Austria, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine plan to build a new rail link for freight transport. This line will take over the freight flow on the Asia-Russia-Central Europe axis, thus generating a real competition with maritime and road transport. This project will facilitate cooperation between the countries that use broad and standard gauge railway lines. In order for this rail link to become operational, over EUR 4 Billion will have to be invested.
Russian Railways (RZD), in collaboration with the transport administrations and departments in Austria, Slovakia and Ukraine have been working since 2007 on the development of a project concerning the construction of a 1520 mm gauge rail link between Kosice and Vienna. This project also includes the construction of an international logistics terminal. In May 2009, a memorandum was signed for the creation of a joint-venture that would handle the construction of the railway corridor. Several months later, in December, this company became operational.
“This route will create the necessary conditions for bringing and transporting freight containers from Asia to Europe, without reloading”, said Michael Kostyuk, Director General of the State Railway Administration of Ukraine, before signing the memorandum.
According to him, Russia finalized the construction of the Dobra terminal in Slovakia and Ukrainian Railways now have the possibility to exploit it, while Slovakia will handle the domestic deliveries. The construction of the terminals in Austria and Slovakia may be finalized through private investments. The main task of the four countries involved in this project is to ensure logistics and the necessary conditions to stimulate freight transport.
This project was presented at the 14th session of the Inter-governmental Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation on November 13, 2009, as well as during the reunion of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin with his Slovakian homologue, Robert Fico. The new railway line will connect the Central European and Trans-Siberian networks. The implementation of this project will help attract freight traffic on the Asia-Russia-Central Europe axis and also increase railway transport competitiveness as opposed to road and maritime transport.
“We believe that the implementation of the Kosice-Bratislava-Vienna project, together with the development of other international RZD projects, will become a landmark for other business areas and will lead to the creation of a powerful commercial centre and transport system. This will act as a catalyst in the development of future cooperation between Area 1520 and Area 1435, more precisely between EU-Russia and EU-Asia, taken as an overall system”, said, in April 2010, Vladimir Yakunin, President RZD.
He also mentioned that the rail link will be extended from Kosice, towards Bratislava and Vienna and the feasibility study concerning the necessary investments will be elaborated by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants. According to recent estimates, the cost of the construction works may exceed EUR 4.7 Billion.
It was estimated that the freight volume on the Kosice – Bratislava route will reach 23.7 million tones by 2025 and 18.5 million tones on the Bratislava – Vienna route. The future rail link to Europe will carry containers and raw materials and from Europe only containers. Freight transfer between trains and in stations will be avoided in the break-of-gauge point, thus reducing the delivery time from 30 to 14 days, compared to the maritime routes and the capital saved will be of USD 100 – 1.000 per container.
“The feasibility study, a complete business plan and the design will take place during 2011 – 2013. The construction works will begin in 2013 – 2015 and the commercial services should be introduced in 2016”, said Yakunin. This rail link will provide the fast and simple delivery of European freight towards developing markets in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other countries that use broad-gauge railways.
by Pamela Luică
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