Minsk: Difference between revisions

|Jul record high C = 35.02

Throughout its history Minsk has been a city of many languages. Initially most of its residents spoke [[Ruthenian language|Ruthenian]] (which later developed into modern [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]). However, after 1569 the [[official language]] was [[Dialects of Polish#Northern KresyBorderlands dialect|Polish]].<ref>Między Wschodem i Zachodem: international conference, Lublin, 18–21 June 1991</ref> In the 19th-century Russian became the official language and by the end of that century it had become the language of administration, schools and newspapers. The Belarusian national revival increased interest in the Belarusian language – its use has grown since the 1890s, especially among the [[intelligentsia]]. In the 1920s and early 1930s Belarusian was the major language of Minsk, including use for administration and education (both secondary and tertiary). However, since the late 1930s Russian again began gaining dominance.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}}

*[[Minsk Tractor Works|Minsk Tractor Plant]]&nbsp;– specialised in manufacturing tractors. Established in 1946 in eastern Minsk, is among major manufacturers of wheeled tractors in the CIS. Employs about 30,000 staff.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/belarus-opposition-calls-national-strike-key-test-protest/story?id=73842209|title = Belarus opposition calls for national strike in what could be key test for protest movement|website = [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref>

making it the 5th busiest metro network in the [[Post-Soviet states|former USSR]] (behind Moscow, [[Saint Petersburg|St. Petersburg]], [[Kyiv]] and [[Kharkiv]]). During peak hours trains run each 2–2.5 minutes. The metro network employs 3,200435 staff.<ref>{{citationCite web needed|title=Minsk Metro |url=https://eng.asmetro.ru/metro/metro/minsk/minsk_full/ |access-date=December2024-06-25 |website=International Metro 2011Association}}</ref>

[[File:Stadler Astra train, Minsk train station, Belarus, pic. 01.JPG|thumb|Stadler AstraFLIRT train (EPg), Minsk train station]]

Minsk is the largest transport hub in Belarus. Minsk is located at the junction of the [[Warsaw]]-Moscow railway (built in 1871) running from the southwest to the northeast of the city and the [[Liepāja|Liepaja]]-[[Romny]] railway (built in 1873) running from the northwest to the south. The first railway connects Russia with Poland and Germany; the second connects Ukraine with Lithuania and Latvia. They cross at the [[Minsk Passazhirsky railway station|Minsk-''Pasažyrski'']] railway station, the main railway station of Minsk. The station was built in 1873 as Vilenski Vazkal. The initial wooden building was demolished in 1890 and rebuilt in stone. During World War II the Minsk railway station was completely destroyed. It was rebuilt in 1945 and 1946 and served until 1991. The new building of the Minsk-''Pasažyrski'' railway station was built during 1991–2002. Its construction was delayed due to financial difficulties; now, however, Minsk boasts one of the most modern and up-to-date railway stations in the CIS. There arewere plans to move all [[Regional rail|suburban rail]] traffic from Minsk-''Pasažyrski'' to the smaller stations, Minsk-

''Uschodni'' (East), Minsk-''Paŭdniovy'' (South) and Minsk-''Paŭnočny'' (North), by 2020. However, those plans were scrapped in favour of developing a more integrated system of suburban rail (branded as City Lines, operated by Belarusian Railways state enterprise). The system currently consists of 3 routes (to stations Bielaruś, Čyrvony Ściah, Rudziensk) all terminating at the central train station and is being served by 6 Stadler FLIRT train sets. {{citation needed|date=DecemberJuly 20112024}}