What Are Russia's Ambitious Plans for Railway Expansion?

Moscow, Aug 3 (NationPress) Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed an extensive strategy to enhance the nation's railway system, which includes significant undertakings in the Arctic region, aimed at consolidating Russia's role as a vital logistics hub in Eurasia.

During a video message commemorating Railway Workers' Day, Putin emphasized the transformative growth of Russia's railway industry.

"Plans are in place to establish new routes and modernize existing ones in the northern Arctic areas, including the Komi Republic and the Yamal region," Putin remarked, emphasizing that these initiatives are crucial for not just enhancing domestic transportation but also for strengthening Russia's position in international supply chains.

"These initiatives will solidify Russia's reputation as a major logistical connector across the entire Eurasian landmass and open up new avenues for globally competitive transport routes, including the Trans-Arctic corridor," he stated.

Putin also underscored plans for a high-speed rail line connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg. Set to debut by 2028, this project aims to reduce travel time between the two cities to a mere 2 hours and 15 minutes, according to reports from the Xinhua news agency.

"This will mark the country's inaugural high-speed rail line, paving the way for a comprehensive network of such routes," Putin expressed, assuring that these developments will cater to the increasing transportation demands of both the Russian populace and the national economy.

On July 31, Putin instructed the government to devise a roadmap for creating Russia's high-speed rail network by March 31, 2026, as outlined in directives released on the Kremlin's website.

"The Government of the Russian Federation, along with Russian Railways, will develop a growth model for Russia's high-speed rail network. This encompasses specific timelines and parameters for executing each project to establish high-speed rail lines," the website indicated.

Putin further directed the government and SberBank, Russia's leading financial institution, to outline strategies for utilizing 300 billion rubles (approximately 3.7 billion US dollars) allocated from the National Wealth Fund as initial funding for the Moscow-St. Petersburg high-speed rail line. A funding report is expected by October 1.

The Moscow-St. Petersburg route will represent Russia's first high-speed railway, featuring a specialized electrified double-track system allowing trains to operate at speeds ranging from 200 to 400 kph. Trains are anticipated to traverse the distance between the two cities in just two hours and 15 minutes.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Russian Railways CEO Oleg Belozerov have been designated as the officials responsible for overseeing this initiative.