Improving competitiveness in the railway industry of Area 1520, optimizing dialogue between authorities and the private sector, implementing reform, modern technical systems and adequately managing the railway sector are key factors for an integrated and much more competitive railway transport.
A priority of Area 1520 is the modernisation of the railway system and transport efficiency. To benefit from European experience, countries from this region sign partnerships with members of the European Union, with the purpose of both implementing time cutting systems on the routes between Europe and Asia and upgrading rolling stock to new generation technologies. All these challenges were discussed and analysed during the fifth edition of the International Rail Business Forum “1520 – Strategic Partnership”, held during May 26-28, in Sochi, Russia.
The role of international transport between Europe and Asia is growing every day, even more since the Asia-Pacific region has a significant growth potential despite the economic downturn and can stimulate external trade, including with the European Union member states. In this context, Russia plays a very important part, one of the country’s priorities being the integration of its transport system in the Eurasian area.
However, the development of railway transport requires significant financial investments. In 2009, Russia invested around USD 8.76 Billion in railways and USD 1.96 Billion in the first four months of 2010. In regards to the implementation of the railway projects for the Olympic Winter Games, 35% of the annual volume of funds has been invested. The construction of a high-speed line is important to Russia and its development will imply both state and private support. Currently, works on St. Petersburg- Helsinki rail line are under deve-lopment and due to completion in September 2010, while Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod line will enter operation in August 2010. Works are underway also on the line linking Vladivostok to the city’s airport, due to completion in 2012.
In regards to high-speed projects, Russia is elaborating feasibility studies with the purpose of building lines to link Moscow and other major cities in the country. “High-speed transport is important to the railway industry. There are two priority lines, Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod and St.Petersburg-Helsinki. For these projects, the government will allocate funds in order to stimulate urgent finalization”, declared Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during a press conference.
Therefore, Moscow- Smolensk-Krasnoe line is included in the development strategy of the railway network and is of major importance as part of the International Transport Corridor. Further extension to the European Union is scheduled. Moscow- Minsk – Brest, Moscow- Kiev and Moscow-Crimea lines also have a strategic importance. Their feasibility studies are under elaboration and their implementation is desired in the shortest time possible. “We will implement these projects to create connections between Moscow, Sochi, Samara and Kursk. Russian Railways also considers launching high speed trains to connect Moscow, Kiev and Crimea”, said Vladimir Yakunin, President RZD.
A high speed project presented during the International Rail Business Forum 1520 was also the line connecting Moscow of the Russian city of Ekaterinenburg. It is crucial to build a high speed line in the region, because the number of people living in the area that the line would cross (on a distance of nearly 100 km) hits 40 million. Also, the development of the area generates mobility growth, the area around the city of Ekaterinenburg providing 15% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“While building this line, we must use technologies in accordance with European and Chinese standards. As for the investments necessary for project implementation, using certain systems will help cut costs by 50%, the project efficiency rate being 1.5 to 1. 50% of the project financing will come from the state, the remaining 50% being allocated by banks or other institutions”, declared Misharin Aleksander, Governor of Sverdlovsk Region, during the International Rail Business Forum.
Strategic partnerships
For RZD, developing railway transport, improving transport efficiency and quality, as well as managing infrastructure require close cooperation with European railway companies. A significant element of the cooperation between Russian Railways and the railway companies in Spain is the continuous development of information exchange, the harmonisation of technical procedures and of operation and trade standards.
During the International Rail Business Forum 1520, Russian Railways, Spanish infrastructure manager (ADIF) and Talgo signed a joint declaration on continuing cooperation in studying the possibility and viability of using Talgo gauge-changing systems. The companies agreed to conduct a preliminary analysis by the end of 2010 on the economic effectiveness of the project. Following the results of an economic evaluation, an in-depth analysis is planned to be conducted in 2011 on technical and operational conditions for the installation of Talgo gauge-changing systems, the need for investment and the necessary means for project implementation. According to the declaration, works will be implemented by a joint work group. In the future, the implementation of Talgo systems will enable railway connections between Moscow and Berlin, Moscow and Warsaw and Moscow-Prague.
Cooperation with the Spanish company Talgo (the cooperation agreement was signed in 2007) implies equipping the rolling stock with automated gauge-changing systems which allow trains to shift from a European gauge line (1435 mm) to a broad gauge line (1520 mm) without stopping, in the case of both passenger and freight trains. These systems boost efficiency in railway transport and are extremely useful in cutting travel times.
According to the cooperation document signed by ADIF and RZD, the two companies exchange experience in project implementation in both passenger, as well as freight transport across Russia and Spain. The parties involved agreed to exchange information on personnel training, as well as technical assistance, development of feasibility studies and research for improving the railway network.
For increasing competitiveness on the European transport market, Russian Railways signed cooperation agreements with German companies. These partnerships include manufacturing of high speed electric trains (Siemens), developing braking systems (Knorr-Bremse) and implementing communication systems (Siemens and Alcatel).
The International Rail Business Forum “1520 – Strategic Partnerships” meant for RZD and foreign companies the conclusion of other contracts on rolling stock supply and manufacture.
Therefore, RZD, Siemens AG and Aeroexpress signed a memorandum on the manufacturing, delivery and maintenance of modern trains from Russia. Under the memorandum, Siemens and Aeroexpress will create a joint-venture in Russia for the manufacturing of Desiro RUS electric units with asynchronous traction engine. These units will be manufactured according to the Olympic electric units that Siemens will deliver to Russian Railways during 2012-2013, based on a contract signed by the two companies in December 2009.
The series production of the new electric units is due for 2014, 80% of the spare parts and components used in the manufacturing of the new trains by 2017 being Russian. The consortium estimates a production capacity of 200 cars per year.
Moreover, Siemens and the consortium established with Sinara Group have signed an agreement with RZD for the delivery of 221 electric locomotives for the transport of goods, the prototype being finalized this December. In 2011, after the finalization of the necessary tests and certification processes, 11 locomotives will be delivered to the Russian state-owned railway company.During the same International Forum, RZD and Transmashholding signed contract on the delivery of 200 new generation locomotives. The first models will be finalized in 2011, followed by tests and certification processes. During 2012-2013, the first 36 locomotives will be delivered for RZD and used to ensure passenger transport between Moscow and Sochi, including during the Olympic Winter Games.
by Pamela Luică
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