During the reunion of a Russian-Chinese work group dealing with rail high-speed projects, the parties came up with the idea of launching a preliminary technical and economic feasibility study to build Eurasia Corridor – a high-speed railway that would create a link on Berlin – Moscow – Astana – Beijing route.
According to Russian Railways (RZD), Eurasia Corridor will become the most important international railway project.
“The level of common understanding, expertise and support provided to the projects by Russian and Chinese authorities allows them to solve the technical and organisational problems arising during such a major project”, pointed out Alexander Misharin, First Vice-President of RZD.
Beginning of works on different segments varies. In 2018, works will kick off on Moscow-Kazan high-speed railway, while in 2023, works could be launched on Krasnoye – Moscow section and Chelyabinsk – Zolotaya Sopka section, according to RZD’s declarations.
For now, the parties are just discussing the project, but if they sign an institutional international agreement, the project will, actually, be among the most important railway projects of the past 20 years. From the point of view of necessary costs, estimated at around USD 200 billion, the project will definitely be a major one.
According to Russian Railways, the Corridor can benefit from the implication of Russian Direct Investment Fund, the New Development Bank of BRICS countries, the Eurasian Development Bank, the Silk Road Fund and Russia-China Investment Fund.
European companies, attracted by Eurasia Corridor project
Also, the project can attract the interest of large sales and equipment constructions companies from Russia, Europe and China.
German group Siemens could get involved in the implementation of Eurasia high-speed rail corridor, a project recently announced and which would facilitate the rapid connection between Berlin, Moscow, Astana and Beijing.
The implication of the German side was discussed in August by Russian Railways President, Oleg Belozerov, and Jochen Eickholt, CEO of Siemens Mobility.
The two parties discussed the possibility to cooperate in the development of railway passenger high-speed transport services, as well as about cooperation in the active implementation of the infrastructure project.
In the same month, Russian company Sinara, which deals with rolling stock design and construction, expressed its availability to produce the high-speed trains for the project in discussion. The declaration was made by Anton Zubikhin, Deputy General Manager of Sinara Transport Machines. The company, a subsidiary of Sinara Group, collaborates with Russian Railways and Moscow Government to manufacture high-speed trains within Ural Locomotives unit, a joint-venture of Sinara Group and Siemens.
The total length of the future high-speed railway will be of 9,447 km (Beijing – Moscow – Berlin distance), including Brest (Belarus) – Dostyk (Kazakhstan) section of 4,851 km of which 2,000 km will pass through the Russian Federation.
The total cost for the construction of Brest – Dostyk section could amount to RUB 7.08 trillion (USD 120 billion) and that for the construction of Dostyk – Urumqi section (China) would amount to RUB 0.76 trillion (USD 1.3 billion).
RUB 3.58 trillion (USD 60.75 billion) will be necessary for the construction of the section crossing the Russian Federation, on Krasnoe (Smolensk region, next to Belarus border) – Zolotaya Sopka (Chelyabinsk region, next to Kazakhstan border) route.
At present, in Russia, Moscow – Kazan high-speed railway is in the design phase and could be included in Eurasia Corridor in the future. The initiation of Moscow – Kazan railway construction is scheduled for 2018 and commissioning could take place in 2023. The estimated cost for this project would amount to RUB 1.3 trillion (USD 22.4 billion).
Moreover, Russian authorities announced that the future Chelyabinsk-Ekaterinburg high-speed railway could be included in Eurasia project, a high-speed rail corridor that will connect Berlin, Moscow, Astana and Beijing.
“The project for the development of the financial model of Chelyabinsk-Ekaterinburg high-speed railway was completed and the next phase will analyse the investment motivation”, said Boris Dubrovsky. Chelyabinsk Region Governor.
The project is implemented on the principles of the public-private partnership, as a private concession initiative. Chelyabinsk-Ekaterinburg high-speed railway is included in the first phase of the development programme of a high-speed rail network in the Russian Federation.
Overall, the length of Eurasia high-speed corridor will be of 9,447 km (Beijing – Moscow – Berlin distance), including the 2,366-km long Russian segment.
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