”The construction of the Moscow-Kazan high-speed rail line will be launched in 2018”, First Vice President of Russian Railways, Alexander Misharin, announced.
Russian Railways estimates that the works will be completed in 2020. Moscow-Kazan will be the first segment of an ambitious trans-national project (supported by the governments of Russia and China) providing for the Beijing-Moscow rail link, thus covering a distance 7,000 kilometers.
The estimated cost for the Moscow-Kazan line amounts to RUB 1.3 trillion (USD 22.4 billion), and Russia plans to modernize its connectivity across its vast territory. A total of 14 railway stations will be built along the line.
A number of German companies are interested in participating in the development of the Moscow-Kazan high-speed line. As a result, Siemens, Deutsche Bahn and Deutsche Bank joined forces and formed the “German Initiative”, the main objective was to promote the high-speed rail project using German technologies, including funding sources, the group being ready to provide EUR 2.7 billion for the Moscow-Kazan high-speed line.
According to the Russian Railways, in May 2016, China agreed to provide RUB 400 billion (USD 6 billion) to the high-speed rail project. Under the agreement, China will lend RUB 250 billion (USD 3.8 billion) to the Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod section and RUB 150 billion (USD 2.2 billion) to the Nizhny Novgorod-Kazan section. China will also provide RUB 53 billion (USD 800 million) in equity financing, the company said.
The Moscow-Kazan rail stretch may eventually become a part of the Moscow-Beijing high-speed railway whose construction is estimated at RUB 7 trillion (USD 120 billion) and the Silk Road project intended to link China with markets in Europe and the Middle East. Russian Railways President Oleg Belozerov said earlier that the fast-speed rail link may be launched into operation before 2022-2023.
Share on:
