We are all expecting the coming Winter Olympic Games, this time hosted by the Caucasian resort Sochi. The event is more than a traditional sports competition for Russia, it is a chance to confirm itself once more as an important player in the global logistics market. A tradition resort in the Russian area through its maritime offer, Sochi has been radically modernized in the past years so as to host the most important winter sports events. The Russian railway has been one of the main engines of this effort and it will be opportune for it to show its strength during the Olympics. If everything goes as scheduled, Sochi 2014 will be a huge PR event for the Russian railways, in particular, and for the railway system, in general.
A positive, much-needed event if we want this transport system to continue its positive fight to reducing the impact of human activities on the environment. A study issued by the energy department of the European Commission at the end of 2013 shows that the ambitious objectives of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 could be missed. Next to other sectors where side slips are envisaged, the transport sector seems to follow the same path. Among the causes, there is also the inertia of shifting volumes to less polluting transport modes (for example, the railways), but also the high technological inertia of the railway transport sector. Speeding up electrification works is a solution for ensuring the independence of fossil energy sources. Stimulating research and innovation will significantly help identifying new solutions and technologies that would reduce pollution in both absolute values and in report with carried passenger and freight. Thus, a research programme, such as SHIFT2RAIL, becomes mandatory and the steps taken so far give us hope. Major demographic shifts and development of production and consumption areas bring another series of challenges to railway transport. Adapting to a reality where population enters demographic decline and aging is not easy, but it should be shaped to maintain competitiveness to the other transport modes and economic feasibility. Also, in freight transport harmonized collaboration between multimodal centres or for the takeover of trains by opening pan-continental areas will ensure the transfer to railways and will reduce pollution.
And thus Sochi is a turning point because the security of freight and passengers is a key factor in the decision making process and the way in which the Russian Federation will prove its capacity to ensure security without violating the fundamental rights of people during Sochi 2014 will accelerate the development of Eurasian railway transport routes.
by Ştefan Roşeanu
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