed or you're hungry — you need to keep going. It's challenging to organize my life around the shifts, especially with children but it's the only negative thing about the job. Everything else makes up for it.<div type="image" title="Elizabeth line train." height="2634" width="3512" msid="92916695" hostid="261" sizebytes="503390"></div>Despite what you might think, the job isn't boring. What I really enjoy about driving the Elizabeth line is the variety that I have. There are two different tunnels along the route and some parts have different speeds and stopping times, which makes driving more interesting. Other sections, for example in west London, allow you to travel at high speed, which is fun.A total of 70 trains cross through 41 stations on the 60-mile route from one side of London to the next. Much of the route — mainly outside central London — is overground. I'd like to think that us Elizabeth line drivers are much luckier than underground tube drivers who are in tunnels 90% of the time. <div type="image" title="Monika on a platform in front of an Elizabeth line train." height="4223" width="5632" msid="92916697" hostid="261" sizebytes="417620"></div>As an Elizabeth line driver, I work any day of the year. The only day we can guarantee that we'll get off is Christmas. The shifts can be as short as five hours and as long as 12 hours but on average it's around eight hours' long.In terms of pay, trainees earn over $40,700, while first years take home around $61,300 and fully qualified train drivers can earn more than $81,800.Apart from the early shifts, nothing else phases me. My work is like a family to me. I even have a favorite train unit that I like to drive — Unit 12 — which is the first-ever train I drove during my training.I feel like I hit the jackpot when I got hired for this job.

I drove the first train on London's new $25 billion railway. I dread the early shifts but still never get bored of the job.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Putin's main residences have been connected to a secret railway line, Proekt reported.</li><li>Proekt identified evidence of hidden stations near his homes in Valdai, Moscow, and Sochi.</li></ul>Russian President Vladimir Putin's main residences have been connected to a secret railway line, allowing him to travel inconspicuously and safely by armored train, <a href="https://t.me/proektproekt/797">according to the investigative Russian outlet Proekt.</a>In fact, hidden stations span across the country, according to the report, which used a combination of investigative reporting, satellite imagery, and sightings to identify elements of the secret railway line in at least three locations.Near <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-putin-escapes-secret-palace-amid-anti-draft-protests-report-2022-9?r=US&amp;IR=T">Putin's palace in Valdai,</a> which is about halfway between Moscow and St. Petersburg, a reporter identified a guarded railway station in the fall of 2022, the outlet said.The reporter was moved on by a guard when he tried to approach it.The station is in Dolgie Borody, the nearest settlement to Putin's residence, and has a heliport attached, according to the media outlet. Satellite imagery reviewed by Proekt seemed to indicate that it was built in 2019.An engineer told the media outlet that he worked on the railway line's construction and said that repairs had only been made on the tracks that led directly to Putin's palace.The engineer also claimed to have seen Putin's special train traveling on the route on at least one occasion, per Proekt.Satellite images identified another station in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-moscow-office-republica-installed-beach-palace-report-2020-12?r=US&amp;IR=T">Novo-Ogaryovo</a>, on the outskirts of Moscow, a little over 3,000 feet away from the suburban estate that Putin self-isolated in after being exposed to COVID-19 in April 2020, Proekt reported.The land that the station sits on was apparently seized from a private owner by the FSO, Russia's federal protection service, the media outlet said.The station is hidden behind a tall fence that has security cameras installed across it, per Proekt.Proekt also identified a station near to Bocharov Ruchey, <a href="https://www.insider.com/vladimir-putins-secret-palace-black-sea-russia-video-2021-1">Putin's summer home in Sochi, </a>which is also hidden behind a tall barrier.Trainspotters have previously reported sightings of what is believed to be Putin's secret train in motion, according to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230214065722/http://rutrain.com/details.php?image_id=8351&amp;%3Bmode=search">images shared on a Russian train travel message board.</a>Details of the supposed secret railway line and stations follows <a href="https://dossier.center/train/">a report by the Dossier Center,</a> a group that tracks the activity of Kremlin associates, which said Putin has been using a special armored train to travel between his homes since 2021. Putin began to use it more regularly in the lead up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, opting to travel by train rather than by private plane, the Dossier Center said.According to the group, the train is equipped with hidden radio antennas and armor.

Several of Putin's homes have been connected to railway lines with secret stations built nearby for his armored train: report

I commuted on the new $25 billion railway across London that cost me $3 and arrived at work 20 minutes early. It's transformed my journey.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Facebook spent $20 million on plans to revive a railway line that would run near its office.</li><li>Meta's Juan Salazar told The New York Times it wanted to reduce congestion caused by its staff.</li></ul>Facebook spent $20 million on plans to revive an old railway line to Silicon Valley, but political hurdles and COVID-19 led it to abandon the idea, a report says.<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/08/business/facebook-dumbarton-rail-bridge.html">The New York Times</a> reported that the company tried to renovate the Dumbarton Rail Bridge to streamline traffic to its headquarters while expanding its property portfolio.The Times reported that Warren Slocum, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, wanted to restore the Dumbarton Rail Corridor, an 18-mile stretch that passes Meta's Menlo Park headquarters. To do so, the bridge <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/obscuresf/article/The-Dumbarton-Rail-Bridge-was-the-Bay-Area-s-first-16613681.php">which has laid dormant for four decades</a> would need a costly renovation. Slocum told the Times he approached tech companies including Facebook in 2017 to discuss securing funds.Facebook stood to benefit from the idea. Its headcount multiplied nearly ten-fold between 2011 and 2017 to 25,000 employees as it expanded and acquired Instagram and Whatsapp. But this growth helped cause significant traffic congestion around Silicon Valley, <a href="https://www.samtrans.com/files/samtrans/Assets/Dumbarton+Rail+Corridor/PDFs/171120+DTCS+-+Full+Report.pdf">according to a feasibility study</a>. Meta's local policy and community engagement director, Juan Salazar, told the Times: "It was something that would not just help us as a company in terms of bringing our employees in but also help the region." Facebook spent $20 million over the next three years on the project, per Salazar, which included hiring staff with experience in rail projects and contracting consultants to look at things including pods to transport commuters across the corridor. Parts of the railway were expected to be operational by 2028, per the Times report.However, several factors conspired to see the $2.6 billion project shelved. More than a dozen people told the Times that political dysfunction in the region, and Facebook's own growing impatience, put early pressure on plans.The end came when the pandemic struck and ushered in a new era of remote working, unintentionally solving much of Silicon Valley's traffic problem."I was heartbroken," Slocum said of the project's collapse. "I understood some of the business reasons, but heartbroken nonetheless."Meta has sought to reduce office space in recent months and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-layoffs-employees-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-metaverse-bet-2022-11">laid off 11,000 employees</a> in November as its bet on VR continues to hemorrhage money. The company did not immediately respond to a request for further comment from Insider.

You Searched For "railway lines" and got 9 results

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Russia's grand railway plan to get around Western sanctions is about to get even bigger

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I drove the first train on London's new $25 billion railway. I dread the early shifts but still never get bored of the job.

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Several of Putin's homes have been connected to railway lines with secret stations built nearby for his armored train: report

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I commuted on the new $25 billion railway across London that cost me $3 and arrived at work 20 minutes early. It's transformed my journey.

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Facebook considered reviving a disused railway line to make it easier for workers to reach its Menlo Park headquarters, report says

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