Editing Transport in Mongolia

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[[File:Mongol cable ferry.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Reaction ferry|Cable ferry]] across the [[Selenga|Selenge river]], in [[Khövsgöl Province|Khövsgöl aimag]]]]
The '''transportation system''' in [[Mongolia]] consists of a network of railways, roads, waterways, and airports.

==Railways==
{{main|Rail transport in Mongolia}}
[[File:Zamyn Uud traders.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Traders in [[Zamyn-Üüd]] station, [[Dornogovi Province|Dornogovi aimag]]]]
The [[Trans-Mongolian Railway]] connects the [[Trans-Siberian Railway]] from [[Ulan Ude]] in [[Russia]] to [[Erenhot]] and [[Beijing]] in [[People's Republic of China|China]] through the capital [[Ulaanbaatar]]. The Mongolian section of this line runs for 1110&nbsp;km.<ref name=mna93>Montsame News Agency. ''Mongolia''.  2006, {{ISBN|99929-0-627-8}}, p. 93</ref> A spur line connects Darkhan to the copper mines of [[Erdenet]]; another spur line connects Ulaanbaatar with the coal mines of [[Baganuur]]. A separate railway line is in the east of the country between [[Choibalsan (city)|Choibalsan]] and the Trans-Siberian at [[Borzya]]; however, that line is closed to passengers beyond the Mongolian town of [[Chuluunkhoroot]].<ref>[http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mongolia/eastern-mongolia/choibalsan/transport/getting-there-away Lonely Planet Mongolia: Choibalsan transport]</ref> 

For domestic transport, daily trains run from Ulaanbaatar to Darkhan, Sukhbaatar, and Erdenet, as well as Zamiin-Üüd, Choir and Sainshand. Mongolia uses the {{RailGauge|1520mm}} ([[Russian gauge]]) track system. The total length of the system 1,810&nbsp;km.<ref>[http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mongolia/transport/getting-around#183568 Lonely Planet Mongolia: Rail Transport] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119052755/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mongolia/transport/getting-around#183568 |date=2012-01-19 }}</ref> In 2007, rail transport carried 93% of Mongolian freight and 43% of passenger turnover (in tons*km and passenger*km, respectively).<ref>2007 Statistical Yearbook of Mongolia, p. 252</ref>

==Roadways==
[[File:Road in Mongolia aimak Bayan Ulgiy 02.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|A road in [[Bayan-Ölgii Province]], in northwest Mongolia near the Russian border]]
In 2007, only about 2600&nbsp;km of Mongolia's road network were paved. Another 3900&nbsp;km are [[gravel]]ed or otherwise improved. This network of paved roads was expanded to 4,800&nbsp;km in 2013, with 1,800&nbsp;km completed in 2014 alone.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/?p=7086| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235325/http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/?p=7086| archive-date = 2013-12-30| title = Tough challenges in 2014 {{!}} UBPost News}}</ref> This included the roads from [[Ulaanbaatar]] to the Russian and Chinese borders, paved road from Ulaanbaatar to [[Kharkhorin]] and [[Bayankhongor]], another going south to [[Mandalgovi]], and a partly parallel road from [[Lün]] to [[Dashinchilen]], as well as the road from [[Darkhan (city)|Darkhan]] to [[Bulgan (city)|Bulgan]] via [[Erdenet]]. The vast majority of Mongolia's official road network, some 40,000&nbsp;km, are simple cross-country tracks.<ref>[http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/roadsafety/StatusPapers2006/Mongolia_statuspaper.pdf "Status paper on Road Sector of Mongolia"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607171021/http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/roadsafety/StatusPapers2006/Mongolia_statuspaper.pdf |date=2011-06-07 }}</ref><ref>[http://202.131.5.91/yearbook/2007/yearbook2007.pdf Mongolia's Statistical Yearbook 2007, p.255] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010055618/http://202.131.5.91/yearbook/2007/yearbook2007.pdf |date=2008-10-10 }}</ref>

Construction is underway on an east-west road (the so-called Millennium Road) that incorporates the road from Ulaanbaatar to Arvaikheer and on the extension of the Darkhan-Bulgan road beyond Bulgan.<ref>[http://gate1.pmis.gov.mn/zavkhan/document/avto_zam-2007.ppt Авто замын салбарт 2007 онд хэрэгжиж байгаа зам, гүүрийн барилга байгууламж, тэсэл арга хэмжээ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070924225359/http://gate1.pmis.gov.mn/zavkhan/document/avto_zam-2007.ppt |date=2007-09-24 }} (Powerpoint document, in Mongolian, needs additional fonts to display properly)</ref> Private bus and minibus companies offer service from Ulaanbaatar to most [[aimag]] centers.<ref>[http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mongolia/transport/getting-around#183554 Lonely Planet Mongolia: Bus transport] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119052755/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mongolia/transport/getting-around#183554 |date=2012-01-19 }}</ref>

In September and December 2014 roads connecting [[Dalanzadgad]] town of [[Ömnögovi Province]] and [[Mörön]] town of Khuvsgul province with capital city of Ulaanbaatar were completed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.magnificentmongolia.com/mongolia/news/1-latest-news/210-ulaanbaatar-murun-paved-road-complete.html|title=Ulaanbaatar Murun Paved Road Complete}}</ref>

In 2019, the first expressway in Mongolia opened, the [[Ulaanbaatar Airport Expressway]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mongolia's first Chinese-built highway opens to traffic - China.org.cn|url=http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2019-07/12/content_74987008.htm|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.china.org.cn}}</ref>

===Buses===
[[File:Sükhbaatar Square Parking Lot.jpg|thumb|Bus in Ulaanbaatar]]
[[File:New Ulaanbaatar Dragon Terminal.jpg|thumb|Main bus terminal of Ulaanbaatar]]

The history of public transport in Mongolia starts with the creation of <<Mongoltrans>> council in 1929. The first public bus route was between Ulaanbaatar city and then-city Amgalan with 5 rides a day.
Currently, buses are the main mode of public transportation in Ulaanbaatar. Buses pass stops at approximately 15-minute intervals. Buses runs between 7:00am and 10:00pm. The 1,200 daily buses of 21 companies serve the people on 79 routes in the capital city.

There is a daily international bus service between [[Ulan-Ude]], Russia and [[Ulaanbaatar]], Mongolia.<ref>[https://www.ulaanbaatarshuttle.com/blog/bus-and-train-tickets-from-ulaanbaatar-to-ulan-ude-or-irkutsk.html Ulan-Ude - Ulaanbaatar cross-border bus service]</ref>

There is relatively developed bus transport between cities of Mongolia from minivans to large coach buses (usually up to 45 seats). The national and municipal governments regulate a wide system of private transit providers which operate numerous bus lines around the city. There is also an Ulaanbaatar trolleybus system. Tenuun Ogoo LLC, Erdem Trans LLC and Sutain buyant LLC are major bus operators.

===Taxis===
There are about 10 licensed taxi companies such as  Get Airport Taxi (UbShuttle) <ref>https://www.getairport.taxi Get Airport Page </ref> Noyon taxi (1950),<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxsG6FrmNRs |title=noyon zuuch 1950 ноён зууч 1950 лавлах |language=en |access-date=2024-05-10 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> Telecom taxi (1109),<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnplKPh8nrs |title=TAXI DUUDLAGA 1109L |language=en |access-date=2024-05-10 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> 1616 taxi (1616)<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXDsOg4MhWI |title=Такси дуудлага 1616 |language=en |access-date=2024-05-10 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> with about 600 cars operating in Ulaanbaatar. There are a few local taxi companies in smaller cities such as [[Darkhan (city)|Darkhan]], [[Erdenet]], [[Baganuur]] and [[Zuunmod]]. And there are many drivers with private unlicensed cars who act as taxis.

A typical fare is MNT 1,500 per kilometer; taxi drivers tend to ask for more especially if the client is a foreign national. Official taxis with proper markings are allowed to drive without plate number restrictions on the first lane of Ulaanbaatar's central road usually reserved for large public transports such as buses and trolleybuses since October 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.magnificentmongolia.com/mongolia/news/1-latest-news/111-ulaanbaatar-taxis-to-get-traffic-privileges.html/ |title=Official taxis to drive on first lane along with other public transport}}</ref>

==Waterways==
[[File:Байкал и Хубсугул 341.jpg|thumb|Ships in [[Lake Khövsgöl]]]]
Mongolia has 580&nbsp;km of [[waterways]], but only [[Lake Khövsgöl]] has ever been heavily used. The [[Selenga|Selenge]] (270&nbsp;km) and [[Orkhon River|Orkhon]] (175&nbsp;km) rivers are [[navigable]] but carry little traffic, although a customs boat patrols the Selenge to the Russian border. Lake Khovsgol has charter boats for tourists.<ref>[http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mongolia/transport/getting-around#183553 Lonely Planet Mongolia: Boat transport] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119052755/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mongolia/transport/getting-around#183553 |date=2012-01-19 }}</ref> The lakes and rivers freeze over in the winter and are usually open between May and September.

==Air transport==
[[File:New Ulaanbaatar International Airport.jpg|thumb|[[Chinggis Khaan International Airport]]]]
[[File:Aircrafts of two Mongolian domestic airlines in ULN.JPG|thumb|Aircraft of two Mongolian domestic airlines at ULN]]{{See also|MIAT Mongolian Airlines}}
[[MIAT Mongolian Airlines]] is the country's flag carrier and first airline, operating since 1956. It conducted scheduled domestic flights in the communist era with its hub at [[Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport]] (built 1961), and started international routes in 1987. With the onset of [[Mongolian Revolution of 1990|the democratic revolution]], the airline gradually adopted modern jet airliners and expanded its international operations. Since the 2000s, private operators such as [[Aero Mongolia]], [[Hunnu Air]], and [[Eznis Airways]] commenced flights, dominating domestic air routes in the country. In 2023, [[MIAT Mongolian Airlines]] resumed domestic flights after 15 years under the brand name MIAT Regional.

Mongolia opened the new [[Chinggis Khaan International Airport]] (UBN) in July 2021, located about 50 km from the center of Ulaanbaatar. Replacing Buyant-Ukhaa, it is the country's only international airport. Most airports of the 21 [[Provinces of Mongolia|aimag centers]] of Mongolia have paved [[runways]], but those closest to Ulaanbaatar lack scheduled air service.

Ulaanbaatar can be accessed with direct flights to various locations in Europe and Asia,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ulaanbaatarshuttle.com/blog/how-to-get-to-mongolia.html|title = International flight schedule}}</ref> with future direct routes planned to North America and Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-08-11 |title=С.Бямбацогт: Боинг-787-9 онгоц эхний ээлжинд Сөүл, Франкфурт, Стамбул чиглэлд нислэг үйлдэнэ |url=https://ubn.mn/p/48008 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=Улаанбаатар ньюс |language=mn-MN}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Transport in Mongolia}}
{{Portal|Railways}}
*[http://www.mrtcud.gov.mn/ Ministry of Road, Transportation, Construction and Urban Development]
*[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mongolia/ CIA World Factbook]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081218143611/http://www.eznisairlines.com/ Eznis Airways:Schedule & Charter airline of Mongolia]
*[http://miat.com/timetable.php?mlang=eng MIAT Mongolian Airlines - National Air Carrier]
*[http://www.ttrmongolia.com/en/]
{{Asia topic|Transport in}}

[[Category:Transport in Mongolia| ]]