Because of problems with the line, goods now move along it at a rate of 27 kilometers an hour, faster than an ocean-going ship but far slower than the 100 kilometers per hour that goods move along Chinese and Japanese rail routes that bypass Russia. The world 's longest railway line , Russia 's Trans - Siberian Railroad , is languishing and Moscow has just put off funding upgrades for yet another year , despite October 2016 being the centenary of its completion . This is partly due to Russia 's economic difficulties but also because it is increasingly being viewed as reaching the end of its use - by Russia . However , Jamestown Foundation notes that if Russian authorities do indeed give up on upgrading the railway in the Far East , this will result in Moscow losing most of its ability to project power in the Asia - Pacific . It will end up being marginalised by China and India , on the one hand , and Russia , on the other , in the burgeoning trade between the two areas .
The world 's longest railway line , Russia 's Trans - Siberian Railroad , is languishing and Moscow has just put off funding upgrades for yet another year , despite October 2016 being the centenary of its completion . This is partly due to Russia 's economic difficulties but also because it is increasingly being viewed as reaching the end of its use - by Russia . However , Jamestown Foundation notes that if Russian authorities do indeed give up on upgrading the railway in the Far East , this will result in Moscow losing most of its ability to project power in the Asia - Pacific . It will end up being marginalised by China and India , on the one hand , and Russia , on the other , in the burgeoning trade between the two areas .