One of Russia’s priority transport projects includes the construction and extension of high-speed rail links for passenger transport at both national and international level.
To that end, the authorities are interested in developing high-speed links with Ukraine and Belarus, establishing agreements with both countries.
In April 2010, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that Russia was prepared to sign partnerships with Ukraine in order to implement projects in key areas and thus boost economic development. “We are prepared to provide cooperation in key economic areas”, said Putin during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Mykola Azarov. Several months later, in June 2010, RZD President Vladimir Yakunin met with the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Minister of Transport Kostiantyn Yefymenko and Ukrainian State Railways Director Mykhailo Kostyuk to discuss potential cooperation opportunities in the railway sector, especially for the development of high-speed passenger transport services between the two countries. Following this meeting, the two parties signed a cooperation agreement for the development of a high-speed passenger transport project.
“In order to develop high-speed transport services between the two countries, the parties involved decided to implement work projects on the following routes: Moscow – Byransk – Suzemka – Kiev, Moscow – Kursk – Belgorod – Kharkov – Rostov – Adler, Moscow – Kursk – Belgorod – Kharkov – Simferopol and Sevastopol – Feodosiya. The main priority will be the development of a high-speed rail link between Moscow and Kiev”, informs RZD’s official website.
As for the rolling stock used, the two parties agreed to use EP – 20 dual-voltage locomotives in order to reduce technical stops. These locomotives will run at a speed of 200 km/h, thus avoiding locomotive change throughout the journey. To encourage the Russian railway industry, the rolling stock used will be manufactured in Russia.
Cross-border transit is very important for the supply of a quality transport service. In order to facilitate cross-border transit, reduce travel time and customs control, the two countries agreed to elaborate a document demanding the authorities to revise the cross-border transit system and customs control for high-speed trains.
Moscow – Minsk – Brest rail link
The strategy related to the extension of Russia’s international high-speed transport service also involves Belarus. In this context, in June 2010, Vladimir Yakunin and Belarus State Railways Director Anatoly Sivak signed an agreement for the development of the Moscow – Minsk – Brest high-speed rail link. The two parties will put together “a work group that will handle the elaboration of a project for automated gauge change by installing the necessary systems on-board the rolling stock. The aim of this project is to facilitate passenger transport between Russia and Belarus. The trains will run at speeds of 160-200 km/h and the rolling stock will be equipped with new generation technological equipment”, announces RZD. The feasibility study will also provide information concerning the necessary investments that have to be made for infrastructure development and for the rolling stock used on the future Moscow – Minsk – Brest rail link.
Moreover, the two companies agreed to exchange best practices in order to implement the entire logistics system for railway transport. The development and implementation of these projects require massive investments in the modernisation of the existing lines and the construction of new ones. In addition, the two railway companies plan to facilitate high-speed passenger transport by applying strategies that aim at increasing the number of passengers and the use of green transport.
by Pamela Luică
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