Baikal-Amur Magistral

railway, Russia

Also known as: BAM, Baikal-Amur Mainline

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

Rails and snow The Baikal-Amur railway running through Siberia, Russia.

The Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) is a major railway in Russia, constructed as an alternative route to the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Construction of the BAM was completed in 1989, and it traverses challenging terrain including taiga, permafrost, and swamps, making its upkeep difficult. The BAM crosses through the Buryatiya region, which is characterized by mountains, plateaus, and river valleys, and is largely covered by forests. This railway is a significant piece of infrastructure in eastern Siberia, contributing to the region's development and connectivity.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Siberia
The Soviet period and after
The construction of the BAM (Baikal-Amur Magistral) railroad between Ust-Kut, on the Lena River, and Komsomolsk-na-Amure, on the Amur, a distance of 2,000 miles (3,200 km), was completed in 1980.
Read More
The construction of the BAM (Baikal-Amur Magistral) railroad between Ust-Kut, on the Lena River, and Komsomolsk-na-Amure, on the Amur, a distance of 2,000 miles (3,200 km), was completed in 1980.
Read More

Irkutsk
The BAM (Baikal-Amur Magistral) Railroad cuts through the centre of the oblast, running east from Ust-Kut. Pop. (2002) 2,581,705; (2006 est.) 2,526,977.
Read More
The BAM (Baikal-Amur Magistral) Railroad cuts through the centre of the oblast, running east from Ust-Kut. Pop. (2002) 2,581,705; (2006 est.) 2,526,977.
Read More