A unique design has been made for the Slavyanka tram line

An unusually complex track structure has been made for the Slavyanka tram line under construction in St. Petersburg – a tram cross-arrow exit in the form of an "envelope". A special tram hub has been transferred to the concessionaire of the project.
The cross switch is an extremely rare node, which is difficult to implement in design. This design will be used for the first time in the practice of light rail transport and Russian tram business. It was manufactured by the "Plant of Transport equipment", located in the Urals in the city of Kushva, Sverdlovsk region, on a special order for the new St. Petersburg line. The manufacturers managed to manufacture and equip the structure in such a way as to provide for all the nuances.
This design will be installed at the final stopping point "Balkansky" and will perform several functions at once: it will ensure the turnover of rolling stock from one track to another without using a U-turn ring, and will also help to cope with increased passenger traffic, as it will allow passengers to disembark at three points of the covered stopping pavilion at the same time.
"Envelope" is a special node of tram tracks consisting of four sets of switches equipped with an automated system for changing the direction of movement and heating the arrows, also called the blind crossing system, which in turn includes four diamond and four single crosses.
The total length of the transfer is 23 meters. The body of the arrows (both external and internal), as well as the crosspieces, are made in the form of castings of high-manganese steel with machining on the working and support surfaces. The rotary wit is made of Dillidur 400 steel with a high level of wear resistance.
The transfer is equipped with a modern automation system that will allow the distribution of rolling stock in the area of the boarding platform in such a way as to increase passenger traffic and enable four carriages to simultaneously board and disembark passengers.
For convenience and comfort of operation in the cold season, a switch heating with an external temperature sensor is provided, which allows you to keep a positive temperature in the body of the arrow, which will not disrupt the operation of the automation system.
It is planned that at least 13 million passengers a year will use the new transport line. The waiting time for the tram at the final stops will be about 5 minutes, and the duration of the trip from Kupchino metro station to Slavyanka by tram will be almost halved, to 30-40 minutes.
In accordance with the terms of the concession agreement, the planned completion dates for the first stage from the Kupchino metro station to the village of Shushary, including the tram depot, are the 4th quarter of 2025, and the second stage - to the MKR. Slavyanka - a year after the completion of the first one.
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The project on the creation and operation of a tram line along the route "Kupchino metro station - Shushary - Slavyanka settlement" is one of the largest in Russia for the construction of a new urban infrastructure for public light rail transport, implemented within the framework of a public-private partnership.
The concession agreement between St. Petersburg and BaltNedvizhService LLC was signed in 2019 and is designed for 30 years (until 2049). The project provides for the construction of a tram line with a length of more than 21 km, including 3 bridges, 4 overpasses, a tram depot, bus shelters, terminal stops comfortable for passengers, as well as the purchase of 22 three-section two-way carriages 71-932 Nevsky. 
In the future, the Slavyanka tram line may become the basis for additional transport projects, including the creation of routes to the St. Petersburg State University and ITMO Highpark campuses under construction in the Pushkin district.