It runs through Arkhangelsk, Komi, Vologda, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, and Vladimir regions of the Russian Federation.
The original Moscow–Yaroslavl Mainline is no longer operated from Yaroslavl; it was transferred to the Moscow Railway in 1959.
Line Yaroslavl - Vologda - Arkhangelsk was built with 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge.
Terminal station in Yaroslavl was located on opposite bank of Volga River.
A long railway to the mining town of Vorkuta, known as the Pechora Mainline, was constructed by Gulag labor between 1937 and 1941.