Support our non-partisan non-profit newsroom 💜 Donate now

The Trans-Siberian Railway’s long journey

Kai Ryssdal Aug 12, 2014
HTML EMBED:
COPY

The Trans-Siberian Railway’s long journey

Kai Ryssdal Aug 12, 2014
HTML EMBED:
COPY

The Trans-Siberian Railway is the world’s longest railway line, stretching between Moscow and Vladivostok. 

“It’s a railway along which wars have been fought. It’s a railway that united the world’s largest country, Russia,” says Christian Wolmar, author of “To the Edge of the World: The Story of the Trans-Siberian Railway“. “And it’s a major artery of Russia and, therefore, incredibly important.”

Before it was built in the 19th century, there was no simple way to get to the depths of Siberia. Today, it still acts as the main form of transportation between many Russian towns, including the rural Vladivostok and Irkutsk.

“There aren’t many flights and they’re very expensive for ordinary Russians,” says Wolmar. “And the roads are just too long.”

Wolmar tells us more of the story behind the 5,700 mile long railway in the audio player above. 

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.