Russia intends to launch works on Moscow-Kazan HSR in 2017, making it possible to link the high-speed network of Europe and China, Russian Railways First Vice President Alexander Misharin said.
“Construction of the Moscow-Kazan-Yekaterinburg high-speed railway with an extension toward Beijing and the net development toward the European Union assume significant importance,” Misharin said.
The value of the project is estimated at RUB 1 trillion (USD 16 billion) and involves a 770 km route.
RZD and JSC High-Speed Lines, a RZD subsidiary, will manage the construction of high-speed rail in Russia, as well as a Russian-Chinese consortium and French technical consultants, have finished designing the Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod route.
In July, Misharin announced that more than 500 Russian companies expressed their interest in working on HSR creation and 50 of them will become suppliers of components for high-speed trains.
In November, after a meeting with Giovanni Rocca, the Vice President Promotion of International Activities at Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, Alexander Misharin said that a joint working group will be set up to ensure operational coordination and discussion of all issues regarding participation of Russian and Italian companies in implementation of Moscow-Kazan HSR.
Another group interested in the project is formed by German companies that announced they are ready to provide EUR 2.7 billion for the Moscow-Kazan HSR, according to RZD’s Vice President Alexander Misharin.
Relating to financing of the project, RDZ announced in May that China has agreed to provide a RUB 400 billion (USD 6 billion) for the Moscow-Kazan high speed rail project. Under the agreement, China will lend RUB 250 billion (USD 3.8 billion) for the Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod section and RUB 150 billion (USD 2.2 billion) for Nizhny Novgorod-Kazan section. China also will offer RUB 53 billion (USD 800 million) in equity financing, the company says.
In addition, BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) is interested in the Russian Railways’ proposal to invest in Russia’s first high-speed railway line between the cities of Moscow and Kazan, as NDB Vice President Zhu Xian confirmed that Russian Railways requested NDB to consider the participation into the project by providing financing.
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