Important north-Russian railway bridge collapses

All traffic has come to a complete halt after the bridge collapsed on November 10. The bridge is the only route for delivering essential supplies to Vorkuta and the northern part of the Komi Republic, like the oil-town of Usinsk. Disruptions to supplies are also expected in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

The collapsed section of the railway bridge forms part of the Pechora Railway, the only rail link connecting northern parts of the Komi Republic with the rest of the country. Freight trains regularly used the bridge over the Viled to supply these regions with food, fuel and industrial goods, as well as to transport raw materials, including coal, out of the area.

In early 2026, local social media channels reported that freight loading on the Russian Railways network in the Komi Republic had reached approximately 13.4 million tonnes over the previous year, an increase of 4.8% compared with the same period in 2024. Major regional businesses had increased the volume of goods shipped by rail, including the oil refinery in Ukhta and the bauxite mining operation in Knyazhpogostsky District.

In 2025, 2,8 million tons of oil was transported out of the Komi Republic with railway, according to news outlet Komiinform.

Unlike the southern districts of Komi, Vorkuta has no year-round road connection at all. The railway was therefore the city's only overland link to the rest of the country. The local news outlet 29.RU quotes a resident of Kotlas, who describes the bridge's restoration as an extremely serious issue.

"It's the only route to Vorkuta. Freight trains run across it all the time. There is no alternative whatsoever – there is no road to Vorkuta," the man stresses.

Some of the freight transported across the bridge over the Viled was also destined for the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Trains now run as far as the town of Usinsk in Komi, where goods are transferred to road vehicles and transported onwards to the Nenets region. Governor Irina Gekht says that existing stocks of food and medicines will last until the end of the year.

"Most of the food supplies were brought in during the summer and autumn navigation season. Medicines for hospitals and people entitled to subsidised prescriptions have been purchased to cover several months, while urgently needed drugs are being delivered by air. Fuel for heating plants and power stations in remote villages has been delivered in quantities sufficient to last until the next heating season. Supplies to petrol stations are continuing, and there are reserves in Usinsk," Gekht assured residents.

Arkhangelsk Region Governor Alexander Tsybulsky declared a state of emergency in the region. He said the collapse of the bridge had resulted from an ‘incident’, adding that law enforcement agencies were investigating the causes and circumstances of the accident. The North-Western Transport Prosecutor's Office also announced that it had launched an investigation.

Ukrainian monitoring Telegram channels Exilenova+ and Supernova+ have reported that sabotage is being considered as a possible cause of the incident, although this has not been officially confirmed. The Ukrainian channel eRadar claims that the bridge collapsed "as a result of partisan activity". However, no group currently operating inside Russia and involved in sabotage has claimed responsibility for the destruction of the bridge.

Footage of the aftermath of the accident, published by ASTRA, shows a pile-up of fuel tankers on the riverbank beside the collapsed section. "They're stacked three storeys high," the person filming can be heard saying as they move along the wreckage. "Can't see a fucking thing beyond this. The entire span has gone."

The Northern Railway has announced that bus transfers will be arranged for passengers travelling between Kotlas-Yuzhny and Viled stations, while "reserve trains have been prepared to ensure that passengers can continue their journeys". The company says heated tents have been set up at Viled station and volunteers are on hand to help passengers with their luggage. "Deliveries of essential goods to the region will also be arranged using a combination of road and rail transport," the Northern Railway said. 

The disruption has also affected the Father Frost Train, which tours the country's northern regions and is currently in the town of Labytnangi. According to its schedule, it was due to stop in Kotlas on 16 November. However, it can only reach the town via the bridge, which is currently out of service.