On December 2, 2024, on the 215th anniversary of the foundation of the Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University (PSTU), the 6th Betancourt International Engineering Forum was held. For many years, it has been held on this signifi cant day for the country’s fi rst transport university. Traditionally, at these scientifi c and engineering meetings, participants discuss current issues related to the development of transport and engineering education. In 2024, the forum organizers — the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, the Federal Agency for Railway Transport, Russian Railways, and the Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University — proposed the topic “High-speed railway line St. Petersburg – Moscow: challenges, solutions, personnel”.

The paper deals with a method of reducing the need for water transportation and water scarcity in the BRICS countries using the example of the eastern Ciscaucasia of Russia, where reservoirs are losing a large amount of water through evaporation. It is proposed to take in a supply of water for agriculture, urban and transport infrastructure by reducing the rate of spring melting of high-altitude snow by building large ice pools at the sources of mountain rivers. Pools are horizontal platforms with a cold base, where the rate of melting of winter snow is minimal. They will reduce the intensity of spring fl oods which cause mudslides, water loss, and destruction of transport infrastructure. Ice pools are built by building a cascade of prefabricated lightweight wooden barriers that are assembled on site without heavy machinery. The cascade of barriers ensures that ice pools grow in winter and accumulated ice is preserved in summer without changing the fl ow of the river. The cascade is periodically made taller, contributing to the growth of the ice basin up to the formation of a new mountain glacier with up to 3 million tonnes of water over 8–10 years of constru

The authors have performed the numerical modelling of aerodynamic loads on a high-speed train running on a viaduct and evaluated the stability of a train based on the minimum load pressure on the wheel under the combined effects of crosswind and inertial air pressure (known as drift). The distribution of air pressure on the surface of train body elements in areas of overpressure and rarefaction was mapped out. The study has identifi ed the combinations of aerodynamic impacts under which the loads on bogie wheels may decrease to unacceptable levels and established the maximum speed limits for varying aerodynamic loads that arise on coastal railway lines under stormy weather

The Government has approved the Strategy of Spatial Development of Russia for the period up to 2030 and in the longer run until 2036, which contains, along with general national economic goals and objectives, a special section devoted to transport and, in particular, its infrastructure. The article describes the principles adopted in the Strategy, and the areas of improvement and development of transport in general that predetermine similar indicators for transport infrastructure. In this aspect, the work characterises the priority areas of territorial development that are grouped in the Strategy by federal districts of the Russian Federation, the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, as well as its new territories. The document notes and characterises the role of certain modes of transport, facilities, and structures in solving the objectives set out in the Strategy with regard to the spatial development of the Russian Federation, especially in connection with the changed political and economic conditions in the world and in the border territories. Special focus and attention are given to the coordination of transport projects with friendly foreign countries. It is noted that the objectives and directions of the country’s development set out in the Strategy form the basis for building programmes and plans for the development of transport infrastructure, including territorial and administrative aspects and in terms of individual modes of transport

This article is devoted to the study of logistics relations between Russia and Vietnam, with an emphasis on the consideration of transport routes and the identifi cation of problems in the fi eld of cargo transportation. In the context of the rapid growth of trade and economic ties between the two countries, the issue of optimizing logistics processes is becoming particularly important. Effi cient organization of transport chains can not only improve the speed of delivery, but also reduce costs, ensuring the competitiveness of market participants. The article focuses on the main routes connecting Russia and Vietnam and analyses the features of sea routes and networks of rail and road lines. The authors highlight the problematic aspects of the current system’s functioning, including diffi culties with cargo handling, a lack of information monitoring systems, bottlenecks in coordination between different modes of transport, as well as infrastructural constraints. Special attention is paid not only to the analysis of weak links in logistics between Russia and Vietnam, but also to the development of specifi c recommendations aimed at their elimination. The authors show that an integrated approach to solving existing logistical problems can have a signifi cant impact on strengthening cooperation between Russia and Vietnam, as well as serve as an incentive for further growth of trade turnover between the countries. The authors conclude that the implementation of the proposed measures will contribute not only to improving the effi ciency of cargo transportation, but also to creating favourable conditions for deepening strategic partnership. In this context, the study has not only a theoretical value, but also a high practical signifi cance, as it suggests concrete steps to implement logistical transformations in the near future