Russia–China and Russia–North Korea rail links resume

On 15 December, rail service between Russia and China resumed. The first train arrived from Suifenhe, China, at Grodekovo station in the settlement of Pogranichny. The route plays a key role in strengthening tourism and business ties between the two countries after a pause since 2020 due to the pandemic.

The Suifenhe–Grodekovo train runs daily. Departure from Suifenhe is at 10:00, and from Grodekovo at 17:43. The roughly 18 km distance takes 1.5 hours to cover. A ticket from Primorye to Suifenhe costs 1,300 rubles. Return tickets (69 yuan, or around 961 rubles) can be purchased in China.

Tumangang–Khasan: the shortest route from North Korea to Russia

On 16 December, the Tumangang (North Korea)–Khasan (Russia) route resumed as well. Train No. 645/646 runs three times a week: on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The distance between the stations is just 5 km, covered by the train in 17 minutes. A ticket from Khasan starts at 390 rubles.

Why the resumption matters

Resuming rail service strengthens international ties and boosts trade and tourism in border areas. The first services drew moderate passenger interest, including Chinese residents, Russian journalists, and tourists. This marks an important step toward restoring normal transport accessibility in the region.