In Belarus, a railway is being built to a new military training ground to receive military echelons

In the Gomel region of Belarus, a separate railway line is being built to a new military training ground, which will allow receiving military echelons directly on the territory of the facility and unloading wheeled and tracked vehicles.

The project documentation was analyzed by the "Community of Belarusian Railway Workers". The object has the official name "Construction of a training ground in the Gomel region" and is located in a forested area of the Rechytsa district near the Yakimivka station.

The client is the Belarusian "Institute 'Voenproekt'", and the project documentation is developed by the company "TransSoyuzProekt". The railway part is included in the third phase of the construction of the training ground.

Up to 60 cars can be accommodated on the territory

According to the documentation, a separate access track No. 3a will be laid from the Yakimivka station to the training ground. Its total design length is about 1.24 km, and its usable length is 1.158 km.

On this track, it will be possible to place up to 60 cars - that is, a military echelon of corresponding size or its main part. After completion of the works, cars will be able to be delivered from the Belarusian Railway network directly to the closed territory of the military facility.

At the same time, this figure means the capacity of the entire track, not the possibility of simultaneously placing all 60 cars at unloading ramps.

On the territory of the training ground, a high cargo platform with three side and one end ramp is also designed. Via the end ramp, wheeled and tracked vehicles will be able to independently drive off railway platforms.

Nearby, platforms for unloading and temporary storage of cargo, internal driveways, communication systems, lighting, a transformer substation, and fencing will be arranged.

Echelons can be unloaded outside the station

After the launch of the infrastructure, military trains will be able to arrive directly at the territory of the training ground, without occupying open tracks at the Yakimivka station for a long time. This simplifies the protection of echelons, movement of equipment, and unloading operations.

The project also provides for the integration of the new line with the station's electric interlocking system. The duty officer will be able to set a route directly to the track of the military facility, and a shunting radio network will be used for coordination of delivery and removal of cars.

The "Community of Belarusian Railway Workers" notes that such infrastructure is potentially suitable for transporting personnel, military equipment, fuel, ammunition, and other material resources. At the same time, the documentation does not specify what exactly is planned to be transported to the training ground.

Satellite images from July 18 show that work has already begun: a corridor for the future railway line has been cleared in the forested area, and earthworks are visible on the final section.

The object is linked to a new air assault brigade

Earlier, the Belarusian service of Radio Svoboda reported that large-scale construction of a military facility near Gomel has been underway since late 2023. Probably, a new 37th Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Special Operations Forces of Belarus may be stationed there.

The brigade was created in 2025 to strengthen the so-called southern direction. Part of the facility's territory on Belarusian cadastral maps is designated as a military town, another as a tactical training field.

At the same time, the very construction of the training ground and the railway line is not evidence of preparation for offensive actions against Ukraine. It primarily significantly expands the logistical capabilities of the facility: it allows faster deployment, support, and rotation of military units.

Based on materials from: Community of Belarusian Railway Workers, Radio Svoboda