DEVELOPMENT OF THE PASSENGER RAILWAYTRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN THE REPUBLIC OF CRIMEA

Background. Given the special importance that passenger rail transport has for the economy of the Republic of Crimea, it is advisable to conduct research on the population's demand for rail travel to the Republic of Crimea, both retrospectively for the period of 2022–2024 and prospectively until 2030, taking into account the commissioning of a new railway section along the coast of the Sea of Azov. To determine the role and place of railway transport in the economy of the Republic of Crimea, which since 2022 has become the only mode of transport that provides mass transportation of passengers and significant volumes of cargo to the peninsula. To show the relationship between railway transport and the Crimean Peninsula in the areas. Materials and methods. The work used general methods of scientific knowledge, methods of comparative analysis and statistical methods to identify the projected demand of the population for rail travel to the Republic of Crimea for the period up to 2030, taking into account the commissioning of a new railway section. Results. The study showed the important role and perspective of passenger transportation development for the region of the Republic of Crimea. The role of suburban passenger rail services for the Republic of Crimea is also significant. The calculation of passenger traffic attraction coefficients between the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea showed that the regions with the greatest potential for increasing the population's demand for railway travel to the Republic of Crimea. Conclusions. According to the author's forecast, the population's demand for railway travel to the Republic of Crimea in 2030 will amount to 4,223.8 thousand people, an increase of 2.1 times compared to 2024. The author proposes the organization of new railway routes to the Republic of Crimea. The author considers these routes to be promising and of practical significance for the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, especially the Republic of Crimea and the new regions of the LPR, DPR, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Further research is being conducted on the possible future volume of passenger traffic on the proposed routes. This research can be used by regional authorities, state corporations, and business representatives to develop and implement infrastructure projects in the transportation sector and related economic sectors.