The transportation system in Mongolia consists of a network of railways, roads, waterways, and airports.
The transportation system in Mongolia consists of a network of railways, roads, waterways, and airports.
The Trans-Mongolian Railway connects the Trans-Siberian Railway from Ulan Ude in Russia to Erenhot and Beijing in China through the capital Ulaanbaatar. The Mongolian section of this line runs for 1110 km. [1] 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 and the Trans-Siberian at Borzya; however, that line is closed to passengers beyond the Mongolian town of Chuluunkhoroot. [2]
For domestic transport, daily trains run from Ulaanbaatar to Darkhan, Sukhbaatar, and Erdenet, as well as Zamiin-Üüd, Choir and Sainshand. Mongolia uses the 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) (Russian gauge) track system. The total length of the system 1,810 km. [3] In 2007, rail transport carried 93% of Mongolian freight and 43% of passenger turnover (in tons*km and passenger*km, respectively). [4]
In 2007, only about 2600 km of Mongolia's road network were paved. Another 3900 km are graveled or otherwise improved. This network of paved roads was expanded to 4,800 km in 2013, with 1,800 km completed in 2014 alone. [5] 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 to Bulgan via Erdenet. The vast majority of Mongolia's official road network, some 40,000 km, are simple cross-country tracks. [6] [7]
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. [8] Private bus and minibus companies offer service from Ulaanbaatar to most aimag centers. [9]
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. [10]
In 2019, the first expressway in Mongolia opened, the Ulaanbaatar Airport Expressway. [11]
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. [12]
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.
There are about 10 licensed taxi companies such as Ulaanbaatar taxi (1991), [13] Noyon taxi (1950), [14] Telecom taxi (1109), [15] 1616 taxi (1616) [16] with about 600 cars operating in Ulaanbaatar. There are a few local taxi companies in smaller cities such as 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. [17]
Mongolia has 580 km of waterways, but only Lake Khövsgöl has ever been heavily used. The Selenge (270 km) and Orkhon (175 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. [18] The lakes and rivers freeze over in the winter and are usually open between May and September.
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 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 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, [19] with future direct routes planned to North America and Australia. [20]
Ulaanbaatar, previously anglicized as Ulan Bator, is the capital and most populous city of Mongolia. With a population of 1.6 million, it is the coldest capital city in the world by average yearly temperature. The municipality is located in north central Mongolia at an elevation of about 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) in a valley on the Tuul River. The city was founded in 1639 as a nomadic Buddhist monastic centre, changing location 28 times, and was permanently settled at its modern location in 1778.
Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport, formerly called Chinggis Khaan International Airport from 2005 to 2020, is a semi-operational international airport serving Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, situated 18 km (11 mi) southwest of the capital. Largely replaced by a new airport, it currently functions as a backup airport for the former, with a view to be used for flight training as well as for special, charter, and government flights.
Articles related to Mongolia include:
MIAT Mongolian Airlines is the state-owned national airline of Mongolia, headquartered in the MIAT Building in the country's capital of Ulaanbaatar. The airline operates scheduled services from its base at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Sergelen, near Ulaanbaatar.
Bulgan is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in northern Mongolia. Its capital is also named Bulgan.
Khovd is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in the west of the country. Its capital is also named Khovd.
Choibalsan is the fourth-largest city in Mongolia after Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan, and Erdenet. The name of the city was Bayan Tümen until 1941, when it was renamed after the communist leader Khorloogiin Choibalsan in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Mongolian Revolution of 1921. It is the capital of the province of Dornod. The city administrative unit's official name is Kherlen sum, with area of 281 square kilometres or 108 square miles. It is situated at the Kherlen River, at an elevation of 747 metres or 2,451 feet above sea level.
Erdenet is the second-largest city in Mongolia, with a 2018 population of 98,057, and the capital of the aimag (province) of Orkhon. Located in the northern part of the country, it lies in a valley between the Selenge and Orkhon rivers about 240 km (149 mi) northwest of Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan, the capital. The road length between Ulaanbaatar and Erdenet is about 370 km (230 mi).
Aero Mongolia is one of the three national airlines of Mongolia. Its head office is on the third floor of Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport in Ulaanbaatar. It operates international scheduled services to Tokyo, Seoul and Hohhot, China. Its main base is Chinggis Khaan International Airport.
Bulgan is a town, administrative centre of Bulgan province of Mongolia. Bulgan sum has a population of 11,984, 12,323 (2008), town proper has a population of 11,198 (2008). It is located at the site of the former Daichin Wangiin Khüree monastery at an elevation of 1,208 metres (3,963 ft) and 468 kilometres (291 mi) from Ulaanbaatar.
The Trans-Mongolian Railway connects Ulan-Ude on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Buryatia, Russia, with Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia, China, via Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. It was completed in 1956, and runs from northwest to southeast with major stations at Naushki/Sükhbaatar on the Russian border, Darkhan, Züünkharaa, Choir, Sainshand, and Zamyn-Üüd/Erenhot on the Chinese border, where the railway changes from single-track to double-track and its gauge changes from 1,520 mm Russian gauge to 1,435 mm standard gauge. The railway also has important branch lines to Erdenet and Baganuur.
Hangard Airlines was a Mongolian airline based in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. It operated charter flights inside Mongolia from its main base at Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport (ULN). It was privately owned, and ceased all operations in 2001.
Khongor is a sum (district) of Darkhan-Uul Province in northern Mongolia. The sum center has railway station on the Ulan-Ude - Ulaanbaatar - Beijing line. The most important railway station is 13 km south of the sum center, where at Salkhit settlement Salkhit - Erdenet line starts.
Eznis Airways LLC is a charter airline and former scheduled carrier headquartered in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and based at Chinggis Khaan International Airport.
Eldev Coal Mine is in Dalanjargalan sum (district) of Dornogovi Province in South-Eastern Mongolia. This mine is 21 km N from sum center and 300 km SE of Mongolian capital Ulan Bator.
Rail transport is an important means of travel in the landlocked country of Mongolia, which has relatively few paved roads. According to official statistics, rail transport carried 93% of Mongolian freight and 43% of passenger turnover in 2007. The Mongolian rail system employs 12,500 people. The national operator is UBTZ, traditionally also known as Mongolian Railway. This can be a source of confusion, since MTZ is a distinct company established in 2008. The Mongolian Railway College is located in Ulaanbaatar.
Tourism in Mongolia was extremely limited by the Socialist Government, but has been expanding following the 1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia in the wake of the collapse of the USSR and the Revolutions of 1989. Mongolia is a unique and relatively unexplored travel destination that offers a great combination of scenic natural features, a wide variety of untouched landscapes, nomadic life style and culture. Travel organizations in Mongolia date back to half a century ago, but the private sector-based tourism is barely twenty years old. Now Mongolia boasts 403 travel companies, 320 hotels, 647 resorts and tourist camps, all employing the graduates from over 56 educational establishments. Mongolia takes an active part in United Nations World Tourism Organization, of which it is a member party.
The 2006 Mongolian National Championship was the thirty-ninth recorded edition of top flight football in Mongolia and the eleventh season of the Mongolian Premier League, which took over as the highest level of competition in the country from the previous Mongolian National Championship. Khoromkhon were champions, their second title, Khasiin Khulguud were runners up, with Khangarid in third place.
Chinggis Khaan International Airport, also referred to as New Ulaanbaatar International Airport, is the primary airport serving Ulaanbaatar, and is Mongolia's only international airport. It opened on 4 July 2021, replacing Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport.
