Trans-Siberian railway
The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest rail line in the world, and was one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 19th century. It took a workforce of almost 90,000 men and more than ten years to lay the tracks through the hostile lands of Siberia in amost intolerable weather conditions. Moreover, this was carried out by a relative backward nation beset with political and economic difficulties but was completed within a couple of years of the schedule.
Indeed, the building of the Trans-Siberian was supposed to unite the world’s biggest nation and bring development to a large swathe of Russia. Instead, its construction triggered off a bloody war with Japan and failed in its economic objectives. Nevertheless, the line played a crucial role in both World Wars and was the battleground for the Civil War between the Reds and Whites, and thrives today as an important trade route, as well as a famous tourist attraction.
Christian Wolmar’s book will examine the genesis of the line, explain how it was built and set out its chequered history. He will also travel the length of the line to see how it is being used today and talk to both passengers and workers.
Book Author
Christian Wolmar is a writer and broadcaster specialising in transport. He has spent nearly all of his working life as a journalist, and lately was at The Independent where he worked from 1989 to 1997, as transport correspondent and UK Political Correspondent.
After graduating from Warwick university in 1971, Christian started his career at Marketing magazine and then the Hampstead and Highgate Express where he was a sports reporter. He later moved to the New Statesman and the London Daily News. He is currently a freelance, working regularly for a variety of publications including the Even...
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