[3] Rostov State Transport University was founded on May 30, 1929 by decision of the Board of the People's Commissariat of Communication Routes of the Soviet Union.

On October 1, 1929, 292 students began classes at three faculties: Railway, Water Transport and Road Engineering.

The Rostov Institute of Railway Engineers has become a southern outpost for training personnel for transport in Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

In 1942, the institute was evacuated to Tbilisi, where it continued training specialists for railway transport and conducted scientific research.

After the end of World War II, the Soviet Union began replacing steam locomotive traction with diesel and electric ones.