ABSTRACT
Railways have contributed greatly to the development of the economy and society of Belorussia since the middle of the nineteenth century. The dynamics of social change and social mobility increased significantly due to railways. With the beginning of railway construction, Belorussia and its European neighbouring countries obviously entered a new age, the age of industrial society. Although the mileage again increased to 5,500 kilometres by the year 2000, the loss of almost 200 kilometres of railway length, notably in the most important directions, has not yet been acknowledged by modern Belorussian politicians and economists. The Belarusian Railway is a member of the Railway Transport Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organisation of Railways Cooperation, the International Union of Railways, the Coordinating Council on Trans-Siberian Transportation and several others. Today, Belarusian Railways is the leader of the national system of transportation. Belarusian Railways are an important part of Asia-Europe rail transit lines.
